Federal Executive Boards

(a) Authority and status There are established Federal Executive Boards— (1) to strengthen the management and administration of executive branch activities in selected centers of field operations; and (2) which are organized and function under the authority of the Director. (b) Locations (1) In general Federal Executive Boards are established, or shall continue, as applicable, in the following metropolitan areas: (A) Albuquerque-Santa Fe. (B) Atlanta. (C) Baltimore. (D) Boston. (E) Buffalo. (F) Chicago. (G) Cincinnati. (H) Cleveland. (I) Dallas-Fort Worth. (J) Denver. (K) Detroit. (L) Honolulu. (M) Houston. (N) Kansas City. (O) Los Angeles. (P) Miami. (Q) Minneapolis-St. Paul. (R) New Orleans. (S) New York. (T) Newark. (U) Philadelphia. (V) Pittsburgh. (W) Portland. (X) St. Louis. (Y) San Francisco. (Z) Seattle. (2) Action by Director The Director may dissolve, merge, or divide any of the Federal Executive Boards described in paragraph (1), or establish new Federal Executive Boards, as the Director determines to be necessary, proper, or convenient. (c) Membership (1) Presidential directive The President shall direct the head of each agency to arrange for the leading officials of the field activities of the agency to participate personally in the work of Federal Executive Boards. (2) Members (A) In general The head of each agency shall designate— (i) by title of office, the principal regional officer, if any, and the principal area officer, if any, who shall represent the agency on each Federal Executive Board; and (ii) by name and title of office, the special representative, if any, who shall represent the head of the agency on each Federal Executive Board. (B) Designations A designation made under subparagraph (A)— (i) shall be made in writing and transmitted to the Director; (ii) may be transmitted through the Chair of a Federal Executive Board; and (iii) may be amended at any time by the head of the applicable agency. (3) Alternate members (A) In general Each member of a Federal Executive Board may designate any alternate member, who shall attend meetings and otherwise serve in the absence of the member. (B) Status An alternate member shall be the deputy or principal assistant to the member or another senior official of the organization of the member. (d) Officers and organization (1) Bylaws (A) In general Each Federal Executive Board shall adopt bylaws or other rules for the internal governance of the Board, subject to the approval of the Director. (B) Contents The bylaws described in subparagraph (A), and other rules of a Federal Executive Board, may reflect the particular needs, resources, and customs of the Board, if those bylaws and rules are not inconsistent with this section or the directives of the President or the Director. (C) Conflicts If bylaws or rules described in subparagraph (B) conflict with this section or the directives of the President or the Director, those bylaws or rules, as applicable, shall have no force or effect. (2) Chair Each Federal Executive Board shall have a Chair, who shall be elected by the members of the Board and who shall serve for a term of office of not more than 1 year. (3) Staff (A) In general As the members of a Federal Executive Board determine necessary and proper, those members shall designate personnel from the respective organizations of the members to serve as the staff, or otherwise to participate in, the activities of the Board. (B) Other staff Additional personnel beyond the personnel described in subparagraph (A) may be engaged, by appointment, contract, or otherwise, only with the approval of the Director. (4) Termination (A) In general Unless otherwise expressly provided by law, by directive of the President or the Director, or by the bylaws of the applicable Federal Executive Board, each committee, subcommittee, council, and other subunit of the Board, and each affiliation of the Board with external organizations, shall terminate upon expiration of the term of office of the Chair of the Board. (B) Reestablishment A committee, subcommittee, council, other subunit, or affiliation of a Federal Executive Board may be reestablished or renewed by affirmative action of the Board. (5) Board actions (A) In general A Federal Executive Board may take an action only with the approval of a majority of the members of the Board. (B) No delegation permitted The authority under subparagraph (A) may not be delegated. (C) Conformance with law Each activity of a Federal Executive Board shall conform to applicable laws and reflect prudent uses of official time and funds. (e) OPM leadership (1) Role of Director The Director— (A) shall be responsible to the President for the organizational and programmatic activities of the Federal Executive Boards; (B) direct and oversee the activities of the Federal Executive Boards consistent with law and the directives of the President; and (C) may consult with, and require the advice of, the Chair, members, or staff of a Federal Executive Board. (2) Role of regional representatives The Chair of each Federal Executive Board shall report to the Director through the regional representative of the Director and the regional representative of the Director shall oversee the activities of, and periodically visit and meet with, the Federal Executive Boards. (3) Communications (A) In general The Director shall maintain channels