An Act to amend the Organic Act of the National Bureau of Standards to authorize a fire research and safety program, and for other purposes
PL 90-259 (S.1124), enacted 03/01/1968

34 
PUBLIC LAW 90-259-MAR. 1, 1968 
[82 STAT. 
42 Stat. 998. 
7 use 1. 
Responsibility 
as principal. 
Minor viola-
tions. 
Savings clause. 
Effective date. 
"(c) Except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, 
it shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 
or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, together with 
the costs of prosecution, for any person to violate the provisions of 
section 4, section 4a, section 4b, section 4c, section 4d, section 4e, section 
4h, section 4i, or section 8b, or to fail to evidence any contract mentioned 
in section 4 of this Act by a record in writing as therein required," 
SEC. 26. The Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, is further 
amended by adding thereto a new section 13 to read as follows: 
"SEO. 13. (a) Any person who commits, or who willfully aids, abets, 
counsels, commands, induces, or procures the commission of, a violation 
of any of the provisions of this Act, or any of the rules, regulations, or 
orders issued pursuant to this Act, or who acts in combination or con-
cert with any other person in any such violation, or who willfully causes 
an act to be done or omitted which if directly performed or omitted by 
him or another would be a violation of the provisions of this Act or 
any of such rules, regulations, or orders may be held responsible in 
administrative proceedings under this Act for such violation as a 
principal. 
" (b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring the Secre-
tary of Agriculture or the commission to report minor violations of 
this Act for prosecution, whenever it appears that the public interest 
does not require such action." 
SEC. 27. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any 
person or circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder 
of the Act and the application of such provision to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected thereby, and the provisions of the 
section of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, which is 
amended by such provision of this Act shall apply to such person or 
circumstances. Pending proceedings shall not be abated by reason of 
any provision of this Act out shall be disposed of pursuant to the provi-
sions of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, in effect prior to 
the effective date of this Act. 
SEC. 28. This Act shall become effective one hundred and twenty 
days after enactment. 
Approved February 19, 1968. 
March 1, 1968 
[S.1124] 
Public Law 90-259 
AN ACT 
To amend the Qrgaaic Act of the National Bureau of Standards to authorize a 
fire research and safety program, and for other purposes. 
Fire Research 
and Safety Act 
of 1968. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate mid House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Fire Research and Safety Act of 19i58". 
TITLE 
I—FIRE 
RESEARCH AND SAFETY PROGRAM 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
SEC. 101. The Congress finds that a comprehensive fire research and 
safety program is needed in this country to provide more effective 
measures of protection against the hazards of death, injury, and 
damage to property. The Congress finds that it is desirable and neces-
sary for the Federal Government, in carrying out the provisions of 
this title, to cooperate with and assist public and private agencies. 
The Congress declares that the purpose of this title is to amend the 
82 STAT. ! 
PUBLIC LAW 90-259-MAR. 1, 1968 
35 
Act of March 3, 1901, as amended, to provide a national fire research 
and safety program including the gathering of comprehensive fire 
data; a comprdiensive fire research program; fire safety education 
and training programs; and demonstrations of new approaches and 
improvements in fire prevention and control, and reduction of death, 
personal injury, and property damage. Additionally, it is the sense of 
Congress that the Secretary should establish a fire research and safety 
center for administering tnis title and carrying out its purposes, in-
cluding appropriate fire safety liaison and coordination. 
AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM 
SEC. 102. The Act entitled "An Act to establish the National Bureau 
of Standards", approved March 3, 1901, as amended (15 U.S.C. 
27l-278e), is further amended by adding the following sections: 
^i stat. 1449. 
"SEC. 16. The Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as 
the 'Secretary') is authorized to— 
"(a) Conduct directly or through contracts or grants— 
" (1) investigations of fires to determine their causes, frequency 
of occurrence, severity, and other pertinent factors; 
"(2) research into the causes and nature of fires, and the 
development of improved methods and techniques for fire pre-
vention, fire control, and reduction of death, personal injury, 
and property damage; 
"(3) educational programs to— 
"(A) inform the public of fire hazards and fire safety 
techniques, and 
"(B) encourage avoidance of such hazards and use of such 
techniques; 
"(4) fire information reference services, including the collec-
tion, analysis, and dissemination of data, research results, and 
other information, derived from this program or from other 
sources and related to fire protection, fire control, and reduction 
of death, personal injury, and property damage; 
"(5) educational and training programs to improve, among 
other things— 
"(A) the efficiency, operation, and organization of fire 
services, and 
"(B) the capability of controlling unusual 
fire-related 
hazards and fire disasters; and 
"(6) projects demonstrating— 
"(A) improved or experimental programs of fire preven-
tion, fire control, and reduction of death, personal injury, and 
property damage, 
"(B) application of fire safety principles in construction, 
or 
"(C) improvement of the efficiency, operation, or orga-
nization of the fire services. 
"(b) Support by contracts or grants the development, for use by 
educational and other nonprofit institutions, of— 
"(1) fire safety and fire protection engineering or science cur-
riculums; and 
"(2) fire safety courses, seminars, or other instructional ma-
terials and aids for the above curriculums or other appropriate 
curriculums or courses of instruction. 
