A bill granting the consent of Congress to the Historic Chattahoochee Compact between the States of Alabama and Georgia.
PL 95-462 (H.R.13692), enacted 10/14/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-462—OCT. 14, 1978 
92 STAT. 1271 
Public Law 95-462 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Granting the consent of Congress to the Historic Chattahoochee Compact between 
the States of Alabama and Georgia 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Urdted States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of 
Congress is given to the Historic Chattahoochee Compact between the 
States of Alabama and Georgia which compact reads as follows: 
"HISTORIC CHATTAHOOCHEE COMPACT 
Oct. 14, 19718 
[H.R. 13692] 
Historic 
Chattahoochee 
Compact, 
Alabama-
Georgia. 
Consent of 
Congress. 
Historic 
Chattahoochee 
Commission. 
Establishment. 
"ARTICLE I. The purpose of this compact is to promote the coopera-
tive development of the Chattahoochee Valley's full potential for his-
toric preservation and tourism and to establish a joint interstate 
authority to assist in these efforts. 
"ARTICLE II. This compact shall become effective immediately as to Effective date 
the States ratifying it whenever the States of Alabama and Georgia 
have ratified it and Congress has given consent thereto. 
"ARTICLE III. The States which are parties to this compact (herein-
after referred to as 'party States') do hereby establish and create a 
joint agency which shall be known as the Historic Chattahoochee Com-
mission (hereinafter referred to as the 'Commission'). The Commis-
sion shall consist of twenty-eight members who shall be appointed by 
the historical commission or organization or similar historical body or 
other designated authority in each of the counties represented by the 
Commission who shall be bona fide residents and qualified voters of 
the party State. In Alabama, two shall be residents of Barbour County, 
two shall be residents of Russell County, two shall be residents of 
Henry County, two shall be residents of Chambers County, two shall 
be residents of Lee County, two shall be residents of Houston County, 
and two shall be residents of Dale County. If there are two historical 
organizations in any of said counties, then one Commission member 
shall be selected from each organization; if there are more than two 
organizations in any such county, then the organization shall meet and 
decide on the designation of members which will represent their respec-
tive county. In Georgia, one shall be a resident of Troup County, one 
shall be a resident of Harris County, one shall be a resident of 
Muscogee County, one shall be a resident of Chattahoochee County, one 
shall be a resident of Stewart County, one shall be a resident of Ran-
dolph County, one shall be a resident of Clay County, one shall be a 
resident of Quitman County, one shall be a resident of Early County, 
one shall be a resident of Seminole Coun^, and one shall be a resident 
of Decatur County. In addition, these 11 Georgia members shall choose 
three at large members who shall be selected from any three of the 
Georgia member counties listed above. The Commission at its discretion 
may appoint as many advisory members as it deems necessary from any 
Georgia or Alabama county which is located in the Chattachoochee 
"Valley area. The contribution of each party State shall be in equal 
amounts. If the party States fail to appropriate equal amounts to the 
Commission during any given fiscal year, voting membership on the 
Commission Board shall be determined as follows: The State making 
the larger appropriation shall be entitled to full voting membership. 
92 STAT. 1272 
PUBLIC LAW 95-462—OCT. 14, 1978 
The total number of members from the other State shall be divided 
into the amount of the larger appropriation and the resulting quotient 
shall be divided into the amount of the smaller appropriation. The then 
resulting quotient, rounded to the next lowest whole number, shall be 
the number of voting members from the State making the smaller con-
- - "^'._' • 
tribution. The members of the Commission from the State making the 
''^''-'*-' ' 
larger contribution shall decide which of the members from the other 
State shall serve as voting members, based upon the level of tourism, 
renovation and promotional activity, and general support of the Com-
-•••'•• mission's activities by and in the county of residence of each of the 
members of the State making the smaller appropriation. Such deter-
'* 
mination shall be made at the next meeting of the Commission fol-
' 
lowing September 30th of each year. Members of the Commission shall 
serve for terms of office as follows: Of the fourteen Alabama voting 
',.•;., 
members, one from each of said coimties shall serve for two years and 
the remaining member of each county shall serve for four years. The 
member appointed by the older organization of each county shall serve 
for the four vear term for the initial term of this compact. Upon the 
expiration oi the original terms of office of Alabama members, all 
» ' • 
successor Alabama voting members shall be appointed for four year 
terms of office, with seven vacancies in the Alabama voting membership 
occurring every two years. Of the fourteen Georgia voting members, 
seven shall serve four year terms and seven two year terms for the 
initial term of this compact. The terms of the individual Georgia vot-
ing members shall be determined by their place in the alphabet by 
alternating the four and two year terms beginning with Chattahoochee 
County—four years. Clay County—two years, Decatur County—four 
years, etc. Upon the expiration of the original terms of office of Georgia 
members, all successor Georgia voting members shall be appointed for 
four year terms of office, with seven vacancies in the Georgia voting 
membership occurring every two years. Of the three Georgia at large 
Board members, one shall serve a four year term and two shall serve 
two year terms. 
