In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wildland Firefighters Health 
Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``wildland firefighter'' means an employee of 
        a Federal land management agency, the duties of whose position 
        are primarily to perform work directly related to the 
        prevention, control, suppression, and management of wildfires, 
        including--
                    (A) an employee of a Federal land management agency 
                who is assigned to support wildland fire suppression 
                activities; and
                    (B) an employee who is transferred to a supervisory 
                or administrative position from a position of wildland 
                firefighter (as defined by the preceding provisions of 
                this paragraph);
            (2) the term ``Federal land management agency'' means--
                    (A) within the Department of the Interior, the 
                Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs, the National Park Service, and the Fish and 
                Wildlife Service; and
                    (B) within the Department of Agriculture, the 
                Forest Service; and
            (3) the term ``employee'' has the meaning given such term 
        by section 2105 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 3. CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS.

    (a) Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Within 30 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Office of Personnel Management, in 
        cooperation with the Federal land management agencies, shall 
        commence development of a separate and distinct wildland 
        firefighter occupational series that will more accurately 
        reflect the variety of duties performed by wildland 
        firefighters.
            (2) Designation.--The official title assigned to any 
        occupational series established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
        include the designation of ``Wildland Firefighter''.
            (3) Positions described.--Paragraph (1) applies with 
        respect to any class or other category of positions that 
        consists primarily or exclusively of forestry technician 
        positions, range technician positions, or any other positions 
        the duties and responsibilities of which include--
                    (A) significant wildfire preparedness and 
                suppression activities; or
                    (B) activities necessary to meet any other 
                emergency incident to which assigned.
            (4) Consultation.--Congress encourages the Office of 
        Personnel Management to consult with recognized employee 
        organizations, employee associations, and any other groups that 
        represent Federal wildland firefighters in carrying out this 
        subsection.
    (b) Hazardous Duty Differential Not Affected.--Section 5545(d)(1) 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking all after 
``except'' and inserting an em dash and the following:
                    ``(A) an employee in an occupational series 
                covering positions for which the primary duties are 
                wildland firefighting, as determined by the Office; and
                    ``(B) in such other circumstances as the Office may 
                by regulation prescribe; and''.
    (c) Employees Currently in 401 Series.--Any individual who, as of 
the date of the enactment of this Act, holds a position of wildland 
firefighter shall have the option of either remaining in the 401 series 
(as in effect on such date under chapter 51 of title 5, United States 
Code) or being included in the new wildland firefighter series, as 
established pursuant to subsection (a).

