
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 5USC573]

 
             TITLE 5--GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES
 
                     PART I--THE AGENCIES GENERALLY
 
                   CHAPTER 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
 
     SUBCHAPTER IV--ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE 
                         ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS
 
Sec. 573. Neutrals

    (a) A neutral may be a permanent or temporary officer or employee of 
the Federal Government or any other individual who is acceptable to the 
parties to a dispute resolution proceeding. A neutral shall have no 
official, financial, or personal conflict of interest with respect to 
the issues in controversy, unless such interest is fully disclosed in 
writing to all parties and all parties agree that the neutral may serve.
    (b) A neutral who serves as a conciliator, facilitator, or mediator 
serves at the will of the parties.
    (c) The President shall designate an agency or designate or 
establish an interagency committee to facilitate and encourage agency 
use of dispute resolution under this subchapter. Such agency or 
interagency committee, in consultation with other appropriate Federal 
agencies and professional organizations experienced in matters 
concerning dispute resolution, shall--
        (1) encourage and facilitate agency use of alternative means of 
    dispute resolution; and
        (2) develop procedures that permit agencies to obtain the 
    services of neutrals on an expedited basis.

    (d) An agency may use the services of one or more employees of other 
agencies to serve as neutrals in dispute resolution proceedings. The 
agencies may enter into an interagency agreement that provides for the 
reimbursement by the user agency or the parties of the full or partial 
cost of the services of such an employee.
    (e) Any agency may enter into a contract with any person for 
services as a neutral, or for training in connection with alternative 
means of dispute resolution. The parties in a dispute resolution 
proceeding shall agree on compensation for the neutral that is fair and 
reasonable to the Government.

(Added Pub. L. 101-552, Sec. 4(b), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2739, 
Sec. 583; renumbered Sec. 573, Pub. L. 102-354, Sec. 3(b)(2), Aug. 26, 
1992, 106 Stat. 944; amended Pub. L. 104-320, Sec. 7(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 
110 Stat. 3872.)

                          Codification

    Section 573 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government 
Officers and Employees, was transferred to section 2258 of Title 7, 
Agriculture.


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 573 was renumbered section 593 of this title.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104-320, Sec. 7(b)(1), added subsec. (c) 
and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to power of 
Administrative Conference of the United States to establish and utilize 
standards for neutrals and to enter into contracts for services of 
neutrals.
    Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-320, Sec. 7(b)(2), struck out ``on a roster 
established under subsection (c)(2) or a roster maintained by other 
public or private organizations, or individual'' after ``contract with 
any person''.
    1992--Pub. L. 102-354 renumbered section 583 of this title as this 
section.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 577 of this title; title 29 
section 173.