"SEC. 17. With respect to the functions authorized by section 16 of 
this Act— 
"(a) Grants may be made only to States and local governments. 
Eligibility for 
other non-Federal public agencies, and nonprofit institutions. Such s""^"*^-
a grant may be up to 100 per centum of the total cost of the project 
36 
PUBLIC LAW 90-259-MAR. 1, 1968 
182 STAT. 
"State." 
"Public agen-
cies.f» 
Federal agen-
cies, reimburse-
ment. 
Cooperation. 
Rules and 
regulations. 
Reports. 
for which such grant is made. The Secretary shall require, whenever 
feasible, as a condition of approval of a grant, that the recipient con-
tribute money, facilities, or services to carry out the purpose for w4iich 
the grant is sought. For the purposes of this section, 'State' means any 
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Canal Zone, 
American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and 
'public agencies' includes combinations or groups of States or local 
governments. 
"(b) The Secretary may arrange with and reimburse the heads 
of other Federal departments and agencies for the performance of 
any such functions, and, as necessary or appropriate, delegate any of 
his powers under this section or section 16 of this Act with respect 
to any {)art thereof, and authorize the redelegation of such powers. 
"(c) The Secretary may perform such functions without regard 
to section 3648 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 529). 
"(d) The Secretarj^ is authorized to request any Federal depart-
ment or agency to supply such statistics, data, program reports, and 
other materials as he deems necessary to cany out such functions. 
Each such department or agency is authorized to cooperate with the 
Secretary and, to the extent permitted by law, to furnish such ma-
terials to the Secretary. The Secretary and the heads of other depart-
ments and agencies engaged in administering programs related to 
fire safety shall, to the maximum extent practicable, cooperate and 
consult in order to insure fully coordinated efforts. 
"(e) The Secretary is authorized to establish such policies, stand-
ards, criteria, and procedures and to prescribe such rules and regula-
tions as he may deem necessary or appropriate to the administration 
of such functions or this section, including rules and regulations 
which— 
"(1) provide that a grantee will from time to time, but not 
less often than annually, submit a report evaluating accomplish-
ments of activities funded under section 16, and 
"(2) provide for fiscal control, sound accounting procedures, 
and periodic reports to the Secretary regarding the application 
of funds paid under section 16." 
NOlSriNTERFERENCE WITH EXISTING FEDERAL PROGRAMS 
SEC. 103. Nothing contained in this title shall be deemed to repeal, 
supersede, or diminish existing authority or responsibility of any 
agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 104. There are authorized to be appropriated, for the purposes 
of this Act, $5,000,000 for the period ending June 30, 1970. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL COMMISSION ON F I R E 
PREVENTION AND CONTROL 
FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 
SEC. 201. The Congress finds and declares that the growing problem 
of the loss of life and property from fire is a matter of grave national 
concern; that this problem is particularly acute in the Nation's urban 
and suburban areas where an increasing proportion of the population 
resides but it is also of national concern in smaller communities and 
rural areas; that as population concentrates, the means for controlling 
and preventing destructive fires has become progressively more com-
82 STAT. 1 
PUBLIC LAW 90-259-MAR. 1, 1968 
37 
plex and frequently beyond purely local capabilities; and that there 
IS a clear and present need to explore and develop more effective fire 
control and fire prevention measures throughout the country in the 
light of existing and foreseeable conditions. It is the purpose of this 
title to establish a commission to undertake a thorough study and 
investigation of this problem with a view to the formulation of recom-
mendations whereby the Nation can reduce the destruction of life 
and property caused by fire in its cities, suburbs, communities, and 
elsewhere. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION 
SEC. 202. (a) There is hereby established the National Commission 
on Fire Prevention and Control (hereinafter referred to as the "Com-
mission") which shall be composed of twenty members as follows: 
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment, and eighteen members appointed by the President. The 
individuals so appointed as members (1) shall be eminently well quali-
fied by training or experience to carry out the functions of the Com-
mission, and (2) shall be selected so as to provide representation of 
the views of individuals and organizations of all areas of the United 
I States concerned with fire research, safety, control, or prevention, in-
cluding representatives drawn from Federal, State, and local govern-
ments, industry, labor, universities, laboratories, trade associations, 
and other interested institutions or organizations. Not more than six 
members of the Commission shall be appointed from the Federal Gov-
ernment. The President shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chair-
man of the Commission. 
(b) The Commission shall have four advisory members composed 
of— 
(1) two Members of the House of Representatives who shall 
not be members of the same political party and who shall be 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 
(2) two^ Members of the Senate whoshall not be members of 
the same political party and who shall be appointed by the 
President of the Senate. 
The advisory members of the Commission shall not participate, except 
in an advisory capacity, in the formulation of the findings and recom-
mendations of the Commission. 
(c) Any vacancy in the Commission or in its advisory membership 
vacancies. 
shall not affect the powers of the Commission, but shall be filled in 
the same manner as the original appointment. 