All Board members shall serve until their successors are appointed 
and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled by the members of the Commis-
sion. The first chairman of the Commission created by this compact 
shall be elected by the Board of Directors from among its voting 
membership. Annually thereafter, each succeeding chairman shall be 
selected by the members of the Commission. The chairmanship shall 
rotate each year among the party States in order of their acceptance 
of this compact. Members of the Commission shall serve without 
compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses 
incurred in the performance of the duties of the Commission. 
Commission 
"ARTICLE IV. The headquarters of the Commission shall be selected 
headquarters. 
^y ^}jg Commission and shall be centrally located in the Chattahoochee 
Valley area. Such headquarters shall be consistent with the legitimate 
need of the Commission. The Commission shall hold an annual meeting 
at the Commission Headquarters and one-half of the then members of 
the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business. Additional meetings may be held at such times and places as 
may be considered necessary, desirable or convenient, upon call of the 
chairman, or, in the case of his absence or incapacity, of the vice 
chairman, or, on call of any three members of the Commission. The 
Commission shall determine and establish its own organization and 
procedure in accordance with the provisions of this Act and shall 
have an official seal. The Commission shall elect its chairman, its vice 
chairman, its secretary and its treasurer, and such officers shall hold 
PUBLIC LAW 95-462—OCT. 14, 1978 
92 STAT. 1273 
Historic 
Chattahoochee 
Fund. 
office for a period of one year or until a successor is elected. Neither the 
' ' 
secretary nor the treasurer need be members of the Commission. The 
Commission may require that the treasurer thereof be bonded in an 
amount to be determined by the Commission. 
"ARTICLE V. The Commission shall have the right to adopt such rules Rules and 
and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the intent and regulations, 
purposes of this Act, and shall be authorized to provide for an executive 
committee of not fewer than five of its members to whom it may dele-
gate such powers and authority as the Commission may deem to be 
advisable. 
"ARTICLE VI. No member of the Commission shall receive any pay or Expenses. 
emolument other than his actual expenses incurred in the discharge of 
his duties as a member of the Commission. All such expenses are to be 
paid from the funds of the Commission. Further, it shall be unlawful 
" -
^ • 
for any member of the Commission or any employee thereof to charge, 
receive, or obtain, either directly or indirectly, any fee, commission, 
retainer or brokerage out of the funds of the Commission, and no 
member of the Commission or officer or employee thereof shall have 
any interest in any land, materials, or contracts sold to, or made or 
negotiated with tne Commission, or with any member or employee 
thereof acting in his capacity as a member of such Commission. Viola-
tion of any provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and upon 
conviction shall be punishable by removal from membership or 
employment and by a fine of not less than $100.00 or by imprisonment 
not to exceed six months or both. 
"ARTICLE VII. The Commission shall establish and maintain at 
such lawful depository or depositories as it shall select, a 'Historic 
Chattahoochee Fund' composed of the money or monies which may 
come into its hands from admission, inspection fees, gifts, donations, 
grants, bequests, loans, bond issues, governmental appropriations or 
other sources, either public or private. Such funds shall be used by 
the Commission to pay for the purposes herein set forth, and the serv-
icing, retirement or amortization of any bonds or other evidences of 
indebtedness issued by the Commission. 
"ARTICLE V I I L The Commission shall be authorized: 
"1. To investigate and select available sites for housing historic 
exhibits, including the surrounding grounds, with such State, 
Federal, or local agencies and governments and private individ-
uals, corporations, associations, or other organizations as may be 
« * involved, taking into consideration all pertinent factors affecting 
the suitability of such sites; to acquire, transport, renovate, 
' 
maintain and exhibit appropriate and suitable military, or his-
" 
toric units, articles, exhibits, and attractions; to have full complete 
and exclusive jurisdiction over the sites, and any related exhibits; 
' • 
"2. To promote tourism throughout the Chattahoochee Valley by Tourism. 
attending travel shows; issuing news releases, calendars of events 
and newsletters; publishing brochures and pamphlets; construct-
ing mobile travel exhibits; producing films and other visual pres-
entations as may be necessary; and advertising in magazines 
and/or newspapers; 
"3. To acquire by rent or lease agreement or otherwise, the Housing 
necessary housing facilities; and to establish, improve and enlarge facilities, 
available facilities, including providing them with necessary acquisition, 
equipment, furnishings, landscaping, and related facilities, 
including parking areas and ramps, roadways, sewers, curbs, and 
1!.' gutters; *-..-'* ,•••.>...-. ....... ., = .,, .,:,-•..,..,...,...., ... „,,„, ,„ 
,_.,^„„ 
Historic exhibits. 
