I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5590 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter for 

the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 28, 2016 

Mr. CHABOT (for himself and Mr. PIERLUISI) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal 

charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Foundation of the Fed5 eral Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2016’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION. 

7 Section 70501 of title 36, United States Code, is 

8 amended by striking subsection (b) and redesignating sub9 section (c) as subsection (b). 


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1 SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP. 

2 Section 70503 of title 36, United States Code, is 

3 amended— 

4 (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in5 serting the following: 

6 ‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Except as provided in this chap7 ter, eligibility for membership in the corporation and the 

8 rights and privileges of members are as provided in the 

9 bylaws.’’; 

10 (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub11 section (b); and 

12 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘(c) NONDISCRIMINATION.—The terms of member14 ship may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, reli15 gion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or national 

16 origin.’’. 

17 SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY. 

18 Section 70504 of title 36, United States Code, is 

19 amended to read as follows: 

20 ‘‘§ 70504. Governing body 

21 ‘‘(a) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.—The board of directors 

22 is the governing body of the corporation. The board may 

23 exercise, or provide for the exercise of, the powers of the 

24 corporation. The board of directors and the responsibilities 

25 of the board are as provided in the bylaws. 


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1 ‘‘(b) OFFICERS.—The officers and the election of the 

2 officers are as provided for in the bylaws. 

3 ‘‘(c) NONDISCRIMINATION.—The requirements for 

4 serving as a director or officer may not discriminate on 

5 the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual 

6 orientation, or national origin.’’. 

7 SEC. 5. RESTRICTIONS. 

8 Section 70507 of title 36, United States Code, is 

9 amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘§ 70507. Restrictions 

11 ‘‘(a) STOCK AND DIVIDENDS.—The corporation may 

12 not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend. 

13 ‘‘(b) POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.—The corporation or a 

14 director or officer in his or her corporate capacity may 

15 not contribute to, support, or participate in any political 

16 activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation. 

17 ‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME OR ASSETS.—The in18 come or assets of the corporation may not inure to the 

19 benefit of, or be distributed to, a director, officer, or mem20 ber during the life of the charter granted by this chapter. 

21 This subsection does not prevent the payment, in amounts 

22 approved by the board of directors, of— 

23 ‘‘(1) reasonable compensation; or 


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1 ‘‘(2) reimbursement for expenses incurred in 

2 undertaking the corporation’s business, to officers, 

3 directors, or members. 

4 This subsection does not prevent the award of a grant to 

5 a Federal Bar Association chapter of which an officer, di6 rector, member may be a member. This subsection also 

7 does not prevent the payment of reasonable compensation 

8 to the corporation’s employees for services undertaken on 

9 behalf of the corporation. 

10 ‘‘(d) LOANS.—The corporation may not make a loan 

11 to a director, officer, member, or employee. 

12 ‘‘(e) IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.—Members and pri13 vate individuals are not liable for the obligations of the 

14 corporation. 

15 ‘‘(f) CLAIM OF GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL OR AU16 THORITY.—The corporation may not claim congressional 

17 approval or the authority of the United States Govern18 ment for any of its activities; it may, however, acknowl19 edge this charter.’’. 

20 SEC. 6. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. 

21 Section 70508 of title 36, United States Code, is 

22 amended by striking ‘‘the District of Columbia,’’ and in23 serting ‘‘a United States location decided by the board of 

24 directors and specified in the bylaws,’’. 


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1 SEC. 7. SERVICE OF PROCESS. 

2 Section 70510 of title 36, United States Code, is 

3 amended to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘§ 70510. Service of process 

5 ‘‘The corporation shall comply with the law on service 

6 of process of the State or District in which it is incor7 porated.’’. 

8 SEC. 8. DEPOSIT OF ASSETS ON DISSOLUTION OR FINAL 

9 LIQUIDATION. 

10 Section 70512 of title 36, United States Code, is 

11 amended to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘§ 70512. Deposit of assets on dissolution or final liq13 uidation 

14 ‘‘On dissolution or final liquidation of the corpora15 tion, any assets of the corporation remaining after the dis16 charge of all liabilities shall be distributed as provided by 

17 the board of directors, but in compliance with the charter 

18 and bylaws.’’. 

Æ 


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