DUTIES OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 203. (a) The Commission shall undertake a comprehensive 
study and investigation to determine practicable and effective meas-
ures for reducing the destructive effects of fire throughout the country 
in addition to the steps taken under sections 16 and 17 of the Act of 
March 3, 1901 (as added by title I of this Act). Such study and 
investigation shall include, without being limited to— 
(1) a consideration of ways in which fires can be more effec-
tively prevented through technological advances, construction 
techniques, and improved inspection procedures; 
(2) an analysis of existing programs administered or supported 
by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government and 
of ways in which such programs could be strengthened so as to 
lessen the danger of destructive fires in Government-assisted hous-
ing and in the redevelopment of the Nation's cities and com-
munities : 
38 
PUBLIC LAW 90-259-MAR. 1, 1968 
[82 STAT. 
(3) an evaluation of existing fire suppression methods and of 
ways for improving the same, including procedures for recruiting 
and soliciting the necessary personnel ; 
(4) an evaluation of present and future needs (including long-
term needs) of training and education for fire-service personnel; 
(5) a consideration of the adequacy of current fire communi-
cation techniques and suggestions for the standardization and 
improvement of the apparatus and equipment used in controlling 
fires; 
(6) an analysis of the administrative problems affecting the 
efficiency or capabilities of local fire departments or organiza-
tions; and 
(7) an assessment of local, State, and Federal responsibilities 
in the development of practicable and effective solutions for re-
ducing fire losses. 
(b) In carrying out its duties under this section the Commission 
shall consider the results of the functions carried out by the Secre-
tary of Commerce under sections 16 and 17 of the Act of March 3, 
1901 (as added by title I of this Act), and consult regularly with 
the Secretary in order to coordinate the work of the Commission and 
the functions carried out under such sections 16 and 17. 
dent and c'or-'^^^' 
^^^ "^^^ Commission shall submit to the President and to the Con-
gress, 
gress a report with respect to its findings and recommendations not 
later than two years after the Commission has been duly organized. 
POWERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 204. (a) The Commission or, on the authorization of the Com-
mission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose 
of carrying out the provisions of this title, hold hearings, take testi-
mony, and administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing 
before the Commission or any subcommittee or member thereof. 
(b) Each- department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive 
branch of the Government, including an independent agency, is author-
ized to furnish to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman 
or Vice Chairman, such information as the Commission deems neces-
sary to carry out its functions under this title, 
(c) Subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the 
Commission, the Chairman, without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive serv-
g
*
y
° Stat. 443, 
2(jg^ ^^^ without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
5 use 5101, 
I I I of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General 
^^3 ^ • 
Schedule pay rates, shall have the power— 
(1) to appoint and fix the compensation of such staff personnel 
as he deems necessary, and 
(2) to procure temporary and intermittent services to the same 
extent as is authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS 
SEC. 205. (a) Any member of the Commission, including a mem-
ber appointed under section 202 (b), who is a Member of Congress or 
in the executive branch of the Government shall serve without com-
pensation in addition to that received in his regular employment, but 
shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other 
necessary expenses incurred by him in connection with the perform-
ance of duties vested in the Commission. 
(b) Members of the Commission, other than those referred to in 
subsection (a), shall receive compensation at the rate of $100 per day 
467. 
82 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 90-261-MAR. 1, 1968 
39 
for each day they are engaged in the performance of their duties as 
members of the Commission and shall be entitled to reimbursement for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the performance of their duties as members of the Commission. 
EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 206. There are authorized to be appropriated, out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this title. 
EXPIRATION or THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 207. The Commission shall cease to exist thirty days after the 
submission of its report under section 203 (c). 
Approved March 1, 1968. 
Public Law 90-260 
AN A C T 
March 2, 1968 
To provide for credit to the Kings River Water Association and others for excess 
[s.2402] 
payments for the years 1954 and 1955. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That the Secretary of ,„ ^'"^f ^'"^'" 
, 
_ 
• 
1 n 
T 
!• 
I T 
• 
!• 11 
1 
e ^ 
Water Associa-
the Interior shall credit outstanding obligations or all members of the tion. 
Kings River Water Association incurred pursuant to the master agree-
ment among the members and the association and the United States 
dated December 30, 1963, and the Alta Irrigation District, Consoli-
dated Irrigation District, Fresno Irrigation District, Kings River 
Water District and Tulare Lake Canal Company pursuant to agree-
ments dated-December 23, 1963, in a total amount of $1,098,597.92 
representing excess payments over their share of the operation and 
maintenance charges of Pine Flat Reservoir, Kings River, California, 
during the years 1954 and 1955. Such amount shall be credited to the 
total repayment obligation and not to the annual installments thereof. 
Approved March 2, 1968. 
Public Law 90-261 
AN ACT 
March 2, 1968 
To amend section 2 of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. 
[s.2447] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Amenca in Congress assembled^ That section 2 of the 
Migratory Bird 
Migratory Bird Conservation Act is amended by striking out "the Sec- amendme^nt°" " ' 
retary of Commerce" and inserting in lieu thereof "the Secretary of 
45 stat. 1222. 
Transix)rtation". 
16 use yisa. 
Approved March 2, 1968. 
-600 O - 69 - 6