92 STAT. 1274 
PUBLIC LAW 95-462—OCT. 14, 1978 
Contracts and 
cooperative 
agreements. 
Money, 
borrowing. 
Revenue bonds. 
Gifts. 
Acquisition of 
property. 
Funds. 
Transactions. 
Employees, 
hiring. 
Executive 
director. 
Rules and 
regulations. 
"4. To enter into such contracts and cooperative agreements 
with the local, State, and Federal government, with agencies of 
Such governments, with private individuals, corporations, associa-
tions, and other organizations, as the Commission may deem neces-
sary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this Act, with such 
contracts and agreements to include leases to private industry; 
"5. To borrow money from private sources, the State emergency 
fund, or such other source as may be acceptable to the Commission 
under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law, and, 
in order to provide security for the repayment of any such private 
loans, the Commission shall have the authority to pledge such 
future revenues from admissions and any other sources as may, 
from time to time, be necessary or desirable; 
"6. To issue and sell at any time and from time to time its 
revenue bonds for the purpose of providing funds to acquire, 
enlarge, improve, equip and maintain its property, and for the 
payment of obligations incurred for such purposes. The principal 
and interest on any such revenue bonds shall be payable solely out 
of the revenues derived from the project; 
"7. To make such contracts in the issuance of its bonds as may 
seem necessary or desirable to assure their marketability and to 
provide for their retirement by a pledge of all or any revenue 
which may come to the Commission from the investment of the 
proceeds of the sale of such bonds or from any other source 
whatsoever; 
"8. To accept public or private gifts, grants and donations; 
"9. To acquire property by purchase, lease, gift, or license; and 
to dispose of any property of the Commission when, in the opinion 
of the Commission such disposition is deemed expedient; 
"10. To allocate and expend funds from all donations, income 
and revenue from any source whatsoever coming into its treasury, 
for the fulfillment and accomplishment of its duties and responsi-
bilities in such manner as may be necessary and appropriate for 
the perfection of the purposes of this Act; 
"11. To sell, convey, transfer, lease or donate any property, 
franchise, grant, easement, license or lease or interest therein 
which it may own, and to transfer, assign, sell, convey, or donate 
any right, title or interest which it may have in any lease, con-
tract, agreement, license or property; 
"12. To hire such laborers, artisans, caretakers, technicians, 
stenographers ajid administrative employees and supervisory and 
professional personnel as may be necessary or advisable for the 
carrying out in the most efficient and beneficial manner of the 
purposes and provisions of this Act; 
"13. To employ an executive director who shall serve at the 
pleasure of the Commission, who shall be responsible directly to 
the Commission, whose compensation shall be fixed by the Com-
mission, whose duties and authority shall be designated by the 
Commission, and who shall be paid from funds of the 
Commission; 
"14. To make such rules and regulations as the Commission may 
deem necessary and desirable to provide for the operation, man-
agement and control of its facilities; 
"15. To perform such other acts necessary or incidental to the 
accomplishment of the purposes of this Act whether or not specif-
ically authorized in this section, and not otherwise prohibited by 
law. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-462—OCT. 14, 1978 
92 STAT. 1275 
"ARTICLE YK. The Commission shall constitute a public body cor- Powers, 
porate and shall have, in addition to those set forth specifically in this 
Act, all powers necessary or convenient to effect the purposes for which 
it has been established under and by the terms of this Act, together with 
all powers incidental thereto or necessary to the discharge of its said 
powers and duties. 
"ARTICLE X. The Commission, its property and income and all bonds Taxation, 
issued by the Commission, the income from such bonds, or from the exemption, 
investment of such income, and all conveyances, leases, mortgages, and 
deeds of trust by or to the Commission shall be exempt from all taxa-
tion in the State of Alabama and the State of Georgia. 
"ARTICLE XI. All obligations incurred by the Commission and all Obligations, 
bonds issued by it shall be solely and exclusively an obligation of the 
Commission and shall not create an obligation or debt of the State of 
Alabama or the State of Georgia or any county or municipality of 
either. 
"ARTICLE XII. The Commission shall maintain at all times accurate Records and 
records and books of account covering revenues and expenditures, accounts. 
Such records and books shall be available for audit at any time by the 
department of examiners of public accounts, and shall be audited at 
least every two years in the same manner as audits are made of other 
State agencies and departments.". 
SEC. 2. The Congress consents to the foregoing Historic Chatta- Consent of 
hoochee Compact between the States of Alabama and Georgia subject Congress, 
to the understanding that nothing contained therein shall be construed 
to confer upon the joint agency established thereiby and known as the 
Historic Chattahoochee Commission, or upon any other person, the 
right of eminent domain. 
SEC. 3. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
reserved. 
Approved October 14, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1636 (Coram, on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, VoL 124 (1978): 
Oct. 2, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 3, considered and passed Senate. 
39-194 O—80—pt. 1 
84 : QL3