SEC. 4. PAY AND BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--In the case of a wildland firefighter, for full-
time, part-time, and intermittent tours of duty, hours of work 
officially ordered or approved in excess of 40 hours per week or 8 
hours per day shall be considered overtime work, inclusive of all time 
the firefighter is away from their official duty station assigned to an 
emergency incident, in support of an emergency incident, or pre-
positioned for emergency response, and shall be compensable as work 
time in accordance with section 5542(a) of title 5, United States Code, 
as amended by subsection (b)(1).
    (b) Requirements.--
            (1) Amendment to title 5.--Section 5542(a) of title 5, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end (as a flush 
        left sentence) the following:
``Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), for a wildland firefighter 
assigned to an emergency incident, assigned in support of an emergency 
incident, or pre-positioned for emergency response, the overtime hourly 
rate of pay is an amount equal to one and one-half times the hourly 
rate of the basic pay of the employee, and that entire amount is 
premium pay.''.
            (2) Fair labor standards act of 1938.--For the purpose of 
        applying the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
        (29 U.S.C. 201, et seq.) with respect to wildland firefighters, 
        no violation referred to in such provisions shall be considered 
        to have occurred if the requirements described in paragraph (1) 
        are met.
    (c) Portal-to-Portal Compensation Pilot Program.--
            (1) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        $25,000,000 to initiate a portal-to-portal pilot program under 
        this subsection, commencing with the 2013 wildfire season. Any 
        sums required in addition to amounts appropriated pursuant to 
        the preceding sentence may be secured from the existing 
        wildfire suppression budget for the fiscal year in which the 
        season occurs.
            (2) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out by 
        the Department of the Interior and the Department of 
        Agriculture for a period not to exceed 3 calendar years 
        beginning as of the start of the 2013 wildfire season.
            (3) Report.--No later than 90 days after the completion of 
        the pilot program, the Secretary of the Interior and the 
        Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a joint 
        report on the effectiveness of the pilot program. Such report 
        shall address the effect of the program with respect to--
                    (A) recruitment and retention of wildland 
                firefighters; and
                    (B) any cost savings.
            (4) Additional requirements.--To ensure adequate funding 
        and to realize maximum wildfire suppression savings, the 
        Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall take appropriate measures to ensure that total funding 
        for non-Federal fire suppression personnel and other resources, 
        by their respective Departments--
                    (A) for the first year of the pilot program, do not 
                exceed 90 percent of their combined non-Federal fire 
                suppression costs for the 2011 and 2012 wildfire 
                seasons;
                    (B) for the second year of the pilot program, do 
                not exceed 75 percent of their combined non-Federal 
                fire suppression costs for the 2011 and 2012 wildfire 
                seasons; and
                    (C) for the third year of the pilot program, do not 
                exceed 65 percent of their combined non-Federal fire 
                suppression costs for the 2011 and 2012 wildfire 
                seasons.
    (d) Hazardous Duty Differential To Be Treated as Part of a Wildland 
Firefighter's Base Pay for Retirement Purposes.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8331(3) of title 5, United States 
        Code is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (H), by inserting ``and'' at 
                the end; and
                    (C) by adding after subparagraph (H) the following:
                    ``(I) with respect to a wildland firefighter (as 
                defined by section 2 of the Wildland Firefighters 
                Health Protection Act), any pay differential received 
                under section 5545(d);''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Such section 8331(3) is further 
        amended, in the matter following subparagraph (I) (as added by 
        paragraph (1)(C)), by striking ``subparagraphs (B) through (H) 
        of this paragraph'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) through 
        (I),''.
    (e) Hazardous Duty Differential.--
            (1) In general.--In the administration of section 5545(d) 
        of title 5, United States Code, the Office of Personnel 
        Management shall take such measures as may be necessary to 
        ensure that, under the schedule or schedules of pay 
        differentials for duty involving unusual physical hardship or 
        hazard, a pay differential of 25 percent shall be payable to an 
        individual while serving as a member of a wildland firefighting 
        crew.
            (2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
        ``wildland firefighting crew'' includes ground (hand crew, 
        hotshot, engine, and other fire apparatus personnel) and 
        airborne (smoke jumper or helitack) firefighting personnel on 
        the fire line of any wildfire or prescribed fuel treatment burn 
        or fire, as further defined in regulations of the Office of 
        Personnel Management.
    (f) Benefits for Seasonal Wildland Firefighters.--
            (1) Provisions relating to life insurance.--Section 8716(b) 
        of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) a wildland firefighter within the meaning of section 
        2 of the Wildland Firefighters Health Protection Act.''.
            (2) Provisions relating to health benefits.--Section 
        8913(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) a wildland firefighter within the meaning of section 
        2 of the Wildland Firefighters Health Protection Act.''.
    (g) Buy Back of Civilian Time After 1989.--
            (1) In general.--Any individual who is subject to the 
        Federal Employees' Retirement System as a firefighter (within 
        the meaning of section 8401 of title 5, United States Code) on 
        the date of the enactment of this Act shall be entitled to have 
        any qualifying firefighter service treated as creditable 
        service under section 8411 of such title.
            (2) Qualifying firefighter service.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term ``qualifying firefighter service'' means, 
        in connection with an individual, any service--
                    (A) which was performed by such individual, as a 
                wildland firefighter, after 1989 and before the date of 
                the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) for which such individual was not allowed to 
                receive retirement credit by reason of section 8347(g) 
                or 8402(c) of such title 5.
            (3) Deposit requirement.--Credit for a period of service 
        may not be given under this subsection unless the individual 
        involved makes a deposit, in such manner as the Office of 
        Personnel Management may by regulation require, equal to the 
        employee contributions that would have been required (in the 
        case of a firefighter) for such period under section 8334(c) or 
        8422(a) of such title 5, with interest.
            (4) Certification.--The Office of Personnel Management 
        shall accept the certification of the Secretary of the Interior 
        or the Secretary of Agriculture, as the case may be, concerning 
        whether an individual performed qualifying firefighter service 
        and the length of the period of such service the individual 
        performed.
[EX A]: Wildland Firefighters Health Protection Act - Defines "wildland firefighter" as an employee of a federal land management agency who performs work directly related to the prevention, control, suppression, and management of wildfires, including an employee who is assigned to support wildland fire suppression activities and an employee who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position.

Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in cooperation with such agencies, to commence development of a separate wildland firefighter occupational series that will more accurately reflect the variety of duties performed.

