National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act

To amend the charter of the Future Farmers of America, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act 2. Organization Section 70901 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking corporation FFA (2) in subsection (b), by striking corporation FFA 3. Purposes of the corporation Section 70902 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking corporation FFA (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; (3) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (6), and (7); (4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (11); (5) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; (6) by inserting before paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following: (1) to be an integral component of instruction in agricultural education, including instruction relating to agriculture, food, and natural resources; (2) to advance comprehensive agricultural education in the United States, including in public schools, by supporting contextual classroom and laboratory instruction and work-based experiential learning; (3) to prepare students for successful entry into productive careers in fields relating to agriculture, food, and natural resources, including by connecting students to relevant postsecondary educational pathways and focusing on the complete delivery of classroom and laboratory instruction, work-based experiential learning, and leadership development; (4) to be a resource and support organization that does not select, control, or supervise State association, local chapter, or individual member activities; (5) to develop educational materials, programs, services, and events as a service to State and local agricultural education agencies; (6) to seek and promote inclusion and diversity in its membership, leadership, and staff to reflect the belief of the FFA in the value of all human beings; ; (7) in paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— (A) by striking composed of students and former students of vocational agriculture in public schools qualifying for Federal reimbursement under the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 11–15 (B) by inserting as such chapters and associations carry out agricultural education programs that are approved by States, territories, or possessions United States (8) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— (A) by striking to develop to build (B) by striking train for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism, and thereby and (C) by striking aggressive rural and assertive (9) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following: (9) to increase awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture, food, and natural resources, and the way agriculture contributes to our well-being; (10) to promote the intelligent choice and establishment of a career in fields relating to agriculture, food, and natural resources; ; (10) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by paragraph (4)— (A) by striking to procure for and distribute to State to make available to State (B) by inserting , programs, services, and equipment (C) by striking corporation FFA (11) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by striking State boards for vocational State boards and officials for career and technical (12) in paragraph (13), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by striking corporation FFA 4. Membership Section 70903 of title 36, United States Code is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking corporation FFA (B) by striking as provided in the bylaws as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: (b) Voting Except as provided in this chapter, the voting rights of members and the election process are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. . 5. Governing body Section 70904 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking corporation FFA (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following: (2) The board— (A) shall consist of— (i) the Secretary of Education, or the Secretary of Education's designee who has experience in agricultural education, the FFA, or career and technical education; and (ii) other individuals— (I) representing the fields of education, agriculture, food, and natural resources; or (II) with experience working closely with the FFA; and (B) shall not include any individual who is a current employee of the National FFA Organization. (3) The number of directors, terms of office of the directors, and the method of selecting the directors, are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. ; and (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) in the first sentence, by striking bylaws constitution or bylaws of the FFA (ii) in the third sentence, by striking “chairman” and inserting chair (2) by striking subsection (b); and (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Officers The officers of the FFA, the terms of officers, and the election of officers, are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA, except that such officers shall include— (1) a national advisor; (2) an executive secretary; and (3) a treasurer. (c) Governing committee (1) The board may designate a governing committee. The terms and method of selecting the governing committee members are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA, except that all members of the governing committee shall be members of the board of directors and at all times the governing committee shall be comprised of not less than 3 individuals. (2) When the board is not in session, the governing committee has the powers of the board subject to the board’s direction and may authorize the seal of the FFA to be affixed to all papers that require it. . 6. National student officers Section 70905 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking subsections (a) through (d) and inserting the following: (a) Composition There shall be not less than 6 national student officers of the FFA, which shall include not less than 4 national student officer vice presidents, as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. (b) Election (1) The national student officers of the FFA, except student officer vice-presidents, shall be elected annually by a majority vote of official delegates assembled at the annual convention. Elections for not less than 4 national student officer vice presidents shall be based upon regional representation as further detailed in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. (2) The voting rights of delegates and the process of electing the national student officers shall be as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. . 7. Powers Section 70906 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking corporation FFA (2) in paragraph (2), by striking corporate (3) in paragraph (4), by striking corporation FFA (4) in paragraph (6), by striking corporation FFA (5) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows: (8) use FFA funds to give prizes, awards, loans, and grants to deserving members, chapters, and associations to carry out the purposes of the FFA; ; (6) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows: (9) produce publications, websites, and other media; ; (7) in paragraph (10)— (A) by striking “procure for and distribute to State” and inserting “make available to State”; and (B) by striking “Future Farmers of America” and inserting FFA (8) in paragraph (12), by striking corporation FFA 8. Name, Seals, Emblems, and Badges Section 70907 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking corporation FFA (2) by striking name names (3) by striking Future Farmers of America Future Farmers of America National FFA Organization, (4) by inserting education membership 9. Restrictions Section 70908 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking corporation FFA (2) in subsection (b), by striking corporation or a director, officer, or member as such FFA or a director, officer, or member acting on behalf of the FFA (3) in subsection (c), by striking corporation FFA (4) in subsection (d)— (A) in the first sentence, by striking corporation FFA (B) by striking Directors who vote for or assent to making a loan to a director, officer, or employee, and officers who participate in making the loan, are jointly and severally liable to the corporation for the amount of the loan until it is repaid. 10. Relationship to Federal Agencies Section 70909 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 70909. Relationship to Federal Agencies (a) In general On request of the board of directors, the FFA may collaborate with Federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture on matters of mutual interest and benefit. (b) Agency assistance Those Federal agencies may make personnel, services, and facilities available to administer or assist in the administration of the activities of the FFA. (c) Agency compensation Personnel of the Federal agencies may not receive compensation from the FFA for their services, except that travel and other legitimate expenses as defined by the Federal agencies and approved by the board may be paid. (d) Cooperation with State boards The Federal agencies also may cooperate with State boards and other organizations for career and technical education to assist in the promotion of activities of the FFA. . 11. Headquarters and Principal Office Section 70910 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking of the corporation shall be in the District of Columbia. However, the activities of the corporation are not confined to the District of Columbia but of the FFA shall be as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. The activities of the FFA 12. Records and inspection Section 709011 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking corporation FFA (B) in paragraph (3), by striking entitled to vote (2) in subsection (b), by striking corporation FFA 13. Service of process Section 70912 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking District of Columbia In general (B) by striking corporation FFA (C) by striking in the District of Columbia to receive (D) by striking Designation of the agent shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking corporation FFA (B) by inserting of the FFA association or chapter 14. Liability for acts of officers or agents Section 70913 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking corporation FFA 15. Distribution of assets in dissolution or final liquidation Section 70914 of title 36, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking corporation FFA (2) by striking vocational agriculture agricultural education

Summary: National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act This bill revises the charter of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America). Such revisions include (1) making it a purpose of the organization to be an integral component of agricultural education, and (2) removing the Secretary of Education as the chair of the National FFA Board of Directors.