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[Discussion Draft]
[Discussion Draft]
April 19, 2017
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
Rules Committee Print 115-13
Text of H.R. 1695, Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act of 2017
[Showing the text of H.R. 1695 as ordered reported by the Committee on the Judiciary.]
1.
This Act may be cited as the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act of 2017
.
2.
(a)
Section 701 of title 17, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by striking (a) All administrative
and inserting the following:
(a)
(1)
All administrative
;
(B)
by striking director
and inserting Director
;
(C)
by inserting after the first sentence the following: The Register of Copyrights shall be a citizen of the United States with a professional background and experience in copyright law and shall be appointed by the President from the individuals recommended under paragraph (6), by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
; and
(D)
in the last sentence, by striking shall be appointed
and all that follows through and shall act
and inserting shall act
;
(2)
in subsection (b), by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
(3)
by redesignating subsection (b) as paragraph (2), and adjusting the margins accordingly;
(4)
in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by inserting Duties.—
before In addition
;
(5)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3)
The Register of Copyrights shall, before taking office, take an oath to discharge faithfully the duties of the Copyright Office described in paragraph (2).
(4)
(A)
The Register of Copyrights may be removed from office by the President.
(B)
The President shall provide notification to both Houses of Congress of a removal under subparagraph (A).
(5)
(A)
Subject to subparagraph (B), the Register of Copyrights—
(i)
shall be appointed for a term of 10 years; and
(ii)
may serve until a successor is appointed, confirmed, and taken the oath of office.
(B)
The Register of Copyrights may not continue to serve after the date on which Congress adjourns sine die after the date on which the 10-year period described in subparagraph (A)(i) ends.
(C)
An individual appointed to the position of Register of Copyrights, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, may be reappointed to that position in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(6)
Panel for Register of Copyrights Recommendations
There is established a panel to recommend a list of at least 3 individuals to the President for appointment as the Register of Copyrights. The panel shall be composed of the following:
(A)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(B)
The President pro tempore of the Senate.
(C)
The majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
(D)
The Librarian of Congress.
;
(6)
by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as subsections (b) through (e), respectively;
(7)
in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by inserting Seal.—
before The Register
;
(8)
in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by inserting Annual Report.—
before The Register
;
(9)
in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by inserting Applicability of title 5.—
before Except as provided
; and
(10)
in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by inserting Compensation.—
before The Register
.
(b)
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any vacancy for the Register of Copyrights after January 1, 2017. If a Register of Copyrights is appointed during the period beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, that Register shall meet the requirements of the amendments made by this Act or shall be replaced in accordance with such amendments.