Requires a wildland firefighter's hours of work officially ordered or approved in excess of 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day to be considered overtime work. Makes time the firefighter is away from his or her official duty station assigned to an emergency incident, in support of an emergency incident, or pre-positioned for emergency response compensable as work time. Includes hazardous duty differentials as basic pay for retirement purposes.

Prohibits OPM from excluding wildland firefighters from federal employees' group life insurance (FEGLI) and from federal health care benefits.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National Parks 
Capital Improvements Act of 1999''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Fundraising organization.
Sec. 4. Memorandum of agreement.
Sec. 5. National park surcharge or set-aside.
Sec. 6. Use of bond proceeds.
Sec. 7. Administration.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Fundraising organization.--The term ``fundraising 
        organization'' means an entity authorized to act as a 
        fundraising organization under section 3(a).
            (2) Memorandum of agreement.--The term ``memorandum of 
        agreement'' means a memorandum of agreement entered into by the 
        Secretary under section 3(a) that contains the terms specified 
        in section 4.
            (3) National park foundation.--The term ``National Park 
        Foundation'' means the foundation established under the Act 
        entitled ``An Act to establish the National Park Foundation'', 
        approved December 18, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 19e et seq.).
            (4) National park.--The term ``national park'' means--
                    (A) the Grand Canyon National Park; and
                    (B) any other national park designated by the 
                Secretary that has an approved general management plan 
                with capital needs in excess of $5,000,000.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. FUNDRAISING ORGANIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of 
agreement under section 4 with an entity to act as an authorized 
fundraising organization for the benefit of a national park.
    (b) Bonds.--The fundraising organization for a national park shall 
issue taxable bonds in return for the surcharge or set-aside for that 
national park collected under section 5.
    (c) Professional Standards.--The fundraising organization shall 
abide by all relevant professional standards regarding the issuance of 
securities and shall comply with all applicable Federal and State law.
    (d) Audit.--The fundraising organization shall be subject to an 
audit by the Secretary.
    (e) No Liability for Bonds.--
            (1) In general.--The United States shall not be liable for 
        the security of any bonds issued by the fundraising 
        organization.
            (2) Exception.--If the surcharge or set-aside described in 
        section 5(a) for a national park is not imposed for any reason, 
        or if the surcharge or set-aside is reduced or eliminated, the 
        full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the 
        payment of--
                    (A) the bonds issued by a fundraising organization 
                under subsection (b) for that national park; and
                    (B) the interest accruing on the bonds.

SEC. 4. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.

    The fundraising organization shall enter into a memorandum of 
agreement that specifies--
            (1) the amount of the bond issue;
            (2) the maturity of the bonds, not to exceed 20 years;
            (3) the per capita amount required to amortize the bond 
        issue, provide for the reasonable costs of administration, and 
        maintain a sufficient reserve consistent with industry 
        standards;
            (4) the project or projects at the national park that will 
        be funded with the bond proceeds and the specific 
        responsibilities of the Secretary and the fundraising 
        organization with respect to each project; and
            (5) procedures for modifications of the agreement with the 
        consent of both parties based on changes in circumstances, 
        including modifications relating to project priorities.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL PARK SURCHARGE OR SET-ASIDE.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary may authorize the superintendent of a national park for which 
a memorandum of agreement is in effect--
            (1) to charge and collect a surcharge in an amount not to 
        exceed $2 for each individual otherwise subject to an entrance 
        fee for admission to the national park; or
            (2) to set aside not more than $2 for each individual 
        charged the entrance fee.
    (b) Surcharge in Addition to Entrance Fees.--A surcharge under 
subsection (a) shall be in addition to any entrance fee collected 
under--
            (1) section 4 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act 
        of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6a);
            (2) the recreational fee demonstration program authorized 
        by section 315 of the Department of the Interior and Related 
        Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (as contained in Public Law 
        104-134; 110 Stat. 1321-156; 1321-200; 16 U.S.C. 460l-6a note); 
        or
            (3) the national park passport program established under 
        title VI of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 
        (Public Law 105-391; 112 Stat. 3518; 16 U.S.C. 5991 et seq.).
    (c) Limitation.--The total amount charged or set aside under 
subsection (a) may not exceed $2 for each individual charged an 
entrance fee.
    (d) Use.--A surcharge or set-aside under subsection (a) shall be 
used by the fundraising organization to--
            (1) amortize the bond issue;
            (2) provide for the reasonable costs of administration; and
            (3) maintain a sufficient reserve consistent with industry 
        standards, as determined by the bond underwriter.
    (e) Excess Funds.--Any funds collected in excess of the amount 
necessary to fund the uses in subsection (d) shall be remitted to the 
National Park Foundation to be used for the benefit of all units of the 
National Park System.

