[Federal Register: November 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 220)]
[Notices]
[Page 64198-64200]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no07-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Establishment of Federal Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of section 744 of Public Law 109-364 (the
John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007),
the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as
amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of
[[Page 64199]]
1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department
of Defense gives notice that it intends to establish the Traumatic
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel, as a subcommittee of the Defense
Health Board.
Pursuant to section 744(b)(5) and (c) of Public Law 109-364, the
Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall develop the
required curricula, and the Secretary of Defense shall disseminate the
curricula to:
(a) To health care professionals who or otherwise work with members
and former members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury;
(b) To family members affected by the traumatic brain injury of
such members and former members; and
(c) To other care or support personnel who may provide service to
members or former members affected by traumatic brain injury.
No later than one year after the development of the curricula
required by section 744(b) of Public Law 109-364, the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the
House of Representatives a report on the following: (a) The actions
undertaken under section 744(b) of Public Law 109-364; and (b)
recommendations for the improvement or updating of training curriculum
developed and provided under section 744 of Public Law 109-364.
This non-discretionary advisory committee, which will operate as a
subcommittee of the Defense Health Board, shall provide the Department
of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs independent advice
and recommendations on the development of training curricula to be used
by family members of members and former members of the Armed Forces on
techniques, strategies, and skills for care and assistance for such
members and former members with traumatic brain injury.
Even though the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall
operate as a subcommittee of the Defense Health Board and not as a
chartered federal advisory committee, the Panel shall comply with: (a)
The full provisions of section 744 of Public Law 109-364; and (b) the
spirit and intent of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and 41 CFR 102-3.5 through 102-
3.185.
Whenever the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel meets
for the purpose of deliberating on the substantive matters upon which
it is providing advice or recommendations, it must meet under the open-
meeting rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Government
in the Sunshine Acts. In addition, the Traumatic Brain Injury Family
Caregiver Panel's recommendations, prior to being submitted to the
government's decision maker, shall be deliberated under the same open-
meeting rules by the Defense Health Board.
The Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel, as a
subcommittee of the Defense Health Board, shall be authorized to
establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission,
and these subcommittees or working groups shall operate under the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and other appropriate Federal
regulations.
Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of
the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel, and shall report all
their recommendations and advice Traumatic Brain Injury Family
Caregiver Panel for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or
workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the
Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel nor can they report
directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or
employees who are not members of the Defense Health Board.
Pursuant to section 744(a)(2) of Public Law 109-364, the Traumatic
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall consist of 15 members
appointed by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary of Defense in appointing
members for the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall
consider members from among the following:
(a) Physicians, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and other
individuals with traumatic brain injury, including persons who
specialize in caring for and assisting individuals with traumatic brain
injury incurred in combat;
(b) Representatives of family caregivers or family caregiver
associations;
(c) Health and medical personnel of the Department of Defense and
the Department of Veterans Affairs with expertise in traumatic brain
injury and personnel and readiness representatives of the Department of
Defense with expertise in traumatic brain injury;
(d) Psychologists or other individuals with expertise in the mental
health treatment and care of individuals with traumatic brain injury;
(e) Experts in the development of training curricula;
(f) Family members of members of the Armed Forces with traumatic
brain injury; and
(g) Such other individuals the Secretary of Defense considers
appropriate.
Panel and subcommittee members appointed by the Secretary of
Defense, who are not full-time Federal officers or employees, shall
serve as Special Government Employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C.
3109. Panel and subcommittee members shall be appointed on an annual
basis by the Secretary of Defense, and with the exception of travel and
per diem for official travel, they shall serve without compensation.
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall select the
Panel's chairperson from the total Panel membership.
In accordance with DoD policy and procedures, the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs is authorized to act upon the
advice emanating from the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver
Panel.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver
Panel shall meet at the call of the Defense Health Board's Designated
Federal Officer, in consultation with the chairperson of the Traumatic
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel. The Designated Federal Officer,
pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD
employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD
policies and procedures. The Designated Federal Officer or duly
appointed Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend all
Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel meetings and meetings of
any subcommittees for the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver
Panel.
Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Traumatic
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel membership about the Panel's
mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time
or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Traumatic
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel.
All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal
Officer for the Defense Health Board, and this individual will ensure
that the written statements are provided to the membership for their
consideration. Contact information for the Defense Health Board's
Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA
Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
[[Page 64200]]
The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will
announce planned meetings of the Traumatic Brain Injury Family
Caregiver Panel. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may
provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements
that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in
question.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, DoD Committee Management
Office, 703-601-2554, extension 128.
Dated: November 8, 2007.
L. M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. E7-22324 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
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