of communication— (i) from the Director through the regional representatives of the Director to the Chairs of the Federal Executive Boards; and (ii) between and among the Federal Executive Boards through the Director and the regional representatives of the Director. (B) Use of channels Any agency may use the channels described in subparagraph (A) to communicate with the Director and with the Federal Executive Boards. (C) Communications by Chairs The Chair of a Federal Executive Board may communicate with the Director on recommendations for action at the national level, on significant management problems that cannot be addressed at the local level, and on other matters of interest to the executive branch. (4) Reports (A) In general Each Federal Executive Board shall transmit to the Director, over the signature of the Chair of the Board, an annual work plan and an annual report to the Director on the significant programs and activities of the Board in each fiscal year, which shall— (i) with respect to each such work plan— (I) set forth the proposed general agenda for the succeeding fiscal year; (II) be submitted on or before July 1; and (III) be subject to the approval of the Director; and (ii) with respect to each such annual report— (I) describe and evaluate the activities of the preceding fiscal year; and (II) be submitted on or before January 1. (B) Other reports In addition to the requirements under subparagraph (A), members of each Federal Executive Board shall keep the headquarters of the respective agency informed of the activities of the Board by timely reports through appropriate agency channels. (5) Conferences The Director may convene regional and national conferences of the Chairs and other representatives of Federal Executive Boards. (f) Authorized activities (1) In general Each Federal Executive Board shall— (A) serve as an instrument of outreach for the national headquarters of the executive branch to executive branch activities in the applicable metropolitan area; (B) consider common management and program problems and develop cooperative agreements that will promote the general objectives of the Federal Government and of the several agencies in the applicable metropolitan area, which shall be made with the guidance and approval of the Director, within the range of the delegated authority and discretion held by members, alternates, and staff in that area, consistent with the missions of the agencies involved; (C) provide a forum for the exchange of information between Washington, DC and the field, and among field elements in the applicable metropolitan area, about programs, management methods, and problems; (D) develop local coordinated approaches to the development and operation of programs that have common characteristics; (E) communicate management initiatives and other concerns from Washington, DC to the field to achieve better mutual understanding and support; (F) refer problems that cannot be solved locally to the national level; and (G) subject to the guidance of the Director, be responsible for— (i) presidential initiatives on management reforms; (ii) personnel initiatives of the Office of Personnel Management; (iii) programs led by the Office of Management and Budget; (iv) facilities planning led by the General Services Administration; (v) the local Combined Federal Campaign, under the direction of the Director; (vi) the sharing of technical knowledge and resources in finance, internal auditing, personnel management, automated data processing applications, interagency use of computer installations, and similar commonly beneficial activities; (vii) the pooling of resources to provide, as efficiently as possible, and at the least possible cost to the taxpayers of the United States, common services, such as employee first-aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (referred to in this clause as CPR), CPR training, preventative health programs, assistance to the aging, blood donor programs, and savings bond drives; (viii) the encouragement of employee initiative and better performance through special recognition and other incentive programs; (ix) the provision of assistance in the implementation and upgrading of performance management systems; (x) emergency operations, such as under hazardous weather conditions, responding to blood donation needs, and communicating related leave policies; (xi) the recognition of the service of veterans and the dissemination of information relating to programs and benefits available to veterans in the Federal service; and (xii) such other programs, projects, and operations as may be set forth in the annual work plan approved by the Director. (2) Advisory role The Director— (A) shall advise the Federal Executive Boards on activities in the areas of performance appraisal and incentives, interagency training programs, the educational development of employees of agencies, improvement of labor-management relations, equal employment opportunity (including related programs of the Federal Government), and selective placement programs for handicapped individuals; and (B) may direct a Federal Executive Board to address such specific programs, or undertake such cooperative activities, as the Director determines necessary or proper. (g) Additional rules and directives The Director may issue further rules and guidance for, and directives to, the Federal Executive Boards.