1. (a) Authority Government-owned, contractor-operated laboratories that are funded out of funds available to the Department of Energy for national security programs are authorized to carry out laboratory-directed research and development.
2. (b) Regulations The Secretary of Energy shall prescribe regulations for the conduct of laboratory-directed research and development at such laboratories.
3. (c) Funding Of the funds provided by the Department of Energy to a national security laboratory for national security activities, the Secretary shall provide a specific amount, of not less than 5 percent and not more than 7 percent of such funds, to be used by the laboratory for laboratory-directed research and development.
4. (d) “Laboratory-directed research and development” defined For purposes of this section, the term “laboratory-directed research and development” means research and development work of a creative and innovative nature which, under the regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (b), is selected by the director of a laboratory for the purpose of maintaining the vitality of the laboratory in defense-related scientific disciplines.

(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLVIII, § 4811, formerly Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, § 3132, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1832; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLVIII, § 4811, and amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(k)(6), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1784; Pub. L. 114–92, div. C, title XXXI, § 3115(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1193.)

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 7257a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 108–136.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–92, § 3115(a), substituted “to a national security laboratory” for “to such laboratories”, “of not less than 5 percent and not more than 7 percent” for “not to exceed 6 percent”, and “by the laboratory” for “by such laboratories”.

2003—Pub. L. 108–136, § 3141(k)(6)(D), made technical amendment to section catchline.