I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1663 

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 

MARCH 11, 2019 

Mr. CHABOT (for himself and Mr. RASKIN) 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 2019’’. 

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.’’; and 

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

12 SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY. 

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

14 amended to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘§ 70504. Governing body 

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

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

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

19 corporation. The board of directors and the responsibilities 

20 of the board are as provided in the bylaws. 

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

22 officers are as provided for in the bylaws.’’. 

23 SEC. 5. RESTRICTIONS. 

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

25 amended to read as follows: 


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1 ‘‘§ 70507. Restrictions 

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

3 not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend. 

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

5 director or officer in his or her corporate capacity may 

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

7 activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation. 

8 ‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME OR ASSETS.—The in9 come or assets of the corporation may not inure to the 

10 benefit of, or be distributed to, a director, officer, or mem11 ber during the life of the charter granted by this chapter. 

12 This subsection does not prevent the payment, in amounts 

13 approved by the board of directors, of— 

14 ‘‘(1) reasonable compensation; or 

15 ‘‘(2) reimbursement for expenses incurred in 

16 undertaking the corporation’s business, to officers, 

17 directors, or members. 

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

19 a Federal Bar Association chapter of which an officer, di20 rector, or member may be a member. This subsection also 

21 does not prevent the payment of reasonable compensation 

22 to the corporation’s employees for services undertaken on 

23 behalf of the corporation. 

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

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


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1 ‘‘(e) IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.—Members and pri2 vate individuals are not liable for the obligations of the 

3 corporation. 

4 ‘‘(f) CLAIM OF GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL OR AU5 THORITY.—The corporation may not claim congressional 

6 approval or the authority of the United States Govern7 ment for any of its activities; it may, however, acknowl8 edge this charter.’’. 

9 SEC. 6. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. 

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

11 amended by striking ‘‘the District of Columbia,’’ and in12 serting ‘‘a United States location decided by the board of 

13 directors and specified in the bylaws,’’. 

14 SEC. 7. SERVICE OF PROCESS. 

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

16 amended to read as follows: 

17 ‘‘§ 70510. Service of process 

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

19 of process of the State or District in which it is incor20 porated.’’. 

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

22 LIQUIDATION. 

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

24 amended to read as follows: 


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1 ‘‘§ 70512. Deposit of assets on dissolution or final liq2 uidation 

3 ‘‘On dissolution or final liquidation of the corpora4 tion, any assets of the corporation remaining after the dis5 charge of all liabilities shall be distributed as provided by 

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

7 and bylaws.’’. 

Æ 


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