S 2581 — Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023

changes in existing law made by 
the bill S. 2581, as ordered reported, are shown as follows 
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black 
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in 
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

 SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION ACT OF 2000

Public Law 106-393

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 TITLE I--SECURE PAYMENTS FOR STATES AND COUNTIES CONTAINING FEDERAL 
 LAND

SEC. 101. SECURE PAYMENTS FOR STATES CONTAINING FEDERAL LAND.

 (a) State Payment.--For each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2015 and 2017 through [2023]2026, the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall calculate for each eligible State an amount equal to the 
sum of the products obtained by multiplying--
 (1) the adjusted share for each eligible county 
 within the eligible State; by
 (2) the full funding amount for the fiscal year.
 (b) County Payment.--For each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2015 and 2017 through [2023]2026, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall calculate for each eligible county that received a 50-
percent payment during the eligibility period an amount equal 
to the product obtained by multiplying--
 (1) the 50-percent adjusted share for the eligible 
 county; by
 (2) the full funding amount for the fiscal year.

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SEC. 103. TRANSITION PAYMENTS TO STATES.

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 (d) Distribution of Payments in California.--The following 
payments shall be distributed among the eligible counties in 
the State of California in the same proportion that payments 
under section 102(a)(2) (as in effect on September 29, 2006) 
were distributed to the eligible counties for fiscal year 2006:
 (1) Payments to the State of California under 
 subsection (b).
 (2) The shares of the eligible counties of the State 
 payment for California under section 7112 of this title 
 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 and for each 
 of fiscal years 2017 through [2023]2026.

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TITLE II--SPECIAL PROJECTS ON FEDERAL LAND

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SEC. 205. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