SEC. 6. USE OF BOND PROCEEDS.

    (a) Eligible Projects.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), bond proceeds 
        under this Act may be used for a project for the design, 
        construction, operation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of 
        a facility in the national park for which the bond was issued.
            (2) Project limitations.--A project referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall be consistent with--
                    (A) the laws governing the National Park System;
                    (B) any law governing the national park in which 
                the project is to be completed; and
                    (C) the general management plan for the national 
                park.
            (3) Prohibition on use for administration.--Other than 
        interest as provided in subsection (b), no part of the bond 
        proceeds may be used to defray administrative expenses.
    (b) Interest on Bond Proceeds.--
            (1) Authorized uses.--Any interest earned on bond proceeds 
        may be used by the fundraising organization to--
                    (A) meet reserve requirements; and
                    (B) defray reasonable administrative expenses 
                incurred in connection with the management and sale of 
                the bonds.
            (2) Excess interest.--All interest on bond proceeds not 
        used for purposes of paragraph (1) shall be remitted to the 
        National Park Foundation for the benefit of all units of the 
        National Park System.

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.

    The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, 
shall promulgate regulations to carry out this Act.
[EX A]: Exempts the United States from liability for such bonds unless the surcharge is not imposed for any reason or if it is reduced or eliminated in which case the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to bond payment.
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) permit the Superintendent of the park to charge and collect, in addition to the entrance fee, a surcharge of not to exceed $2; or (2) set aside not more than $2 for each entrance fee. Requires: (1) the surcharge or set-aside to be used by the organization to amortize the bond issue, to provide for the reasonable costs of administration, and to maintain a sufficient reserve consistent with industry standards; and (2) any excess funds to be remitted to the National Park Foundation (NPF) to be used for the benefit of all National Park System (NPS) units.
Allows bond proceeds to be used for a park facility project that is consistent with: (1) the laws governing the NPS and the park; and (2) the general management plan for the park.
Requires interest earned on bond proceeds to be: (1) used by the organization to meet reserve requirements and defray reasonable administrative expenses; and (2) remitted to the NPF for the benefit of all NPS units, to the extent funds are available in excess of the amount required for projects.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Nonprofit Research and 
Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITIES ON ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPORATIONS.

    (a) Authorization of Multi-Medical Center Research Corporations.--
            (1) In general.--Section 7361 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
                (e); and
                    (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following 
                new subsection (b):
    ``(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a corporation established under 
this subchapter may facilitate the conduct of research, education, or 
both at more than one medical center. Such a corporation shall be known 
as a `multi-medical center research corporation'.
    ``(2) The board of directors of a multi-medical center research 
corporation under this subsection shall include the official at each 
Department medical center concerned who is, or who carries out the 
responsibilities of, the medical center director of such center as 
specified in section 7363(a)(1)(A)(i) of this title.
    ``(3) In facilitating the conduct of research, education, or both 
at more than one Department medical center under this subchapter, a 
multi-medical center research corporation may administer receipts and 
expenditures relating to such research, education, or both, as 
applicable, performed at the Department medical centers concerned.''.
            (2) Expansion of existing corporations to multi-medical 
        center research corporations.--Such section is further amended 
        by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) A corporation established under this subchapter may act as a 
multi-medical center research corporation under this subchapter in 
accordance with subsection (b) if--
            ``(1) the board of directors of the corporation approves a 
        resolution permitting facilitation by the corporation of the 
        conduct of research, education, or both at the other Department 
        medical center or medical centers concerned; and
            ``(2) the Secretary approves the resolution of the 
        corporation under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Restatement and Modification of Authorities on Applicability of 
State Law.--
            (1) In general.--Section 7361 of such title, as amended by 
        subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by inserting 
        after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
    ``(c) Any corporation established under this subchapter shall be 
established in accordance with the nonprofit corporation laws of the 
State in which the applicable Department medical center is located and 
shall, to the extent not inconsistent with any Federal law, be subject 
to the laws of such State. In the case of any multi-medical center 
research corporation that facilitates the conduct of research, 
education, or both at Department medical centers located in different 
States, the corporation shall be established in accordance with the 
nonprofit corporation laws of the State in which one of such Department 
medical centers is located.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 7365 of such title is 
        repealed.
    (c) Clarification of Status of Corporations.--Section 7361 of such 
title, as amended by this section, is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking the second sentence; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection (d):
    ``(d)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter or under 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any corporation established 
under this subchapter, and its officers, directors, and employees, 
shall be required to comply only with those Federal laws, regulations, 
and executive orders and directives that apply generally to private 
nonprofit corporations.
    ``(2) A corporation under this subchapter is not--
            ``(A) owned or controlled by the United States; or
            ``(B) an agency or instrumentality of the United States.''.
    (d) Reinstatement of Requirement for 501(c)(3) Status of 
Corporations.--Subsection (e) of section 7361 of such title, as 
redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is further amended 
by inserting ``section 501(c)(3) of'' after ``exempt from taxation 
under''.

