National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1986
PL 99-73 (H.R.1617), enacted 07/29/1985

PUBLIC LAW 99-73—JULY 29, 1985 
99 STAT. 171 
Public Law 99-73 
99th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the programs of the 
National Bureau of Standards for fiscal year 1986, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1986". 
AUTHORIZATIONS FOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 2. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the S5ec-
retary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") for 
fiscal year 1986, to carry out activities performed by the National 
Bureau of Standards, the sums set forth in the following line items: 
(1) Measurement Research and Standards, $36,843,000. 
(2) Materials Science and Engineering, $21,943,000. 
(3) Engineering Measurements and Standards, $33,555,000. 
(4) Computer Science and Technologj', $9,657,000. 
(5) Center for Fire Research, $5,827,000. 
(6) Technical Competence Fund, $8,481,000. 
(7) Central Technical Support, $8,179,000. 
Ot)) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act 
for fiscal year 1986— 
(1) of the total of the amounts authorized under paragraphs 
(1), (2), (3), and (6) of subsection (a), $2,000,000 is authorized only 
for steel technolc^y; 
(2) of the total amount authorized under paragraph (3) of 
subsection (a), $3,895,000 is authorized only for the Center for 
Building Technology, and $50,000 is authorized only for the 
purpose of assisting the creation and maintenance of data bfises 
on structural failures; and 
(3) of the total of the amounts authorized under paragraphs 
(1), (2), (7), and (8) of subsection (a), $2,575,000 is authorized for 
transfer to the Working Capital Fund. 
(cXD Funds may be transferred among the line items listecl in 
subsection (a) so long as the net funds transferred to or from any 
line item do not exceed 10 percent of the amount authorized for that 
line item in such subsection. 
(2) In addition, the Secretary may propose transfers to or from any 
line item exceeding 10 percent of the amount authorized for that 
line item in subsection (a); but a full and complete explanation of 
any such proposed transfer and the reason therefor must be 
transmitted in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, the President of the Senate, and the appropriate authorizing 
committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the 
proposed transfer may be made only when 30 calendar days have 
passed after the transmission of such written explanation. 
(3) No transfer described in paragraph (1) or (2) may have the 
effect of reducing the amount available for any of the particular 
July 29, 1985 
[H.R. 1617] 
National Bureau 
of Standards 
Authorization 
Act for Fiscal 
Year 1986. 
Prohibitions. 
51-194 O 
7 : QL. 3 
Parti 
99 STAT. 172 
PUBLIC LAW 99-73—JULY 29, 1985 
purposes set forth in subsection (b) below the applicable dollar 
amount specified in that subsection; and none of the funds trans-
ferred under either such paragraph may be used for the construc-
tion of the Cold Neutron Source Facility. 
Research and 
(d) The National Bureau of Standards shall seek reimbursements 
development. 
of not less than $500,000 from other Federal agencies to expand its 
efforts in support of basic scientific research on the atmospheric, 
climatic, and environmental consequences of nuclear explosions and 
nuclear exchanges. 
AUTHORIZATION FOR EXPENSES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES 
SEC. 3. In addition to the sums authorized in section 2, there are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 1986 
such sums as may be necessary for expenses of the National Bureau 
of Standards incurred outside the United States, to be paid for in 
foreign currencies that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to 
be excess to the normal requirements of the United States. 
AUTHORIZATION FOR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS 
SEC. 4. In addition to the sums authorized in the preceding 
provisions of this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for fiscal year 1986 such additional sums as may be 
necessary to restore the salary, pay, retirement, and other employee 
benefits of the National Bureau of Standards to the levels in effect 
at the end of fiscal year 1985 and to make any adjustments in the 
Bureau's salary, pay, retirement, and other employee benefits which 
may be provided for by law. 
15 u s e 275c. 
Effective date. 
15 u s e 275c 
note. 
COST RECOVERY AUTHORITY 
SEC. 5. (a) Section 12(f) of the Act of March 3, 1901 (15 U.S.C. 
278b(f)), is amended— 
(1) by striking out "first"; and 
(2) by inserting immediately before the period at the end 
thereof the following: ", and to ensure the availability of work-
ing capital necessary to replace equipment and inventories". 
(b) Fees for calibration services, standard reference materials, and 
other comparable services provided by the National Bureau of 
Standards shall be at least sufficient to meet the requirements set 
forth in the amendments made by subsection (a), and any funds 
recovered in excess of such requirements shall be returned to the 
Treasury of the United States. 
(c) The amendments made by subsection (a) (and the provisions of 
subsection (b)) shall be effective October 1,1984. 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTOR 
SEC. 6. (a) Section 5 of the Act of March 3, 1901 (15 U.S.C. 274), is 
amended— 
(1) by striking out "He" at the beginning of the second, third, 
and fourth sentences and inserting in lieu thereof "The Direc-
tor"; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: 
"The Director shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter 
in effect for Level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
5315 of title 5, United States Code.". 
PUBLIC LAW 99-73—JULY 29, 1985 
99 STAT. 173 
(b)(1) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end thereof the following new item: 
"Director, National Bureau of Standards, Department of 
Commerce.". 
(2) Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking out "Director, National Bureau of Standards, Department 
of Commerce.". 
(c) The amendments made by this section shall be effective Octo- Effective date. 
ber 1, 1985. 
5 u s e 5315 note. 
STRUCTURAL FAILURES 
SEC. 7. The National Bureau of Standards, on its own initiative 
15 use 28ia. 
but only after consultation with local authorities, may initiate and 
conduct investigations to determine the causes of structural failures 
in structures which are used or occupied by the general public. No 
part of any report resulting from such investigation shall be admit-
ted as evidence or used in any suit or action for damages arising out 
of any matter mentioned in such report. 
SCIENTIFIC POSITIONS 
SEC. 8. In order to maintain a highly qualified scientific staff at 
the National Bureau of Standards, a goal of 20 positions is estab-
lished for the Senior Scientists Program at the National Bureau of 
Standards. 
OFFICE OF PRODUCTIVITY, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION 
SEC. 9, In addition to the sums authorized in the preceding 
provisions of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for fiscal year 1986 the sum of $2,715,000 for the activities 
of the Office of Productivity, Technology, and Innovation. 
NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE 
SEC. 10. In addition to the sums authorized in the preceding 
provisions of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for fiscal year 1986 the sum of $537,000 for the patent 
licensing activities of the National Technical Information Service. 
AVAILABIUTY OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 11. Appropriations made under authority provided in this Act 
shall remain available for obligation, for expenditure, or for obliga-
tion and expenditure for such periods as may be specified in the Acts 
making such appropriations. 
COST REDUCTION REPORT 
SEC. 12. Within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the National Bureau of Standards shall review the 
recommendations of the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost 
Control and such other recommendations as may be included in the 
Office of Management and Budget report entitled "Management of 
the United States Government—1986', and shall submit a report to 
99 STAT. 174 
PUBLIC LAW 99-73—JULY 29, 1985 
^ 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the 
Senate, and the appropriate committees of the House and Senate on 
the implementation status of each such recommendation which 
affects the National Bureau of Standards and which is within the 
authority and control of the Director. 
Approved July 29, 1985. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1617 (S. 796): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 99-43 (Comm. on Science and Technology) and No. 99-187 
(Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 99-31 accompanying S. 796 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
Apr. 18, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 23, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 796. 
July 15, House and Senate agreed to conference report.