Congress finds that wider diffusion and more effective application of science and technology in business, commerce, and industry are essential to the growth of the economy, to higher levels of employment, and to the competitive position of United States products in world markets. The Congress also finds that the benefits of federally financed research, as well as other research, must be placed more effectively in the hands of American business, commerce, and industrial establishments. The Congress further finds that the several States through cooperation with universities, communities, and industries can contribute significantly to these purposes by providing technical services designed to encourage a more effective application of science and technology to both new and established business, commerce, and industrial establishments. The Congress, therefore, declares that the purpose of this chapter is to provide a national program of incentives and support for the several States individually and in cooperation with each other in their establishing and maintaining State and interstate technical service programs designed to achieve these ends.

The Governor of any State which wishes to receive Federal payments under this chapter in support of its existing or planned technical services program shall designate, under appropriate State laws and regulations, an institution or agency to administer and coordinate that program and to prepare and submit a plan and programs to the Secretary of Commerce for approval under this chapter.

The Secretary shall review the five-year plan and each annual program submitted by a designated agency under section 1354 or 1357 of this title, and shall approve only those which (1) bear the certification required by the Governor or his designee under section 1355 of this title; (2) comply with regulations and meet criteria that the Secretary shall promulgate and publish in the Federal Register; and (3) otherwise accomplish the purpose of this chapter.

Two or more States may cooperate in administering and coordinating their plans and programs supported under this chapter, in which event all or part of the sums authorized and payable under section 1360 of this title to all of the cooperating States may be paid to the designated agency, participating institutions, or persons authorized to receive them under the terms of the agreement between the cooperating States. When the cooperative agreement designates an interstate agency to act on behalf of all of the cooperating States, it shall submit to the Secretary for review and approval under section 1356 of this title an interstate five-year plan and an annual interstate technical services program which, as nearly as practicable, shall meet the requirements of sections 1354 and 1355 of this title.

Each designated agency shall appoint an advisory council for technical services, the members of which shall represent broad community interests and shall be qualified to evaluate programs submitted under section 1354 of this title. The advisory council shall review each annual program, evaluate its relation to the purposes of this chapter, and report its findings to the designated agency and the Governor or his designee. Each report of each advisory council shall be available to the Secretary on request. Members of any such advisory council shall not be compensated for serving as such, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred by them in connection with attending meetings of any advisory council of which they are members.

The Secretary is authorized and directed to aid designated agencies in carrying out their technical services programs by providing reference services which a designated agency may use to obtain scientific, technical, and engineering information from sources outside the State or States which it serves, for the purposes of this chapter.

The Secretary is authorized to establish such policies, standards, criteria, and procedures and to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of this chapter.

Within three years from September 14, 1965, the Secretary shall appoint a public committee, none of the members of which shall have been directly concerned with the preparation of plans, administration of programs or participation in programs under this chapter. The Committee shall evaluate the significance and impact of the program under this chapter and make recommendations concerning the program. A report shall be transmitted to the Secretary within sixty days after the end of such three-year period.

Upon notice by the Secretary to any designated agency or participating institution that no further payments will be made pending substantial compliance, correction, or repayment under section 1366 of this title, any funds which may have been paid to such agency or institution under this chapter and which are not expended by the agency or institution on the date of such notice, shall be repaid to the Secretary and be deposited to the account of the appropriations from which they originally were paid.