To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to remove an exemption from civil penalties for nuclear safety violations by nonprofit institutions.

H.R. 723 proposes to change how the Department of Energy handles safety violations at nuclear facilities operated by nonprofit organizations, such as universities and research labs. Under current law, these institutions are often automatically exempt from paying fines when they violate nuclear safety regulations. This bill would remove that automatic exemption, allowing the government to impose civil penalties on nonprofits to encourage stricter adherence to safety standards.

For the public, this change is intended to increase accountability and improve safety oversight at research facilities that handle nuclear materials. To ensure these penalties do not bankrupt educational or charitable institutions, the bill limits the maximum fine to the amount of the management fee the institution earned under its government contract. This approach seeks to balance public safety enforcement with the financial stability of nonprofit research programs.