7. NATIONAL PARK VISITOR FACILITIES FUND ACT 1 (Public Law 97-433; Approved Jan. 8, 1983; 96 Stat. 2277; 16 U.S.C. 19aa through 19gg) AN ACT To establish the National Park System Visitor Facilities Fund, 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 Park System Visitor Facilities Fund Act". SEC. 2.[16 U.S.C. 19aa] DEFINITIONS.-For purposes of this Act (1) "Foundation" means the National Park Foundation established under the Act of December 18, 1967 (81 Stat. 656; 16 U.S.C. 19e and following); (2) "Fund" means the National Park System Visitor Facilities Fund established under section 3 of this Act; (3) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior; and (4) “visitor facility" means any structure, fixture, or improvement (A) which is located within a unit of the National Park System upon land owned by the United States; (B) in which no concessioner has a possessory interest (within the meaning of section 6 of the National Park Service Concessions Policy Act (16 U.S.C. 20-20g)); and (C) which is used to provide food, lodging, or other services to visitors. Such term also includes concessioners' employee dormitories which meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B). SEC. 3. [16 U.S.C. 19bb] ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.-There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States the National Park System Visitor Facilities Fund. There shall be credited to the Fund an amount equal to all National Park System concession fees, including franchise fees and building user fees, paid to or due and owing to the United States after October 1, 1982 for the privilege of providing visitor accommodations and services in units of the National Park System (other than revenues obtained under the provisions of section 111 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966) (16 U.S.C. 470-470t). SEC. 4. [16 U.S.C. 19cc] AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (a) Beginning in fiscal year 1984, amounts credited to the Fund 1This Act is no longer maintained in commercial publications of the United States Code because the authorities contained in this Act expired on September 30, 1989. See section 8. hereby abolished, and the Act of July 10, 1935 (49 Stat. 477; 16 U.S.C. 19 et seq.), as amended, is hereby repealed. SEC. 3. [16 U.S.C. 19g] The Foundation is authorized to accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gifts, devises, or bequests, either absolutely or in trust of real or personal property or any income therefrom or other interest therein for the benefit of or in connection with, the National Park Service, its activities, or its services: Provided, That the Foundation may not accept any such gift, devise, or bequest which entails any expenditure other than from the resources of the Foundation. An interest in the real property includes, among other things, easements or other rights for preservation, conservation, protection, or enhancement by and for the public of natural, scenic, historic, scientific, educational, inspirational, or recreational resources. A gift, devise, or bequest may be accepted by the Foundation even though it is encumbered, restricted, or subject to beneficial interests of private persons if any current or future interest therein is for the benefit of the National Park Service, its activities, or its services. SEC. 4. [16 U.S.C. 19h] Except as otherwise required by the instrument of transfer, the Foundation may sell, lease, invest, reinvest, retain, or otherwise dispose of or deal with any property or income thereof as the Board may from time to time determine. The Foundation shall not engage in any business, nor shall the Foundation make any investment that may not lawfully be made by a trust company in the District of Columbia, except that the Foundation may make any investment authorized by the instrument of transfer, and may retain any property accepted by the Foundation. The Foundation may utilize the services and facilities of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice, and such services and facilities may be made available on request to the extent practicable without reimbursement therefor. SEC. 5. [16 U.S.C. 191] The Foundation shall have perpetual succession, with all the usual powers and obligations of a corporation acting as a trustee, including the power to sue and to be sued in its own name, but the members of the Board shall not be personally liable, except for malfeasance. SEC. 6. [16 U.S.C. 19j] The Foundation shall have the power to enter into contracts, to execute instruments, and generally to do any and all lawful acts necessary or appropriate to its purposes. SEC. 7. [16 U.S.C. 19k] In carrying out the provisions of this Act, the Board may adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations necessary for the administration of its functions and contract for any necessary services. SEC. 8. [16 U.S.C. 191] The Foundation and any income or property received or owned by it, and all transactions relating to such income or property, shall be exempt from all Federal, State, and local taxation with respect thereto. The Foundation may, however, in the discretion of its directors, contribute toward the costs of local government in amounts not in excess of those which it would be obligated to pay such government if it were not exempt from taxation by virtue of the foregoing or by virtue of its being a charitable and nonprofit corporation and may agree so to contribute with respect to property transferred to it and the income derived therefrom if such agreement is a condition of the transfer. Contributions, gifts, and other transfers made to or for the use of the Foundation shall be regarded as contributions, gifts, or transfers to or for the use of the United States. SEC. 9. [16 U.S.C. 19m] The United States shall not be liable for any debts, defaults, acts, or omissions of the Foundation. SEC. 10. [16 U.S.C. 19n] The Foundation shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, transmit to Congress an annual report of its proceedings and activities, including a full and complete statement of its receipts, expenditures, and investments. |