 (a) Establishment and Purpose of Resource Advisory 
Committees.--
 (1) Establishment.--The Secretary concerned shall 
 establish and maintain resource advisory committees to 
 perform the duties in subsection (b), except as 
 provided in paragraph (4).
 (2) Purpose.--The purpose of a resource advisory 
 committee shall be--
 (A) to improve collaborative relationships; 
 and
 (B) to provide advice and recommendations to 
 the land management agencies consistent with 
 the purposes of this subchapter.
 (3) Access to resource advisory committees.--To 
 ensure that each unit of Federal land has access to a 
 resource advisory committee, and that there is 
 sufficient interest in participation on a committee to 
 ensure that membership can be balanced in terms of the 
 points of view represented and the functions to be 
 performed, the Secretary concerned may, establish 
 resource advisory committees for part of, or 1 or more, 
 units of Federal land.
 (4) Existing advisory committees.--
 (A) In general.--An advisory committee that 
 meets the requirements of this section, a 
 resource advisory committee established before 
 December 20, 2023, or an advisory committee 
 determined by the Secretary concerned before 
 December 20, 2023, to meet the requirements of 
 this section may be deemed by the Secretary 
 concerned to be a resource advisory committee 
 for the purposes of this subchapter.
 (B) Charter.--A charter for a committee 
 described in subparagraph (A) that was filed on 
 or before December 20, 2023, shall be 
 considered to be filed for purposes of this 
 chapter.
 (C) Bureau of land management advisory 
 committees.--The Secretary of the Interior may 
 deem a resource advisory committee meeting the 
 requirements of subpart 1784 of part 1780 of 
 title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, as a 
 resource advisory committee for the purposes of 
 this subchapter.
 (b) Duties.--A resource advisory committee shall--
 (1) review projects proposed under this subchapter by 
 participating counties and other persons;
 (2) propose projects and funding to the Secretary 
 concerned under section 203;
 (3) provide early and continuous coordination with 
 appropriate land management agency officials in 
 recommending projects consistent with purposes of this 
 chapter under this subchapter;
 (4) provide frequent opportunities for citizens, 
 organizations, tribes, land management agencies, and 
 other interested parties to participate openly and 
 meaningfully, beginning at the early stages of the 
 project development process under this subchapter;
 (5)(A) monitor projects that have been approved under 
 section 204; and
 (B) advise the designated Federal official on the 
 progress of the monitoring efforts under subparagraph 
 (A); and
 (6) make recommendations to the Secretary concerned 
 for any appropriate changes or adjustments to the 
 projects being monitored by the resource advisory 
 committee.
 (c) Appointment by the Secretary.--
 (1) Appointment and term.--
 (A) In general.--The Secretary 
 [concerned,]concerned shall appoint the members 
 of resource advisory committees for a term of 4 
 years beginning on the date of appointment.
 (B) Reappointment.--The Secretary concerned 
 may reappoint members to subsequent 4-year 
 terms.
 (2) Basic requirements.--The Secretary concerned 
 shall ensure that each resource advisory committee 
 established meets the requirements of subsection (d).
 (3) Initial appointment.--Not later than 180 days 
 after [the date of enactment of this Act]October 3, 
 2008, the Secretary concerned shall make initial 
 appointments to the resource advisory committees.
 (4) Vacancies.--The Secretary concerned shall make 
 appointments to fill vacancies on any resource advisory 
 committee as soon as practicable after the vacancy has 
 occurred.
 (5) Compensation.--Members of the resource advisory 
 committees shall not receive any compensation.
 (d) Composition of Advisory Committee.--
 (1) Number.--Except as provided in paragraph (6), 
 each resource advisory committee shall be comprised of 
 15 members.
 (2) Community interests represented.--Except as 
 provided in paragraph (6), committee members shall be 
 representative of the interests of the following 3 
 categories:
 (A) 5 persons that--
 (i) represent organized labor or non-
 timber forest product harvester groups;
 (ii) represent developed outdoor 
 recreation, off highway vehicle users, 
 or commercial recreation activities;
 (iii) represent--
 (I) energy and mineral 
 development interests; or
 (II) commercial or 
 recreational fishing interests;
 (iv) represent the commercial timber 
 industry; or
 (v) hold Federal grazing or other 
 land use permits, or represent 
 nonindustrial private forest land 
 owners, within the area for which the 
 committee is organized.
 (B) 5 persons that represent--
 (i) nationally recognized 
 environmental organizations;
 (ii) regionally or locally recognized 
 environmental organizations;
 (iii) dispersed recreational 
 activities;
 (iv) archaeological and historical 
 interests; or
 (v) nationally or regionally 
 recognized wild horse and burro 
 interest groups, wildlife or hunting 
 organizations, or watershed 
 associations.
 (C) 5 persons that--
 (i) hold State elected office (or a 
 designee);
 (ii) hold county or local elected 
 office;
 (iii) represent American Indian 
 tribes within or adjacent to the area 
 for which the committee is organized;
 (iv) are school officials or 
 teachers; or
 (v) represent the affected public at 
 large.
 (3) Balanced representation.--In appointing committee 
 members from the 3 categories in paragraph (2), the 
 Secretary concerned shall provide for balanced and 
 broad representation from within each category.
 (4) Geographic distribution.--The members of a 
 resource advisory committee shall reside within the 
 State in which the committee has jurisdiction and, [to 
 extent]to the extent practicable, the Secretary 
 concerned shall ensure local representation in each 
 category in paragraph (2).
 (5) Chairperson.--A majority on each resource 
 advisory committee shall select the chairperson of the 
 committee.
 (6) Committee composition waiver authority.--
 (A) Notice.--On notice from the applicable 
 regional forester that an adequate number of 
 qualified candidates are not interested or 
 available to serve on a resource advisory 
 committee, the Secretary concerned shall 
 publish a notice in the Federal Register 
 seeking candidates for the resource advisory 
 committee.
 (B) Modification of membership 
 requirements.--If, by the date that is 30 days 
 after the date of publication of notice under 
 subparagraph (A), an inadequate number of 
 qualified candidates have applied to serve on a 
 resource advisory committee, the Secretary 
 concerned may reduce--
 (i) the membership requirement under 
 paragraph (1) to not fewer than 9; and
 (ii) the membership requirements 
 under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) 
 of paragraph (2) to 3 in each category 
 described in that paragraph, except 
 that where a vacancy exists on a 
 resource advisory committee, the 
 Secretary concerned may not reject a 
 qualified applicant from any category.
 (C) Termination of authority.--The authority 
 provided under this paragraph terminates on 
 October 1, [2023]2026.
 (e) Approval Procedures.--
 (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), each 
 resource advisory committee shall establish procedures 
 for proposing projects to the Secretary concerned under 
 this subchapter.
 (2) Quorum.--A quorum must be present to constitute 
 an official meeting of the committee.
 (3) Approval by majority of members.--A project may 
 be proposed by a resource advisory committee to the 
 Secretary concerned under section 203(a), if the 
 project has been approved by a majority of members of 
 the committee from each of the 3 categories in 
 subsection (d)(2).
 (f) Other Committee Authorities and Requirements.--
 (1) Staff assistance.--A resource advisory committee 
 may submit to the Secretary concerned a request for 
 periodic staff assistance from Federal employees under 
 the jurisdiction of the Secretary.
 (2) Meetings.--All meetings of a resource advisory 
 committee shall be announced at least 1 week in advance 
 in a local newspaper of record and shall be open to the 
 public.
 (3) Records.--A resource advisory committee shall 
 maintain records of the meetings of the committee and 
 make the records available for public inspection.
 (g) Resource Advisory Committee Appointment Pilot 
Programs.--
 (1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
 (A) Applicable designee.--The term 
 ``applicable designee'' means the applicable 
 regional forester.
 (B) National pilot program.--The term 
 ``national pilot program'' means the national 
 pilot program established under paragraph 
 (4)(A).
 (C) Regional pilot program.--The term 
 ``regional pilot program'' means the regional 
 pilot program established under paragraph 
 (3)(A).
 (2) Establishment of pilot programs.--In accordance 
 with paragraphs (3) and (4), the Secretary concerned 
 shall carry out 2 pilot programs to appoint members of 
 resource advisory committees.
 (3) Regional pilot program.--
 (A) In general.--The Secretary concerned 
 shall carry out a regional pilot program to 
 allow an applicable designee to appoint members 
 of resource advisory committees.
 (B) Geographic limitation.--The regional 
 pilot program shall only apply to resource 
 advisory committees chartered in--
 (i) the State of Montana; and
 (ii) the State of Arizona.
 (C) Responsibilities of applicable 
 designee.--
 (I) Review.--Before appointing a 
 member of a resource advisory committee 
 under the regional pilot program, an 
 applicable designee shall conduct the 
 review and analysis that would 
 otherwise be conducted for an 
 appointment to a resource advisory 
 committee if the regional pilot program 
 was not in effect, including any review 
 and analysis with respect to civil 
 rights and budgetary requirements.
 (ii) Savings clause.--Nothing in this 
 paragraph relieves an applicable 
 designee from any requirement developed 
 by the Secretary concerned for making 
 an appointment to a resource advisory 
 committee that is in effect on December 
 20, 2018, including any requirement for 
 advertising a vacancy.
 (4) National pilot program.--
 (A) In general.--The Secretary concerned 
 shall carry out a national pilot program to 
 allow the Chief of the Forest Service or the 
 Director of the Bureau of Land Management, as 
 applicable, to submit to the Secretary 
 concerned nominations of individuals for 
 appointment as members of resource advisory 
 committees.
 (B) Appointment.--Under the national pilot 
 program, subject to subparagraph (C), not later 
 than 30 days after the date on which a 
 nomination is transmitted to the Secretary 
 concerned under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
 concerned shall--
 (i) appoint the nominee to the 
 applicable resource advisory committee; 
 or
 (ii) reject the nomination.
 (C) Automatic appointment.--If the Secretary 
 concerned does not act on a nomination in 
 accordance with subparagraph (B) by the date 
 described in that subparagraph, the nominee 
 shall be deemed appointed to the applicable 
 resource advisory committee.
 (D) Geographic limitation.--The national 
 pilot program shall apply to a resource 
 advisory committee chartered in any State other 
 than--
 (i) the State of Montana; or
 (ii) the State of Arizona.
 (E) Savings clause.--Nothing in this 
 paragraph relieves the Secretary concerned from 
 any requirement relating to an appointment to a 
 resource advisory committee, including any 
 requirement with respect to civil rights or 
 advertising a vacancy.
 (5) Termination of effectiveness.--The authority 
 provided under this subsection terminates on October 1, 
 [2023]2026.
 (6) Report to congress.--Not later 180 days after 
 [the date described in paragraph (5)]October 1, 2023, 
 the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a 
 report that includes--
 (A) with respect to appointments made under 
 the regional pilot program compared to 
 appointments made under the national pilot 
 program, a description of the extent to which--
 (i) appointments were faster or 
 slower; and
 (ii) the requirements described in 
 paragraph (3)(C)(i) differ; and
 (B) a recommendation with respect to whether 
 Congress should terminate, continue, modify, or 
 expand the pilot programs.

