article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Governors Island Preservation and Development Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. GOVERNORS ISLAND COMMISSION. Title I of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 751 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 113. GOVERNORS ISLAND COMMISSION. ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known as the `Governors Island Commission' (referred to in this section as the `Commission'). ``(b) Membership.-- ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 members, of whom-- ``(A) 1 shall be the Administrator of General Services (or a designee); ``(B) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Interior (or a designee); ``(C) 1 shall be the Commandant of the Coast Guard (or a designee); and ``(D) 8 shall be individuals appointed by the President not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, of whom-- ``(i) 2 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, by the Governor of the State of New York; ``(ii) 2 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, by the mayor of the city of New York, New York; ``(iii) 1 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, by the speaker of the city council of the city of New York, New York; ``(iv) 1 shall be a representative of a national historic preservation organization; and ``(v) 2 shall be other individuals that meet the qualifications stated in paragraph (3). ``(2) Failure to make recommendations.--If the Governor of the State of New York, mayor of the city of New York, New York, or speaker of the city council of the city of New York, New York, fails to submit recommendations under clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(D) on or before the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall proceed expeditiously to appoint a member or members, as the case may be, under that clause and may do so without regard to any recommendation that may be made under that clause after that date. ``(3) Qualifications to be considered.--In appointing members of the Commission under paragraph (1), the President shall consider New York State residents residing in the metropolitan New York City area with expertise in economic development, the real estate industry, the environment, tourism, education, historic properties, and civic undertakings. ``(c) Chairperson.--The Administrator of General Services shall serve as chairperson of the Commission. ``(d) Compensation; Travel Expenses.-- ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a member of the Commission shall serve without compensation. ``(2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Commission. ``(e) Administrative Support Services.--The Administrator of General Services and the heads of other Federal, State, and local public agencies represented on the Commission shall provide such administrative and other support services and facilities as the Commission may require to perform the duties of the Commission. ``(f) Duties.--The Commission shall-- ``(1) conduct meetings and hold hearings in accordance with subsection (g); ``(2) consider each plan for the disposition of Governors Island, New York, that any person or entity may submit to the Commission; and ``(3) not later than 180 days after the date on which all of the members of the Commission have been appointed, submit to the President a recommendation for the disposition of Governors Island, New York. ``(g) Meetings; Hearings.-- ``(1) Meetings.--The Commission shall conduct its first meeting not later than the date that is 15 days after the date on which all of the members of the Commission have been appointed and at such other times as the chairperson shall direct. ``(2) Hearings.--The Commission shall conduct at least 4 hearings at which members of the public shall be entitled to present views on the appropriate disposition of Governors Island. ``(3) Location.--All meetings and hearings conducted by the Commission shall be conducted in the city of New York, New York. ``(h) Recommendation.--The recommendation of the Commission for disposition of Governors Island shall include specific proposals for-- ``(1) the retention of ownership, in whole or in part, by the United States or the sale or transfer to State, city, or local public or private entities of all of or portions of the Island; ``(2) the rehabilitation, maintenance, and management of structures of national historic significance by the National Park Service or other public or private entities; ``(3) the use of portions of the Island for commercial activities, recreational activities, or private or public educational or residential purposes and other uses; ``(4) the appropriate proportions of Federal, State, and local public and private transitional funding and other assistance that will be required to make the recommended disposition economically feasible; ``(5) waiver of any provision of this Act or any other law the application of which the Commission determines would preclude or unduly interfere with the optimum future use of Governors Island; and ``(6) any Federal, State, or local legislation or regulation that may be necessary to allow implementation of the recommendation. ``(i) Implementation.--Notwithstanding or any other provision of this Act or any other law-- ``(1) the President shall have authority to implement a recommendation under subsection (f)(2); and ``(2) not later than 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits the recommendation, the President shall proceed to implement the recommendation, with such modifications as the President considers appropriate. ``(j) Termination.--The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits a recommendation under subsection (f)(2).''. SEC. 3. REPEAL. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 is amended by striking section 9101 (111 Stat. 670). SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC STRUCTURES TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. (a) In General.--Administrative jurisdiction over the structures described in subsection (b) and adjacent grounds is transferred to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''). (b) Historic Structures.--The structures referred to in subsection (a) are the following structures on Governors Island, New York: (1) Castle Williams. (2) Fort Jay. (3) The Admiral's Headquarters. (4) The Governor's House. (5) The Block House. (c) Plan.--Not later than the date on which the Governors Island Commission submits its recommendation to the President under section 113(f)(2) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as added by section 2, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan for inclusion of the structures described in subsection (b) in the National Park System. SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated, for maintenance and preservation of Governors Island and its structures by the Coast Guard and the National Park Service-- (1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and (2) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2000 and each fiscal year thereafter.
summary: Governors Island Preservation and Development Act of 1998 - Establishes the Governors Island Commission to: (1) conduct meetings and hold hearings in accordance with this Act; (2) consider each plan for the disposition of Governors Island, New York, that any person or entity may submit to the Commission; and (3) within 180 days after all of the members of the Commission have been appointed, submit to the President a recommendation for the disposition of Governors Island, New York. Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 providing for the sale of the Island. Provides for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, over the following structures and adjacent grounds on: (1) Castle Williams; (2) Fort Jay; (3) the Admiral's Headquarters; (4) the Governor's House; and (5) the Block House. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit to the Congress a plan for inclusion of the structures in the National Park System by the date on which the Commission submits its recommendation to the President. Authorizes appropriations.