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSES OF CORPORATIONS.

    (a) Clarification of Purposes.--Subsection (a) of section 7362 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``Any corporation'' and all that 
                follows through ``facilitate'' and inserting ``A 
                corporation established under this subchapter shall be 
                established to provide a flexible funding mechanism for 
                the conduct of approved research and education at one 
                or more Department medical centers and to facilitate 
                functions related to the conduct of''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period at the end the 
                following: ``or centers''; and
            (2) in the second sentence, by inserting ``or centers'' 
        after ``medical center''.
    (b) Modification of Defined Term Relating to Education and 
Training.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended in the matter 
preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``the term `education and 
training''' and inserting ``the term `education' includes education and 
training and''.
    (c) Repeal of Role of Corporations With Respect to Fellowships.--
Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking 
the flush matter following subparagraph (C).
    (d) Availability of Education for Families of Veteran Patients.--
Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking 
``to patients and to the families'' and inserting ``and includes 
education and training for patients and families''.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF 
              CORPORATIONS.

    (a) Requirements for Department Board Members.--Paragraph (1) of 
section 7363(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(1) with respect to the Department medical center--
                    ``(A)(i) the director (or directors of each 
                Department medical center, in the case of a multi-
                medical center research corporation);
                    ``(ii) the chief of staff; and
                    ``(iii) as appropriate for the activities of such 
                corporation, the associate chief of staff for research 
                and the associate chief of staff for education; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a Department medical center at 
                which one or more of the positions referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) do not exist, the official or 
                officials who are responsible for carrying out the 
                responsibilities of such position or positions at the 
                Department medical center; and''.
    (b) Requirements for Non-Department Board Members.--Paragraph (2) 
of such section is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``not less than two'' before ``members''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``and who'' and all that follows through 
        the period at the end and inserting ``and who have backgrounds, 
        or business, legal, financial, medical, or scientific 
        expertise, of benefit to the operations of the corporation.''.
    (c) Conflicts of Interest.--Subsection (c) of section 7363 of such 
title is amended by striking ``, employed by, or have any other 
financial relationship with'' and inserting ``or employed by''.

SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF POWERS OF CORPORATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7364 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 7364. General powers
    ``(b) In General.--(1) A corporation established under this 
subchapter may, solely to carry out the purposes of this subchapter--
            ``(A) accept, administer, retain, and spend funds derived 
        from gifts, contributions, grants, fees, reimbursements, and 
        bequests from individuals and public and private entities;
            ``(B) enter into contracts and agreements with individuals 
        and public and private entities;
            ``(C) subject to paragraph (2), set fees for education and 
        training facilitated under section 7362 of this title, and 
        receive, retain, administer, and spend funds in furtherance of 
        such education and training;
            ``(D) reimburse amounts to the applicable appropriation 
        account of the Department for the Office of General Counsel for 
        any expenses of that Office in providing legal services 
        attributable to research and education agreements under this 
        subchapter; and
            ``(E) employ such employees as the corporation considers 
        necessary for such purposes and fix the compensation of such 
        employees.
    ``(2) Fees charged pursuant to paragraph (1)(C) for education and 
training described in that paragraph to individuals who are officers or 
employees of the Department may not be paid for by any funds 
appropriated to the Department.
    ``(3) Amounts reimbursed to the Office of General Counsel under 
paragraph (1)(D) shall be available for use by the Office of the 
General Counsel only for staff and training, and related travel, for 
the provision of legal services described in that paragraph and shall 
remain available for such use without fiscal year limitation.
    ``(c) Transfer and Administration of Funds.--(1) Except as provided 
in paragraph (2), any funds received by the Secretary for the conduct 
of research or education at a Department medical center or centers, 
other than funds appropriated to the Department, may be transferred to 
and administered by a corporation established under this subchapter for 
such purposes.
    ``(2) A Department medical center may reimburse the corporation for 
all or a portion of the pay, benefits, or both of an employee of the 
corporation who is assigned to the Department medical center if the 
assignment is carried out pursuant to subchapter VI of chapter 33 of 
title 5.
    ``(3) A Department medical center may retain and use funds provided 
to it by a corporation established under this subchapter. Such funds 
shall be credited to the applicable appropriation account of the 
Department and shall be available, without fiscal year limitation, for 
the purposes of that account.
    ``(d) Research Projects.--Except for reasonable and usual 
preliminary costs for project planning before its approval, a 
corporation established under this subchapter may not spend funds for a 
research project unless the project is approved in accordance with 
procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary for Health for research 
carried out with Department funds. Such procedures shall include a 
scientific review process.
    ``(e) Education Activities.--Except for reasonable and usual 
preliminary costs for activity planning before its approval, a 
corporation established under this subchapter may not spend funds for 
an education activity unless the activity is approved in accordance 
with procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary for Health.
    ``(f) Policies and Procedures.--The Under Secretary for Health may 
prescribe policies and procedures to guide the spending of funds by 
corporations established under this subchapter that are consistent with 
the purpose of such corporations as flexible funding mechanisms and 
with Federal and State laws and regulations, and executive orders, 
circulars, and directives that apply generally to the receipt and 
expenditure of funds by nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation 
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 7362(a) of such title, as 
amended by section 3(a)(1) of this Act, is further amended by striking 
the last sentence.