SEC. 206. USE OF PROJECT FUNDS.

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 (b) Transfer of Project Funds.--
 (1) Initial transfer required.--As soon as 
 practicable after the agreement is reached under 
 subsection (a) with regard to a project to be funded in 
 whole or in part using project funds, or other funds 
 described in section 203(a)(2), the Secretary concerned 
 shall transfer to the applicable unit of National 
 Forest System land or Bureau of Land Management 
 District an amount of project funds equal to--
 (A) in the case of a project to be completed 
 in a single fiscal year, the total amount 
 specified in the agreement to be paid using 
 project funds, or other funds described in 
 section 203(a)(2); or
 (B) in the case of a multiyear project, the 
 amount specified in the agreement to be paid 
 using project funds, or other funds described 
 in section 203(a)(2) for the first fiscal year.
 (2) Condition on project commencement.--The unit of 
 National Forest System land or Bureau of Land 
 Management District [concerned,]concerned shall not 
 commence a project until the project funds, or other 
 funds described in section 203(a)(2) required to be 
 transferred under paragraph (1) for the project, have 
 been made available by the Secretary concerned.

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SEC. 208. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

 (a) In General.--The authority to initiate projects under 
this subchapter shall terminate on September 30, [2025]2028.
 (b) Deposits in Treasury.--Any project funds not obligated 
by September 30, [2026]2029, shall be deposited in the Treasury 
of the United States.

TITLE III--COUNTY FUNDS

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SEC. 305. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

 (a) In General.--The authority to initiate projects under 
this subchapter terminates on September 30, [2025]2028.
 (b) Availability.--Any county funds not obligated by 
September 30, [2026]2029, shall be returned to the Treasury of 
the United States.

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