(a) United States Commissioners
(1) Number of Commissioners
The United States shall be represented on the Commission by five United States Commissioners.
(2) Selection of commissioners
The Commissioners shall be as follows:
(A) Appointment by the President
(i) In general
Two of the Commissioners shall be appointed by the President and shall be an officer or employee of—
(I) the Department of Commerce;
(II) the Department of State; or
(III) the Coast Guard.
(ii) Selection criteria
In making each appointment under clause (i), the President shall select a Commissioner from among individuals who are knowledgeable or experienced concerning fisheries resources in the North Pacific Ocean.
(B) North Pacific Fishery Management Council
One Commissioner shall be the chairman of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council or a designee of such chairman.
(C) Pacific Fishery Management Council
One Commissioner shall be the chairman of the Pacific Fishery Management Council or a designee of such chairperson.
(D) Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
One Commissioner shall be the chairman of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council or a designee of such chairperson.
(b) Alternate Commissioners
In the event of a vacancy in a position as a Commissioner appointed under subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary, may designate from time to time and for periods of time considered appropriate an alternate Commissioner to the Commission. An alternate Commissioner may exercise all powers and duties of a Commissioner in the absence of a Commissioner appointed under subsection (a), and shall serve the remainder of the term of the absent Commissioner for which designated.
(c) Administrative matters
(1) Employment status
An individual serving as a Commissioner, or an alternative Commissioner, other than an officer or employee of the United States Government, shall not be considered a Federal employee, except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.
(2) Compensation
An individual serving as a Commissioner or an alternate Commissioner, although an officer of the United States while so serving, shall receive no compensation for the individual's services as such Commissioner or alternate Commissioner.
(3) Travel expenses
(A) In general
The Secretary of State shall pay the necessary travel expenses of a Commissioner or an alternate Commissioner in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and sections
5701, 5702, 5704 through 5708, and 5731 of title 5.
(B) Reimbursement
The Secretary may reimburse the Secretary of State for amounts expended by the Secretary of State under this paragraph.
(d) Advisory Committee
(1) Establishment of permanent Advisory Committee
(A) Membership
There is established an advisory committee which shall be composed of 11 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
(i) A member engaging in commercial fishing activities in the management area of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
(ii) A member engaging in commercial fishing activities in the management area of the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
(iii) A member engaging in commercial fishing activities in the management area of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.
(iv) Three members from the indigenous population of the North Pacific, including an Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or a native-born inhabitant of any State of the United States in the Pacific, and an individual from a Pacific Coast tribe.
(v) A member that is a marine fisheries scientist that is a resident of a State the adjacent exclusive economic zone for which is bounded by the Convention Area.
(vi) A member nominated by the Governor of the State of Alaska.
(vii) A member nominated by the Governor of the State of Hawaii.
(viii) A member nominated by the Governor of the State of Washington.
(ix) A member nominated by the Governor of the State of California.
(B) Terms and privileges
Each member of the Advisory Committee shall serve for a term of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment for not more than 3 consecutive terms. The Commissioners shall notify the Advisory Committee in advance of each meeting of the Commissioners. The Advisory Committee shall attend each meeting and shall examine and be heard on all proposed programs, investigations, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the Commissioners.
(C) Procedures
(i) In general
The Advisory Committee shall determine its organization and prescribe its practices and procedures for carrying out its functions under this chapter, the North Pacific Fisheries Convention, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.).
(ii) Public availability of procedures
The Advisory Committee shall publish and make available to the public a statement of its organization, practices, and procedures.
(iii) Quorum
A majority of the members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.
(iv) Public meetings
Meetings of the Advisory Committee, except when in executive session, shall be open to the public. Prior notice of each non-executive meeting shall be made public in a timely fashion. The Advisory Committee shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).1
(v) Cost savings
In order to reduce the cost of Advisory Committee meetings, the Advisory Committee shall, to the extent practicable, utilize teleconferences and webinars for that purpose.
(D) Provision of information
The Secretary and the Secretary of State shall furnish the Advisory Committee with relevant information concerning fisheries resources and international fishery agreements.
(2) Administrative matters
(A) Support services
The Secretary shall provide to the Advisory Committee in a timely manner such administrative and technical support services as are necessary to function effectively.
(B) Compensation; status
An individual appointed to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee—
(i) shall serve without pay; and
(ii) shall not be considered a Federal employee, except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.
(C) Travel expenses
(i) In general
The Secretary of State may pay the necessary travel expenses of members of the Advisory Committee in carrying out the duties of the Advisory Committee in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and sections
5701, 5702, 5704 through 5708, and 5731 of title 5.
(ii) Reimbursement
The Secretary may reimburse the Secretary of State for amounts expended by the Secretary of State under this subparagraph.