Amendment to Executive Order 12975, as Amended, National Bioethics Advisory Commission

This executive order amends Executive Order 12975 to revise the National Bioethics Advisory Commission's structure and expertise requirements. It specifies that NBAC members must represent five defined expertise areas, extends the commission's termination date from October 3, 1999 to October 3, 2001, and establishes membership balance between scientists and non-scientists.

Federal Register Open PDF 64 FR 50733

Impact dates

Oct 3, 2001
NBAC termination date (extended from October 3, 1999)

Key directives

Establish NBAC in Department of Health and Human Services subject to Federal Advisory Committee Act
Limit commission to not more than 18 nongovernment members
Require at least one member from each of five expertise categories: philosophy/theology, social/behavioral science, law, medicine/allied health professions, and biological research
Require at least three members from general public with expertise outside listed categories
Balance membership approximately evenly between scientists and non-scientists
Ensure equitable geographic distribution and ethnic/gender representation
Set member terms at 2 years with continuation until successor appointed
Extend commission termination date from October 3, 1999 to October 3, 2001

Timeline

Immediate

Restructuring of NBAC membership requirements takes effect
Termination date extended to prevent commission expiration

Near term (90d)

Implementation of new expertise-based appointment criteria

Long term

Commission operations continue until October 3, 2001 termination date

Risks & tensions

Vague 'approximately evenly balanced' standard for scientist/non-scientist ratio leaves discretion to appointing authority
No specific timeline for implementing new appointment criteria; existing members may not meet new expertise requirements
Two-year extension suggests ongoing institutional uncertainty about commission's long-term status