SEC. 6. REDESIGNATION OF SECTION 7364A OF TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

    (a) Redesignation.--Section 7364A of title 38, United States Code, 
is redesignated as section 7365 of such title.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 73 of such title is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 7364A; and
            (2) by striking the item relating to section 7365 and 
        inserting the following new item:

``7365. Coverage of employees under certain Federal tort claims 
                            laws.''.

SEC. 7. IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT OF CORPORATIONS.

    (a) Additional Information in Annual Reports.--Subsection (b) of 
section 7366 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(b)(1) Each corporation shall submit to the Secretary each year a 
report providing a detailed statement of the operations, activities, 
and accomplishments of the corporation during that year.
    ``(2)(A) A corporation with revenues in excess of $300,000 for any 
year shall obtain an audit of the corporation for that year.
    ``(B) A corporation with annual revenues between $10,000 and 
$300,000 shall obtain an audit of the corporation at least once every 
three years.
    ``(C) Any audit under this paragraph shall be performed by an 
independent auditor.
    ``(3) The corporation shall include in each report to the Secretary 
under paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(A) The most recent audit of the corporation under 
        paragraph (2).
            ``(B) The most recent Internal Revenue Service Form 990 
        `Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax' or equivalent 
        and the applicable schedules under such form.''.
    (b) Confirmation of Application of Conflict of Interest Regulations 
to Appropriate Corporation Positions.--Subsection (c) of such section 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``laws and'' each place it appears;
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``each officer and'' after ``under 
                this subchapter,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``, and each employee of the 
                Department'' and all that follows through ``during any 
                year''; and
            (3) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, officer,'' after ``verifying 
                that each director''; and
                    (B) by striking ``in the same manner'' and all that 
                follows before the period at the end.
    (c) Establishment of Appropriate Payee Reporting Threshold.--
Subsection (d)(3)(C) of such section is amended by striking ``$35,000'' 
and inserting ``$50,000''.
[EX A]:
Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends federal provisions concerning the establishment at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities of nonprofit research and education corporations (NRECs) to allow an NREC to facilitate the conduct of research or education, or both, at more than one VA medical center. States that such an NREC shall be known as a multi-medical center research corporation (MCRC).

Allows an NREC to act as a MCRC if: (1) the NREC board of directors approve a resolution permitting that NREC to act as a MCRC; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves the resolution.

Requires each NREC and MCRC (corporation) to be established in accordance with the nonprofit corporation laws of the state in which the VA medical center which it supports is located. States that neither such corporation shall be considered to be owned by, or an agent or instrumentality of, the United States.

Restates the purposes of the corporations.

Modifies the composition of, and standards applicable to, corporation boards of directors, including by changing applicable conflict of interest requirements.

Expands the required areas of experience or expertise with respect to non-VA members of corporation boards of directors.

Increases authorized corporate powers of the corporations to include entering into contracts and setting fees for education and training facilitated through a corporation.

Revises audit requirements to require submission of an Internal Revenue Service return form applicable to organizations exempt from income tax.