National Commission on the Future of Disability Act

Summary: National Commission on the Future of Disability Act - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to study and report to the President and the Congress on the adequacy of Federal programs serving persons with disabilities, especially programs authorized under the Social Security Act. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission on the Future of 
Disability Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Nation's proper goals regarding individuals with 
        disabilities are to ensure equality of opportunity, full 
        participation, independent living, and economic self-
        sufficiency for such individuals;
            (2) the vast changes underway in the workplace, information 
        technologies, and other aspects of society have been 
        insufficiently studied for the opportunities and hazards such 
        changes present for individuals with disabilities;
            (3) the Federal Government has created many programs to 
        serve the needs of individuals with disabilities, including 
        programs that provide financial assistance, medical care, 
        education, vocational rehabilitation, housing, transportation, 
        legal assistance, and rehabilitation research and training, but 
        many of these programs operate in a manner that is inconsistent 
        with the Nation's goals, work at cross-purposes with each 
        other, are outdated, or could otherwise be improved, and new 
        programs to serve individuals with disabilities may need to be 
        established;
            (4) there are Federal programs that are not viewed as 
        disability programs, yet serve significant numbers of 
        individuals with disabilities, and the impact and value of such 
        programs for individuals with disabilities have received 
        insufficient attention;
            (5) the Nation is not well informed about the increasing 
        number of Americans with disabilities, and disability is a 
        health and social welfare issue of growing proportions, for 
        which the Nation is ill prepared; and
            (6) it is incumbent upon the Federal Government to examine 
        its programs that serve individuals with disabilities to ensure 
        they are consistent with the Nation's goals, reflect the best 
        use of its resources, and properly anticipate societal and 
        technological change.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the National 
Commission on the Future of Disability (referred to in this Act as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall develop and carry out a 
comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and 
adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities, 
in particular, programs authorized under the Social Security Act, in 
terms of both current performance and future value.
    (b) Matters Studied.--The Commission shall prepare an inventory of 
Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities, and shall 
examine--
            (1) trends and projections regarding the size and 
        characteristics of the population of individuals with 
        disabilities, and the implications of such analyses for program 
        planning;
            (2) the feasibility and design of performance standards for 
        the Nation's disability programs;
            (3) the adequacy of Federal efforts in rehabilitation 
        research and training, and opportunities to improve the lives 
        of individuals with disabilities through all manners of 
        scientific and engineering research; and
            (4) the adequacy of policy research available to the 
        Federal Government, and what actions might be undertaken to 
        improve the quality and scope of such research.
    (c) Recommendations.--The Commission shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of the Congress and to the President 
recommendations and, as appropriate, proposals for legislation 
regarding--
            (1) which (if any) Federal disability programs should be 
        eliminated or augmented;
            (2) what new Federal disability programs (if any) should be 
        established;
            (3) the suitability of the organization and location of 
        disability programs within the Federal Government;
            (4) other actions the Federal Government should take to 
        prevent disabilities and disadvantages associated with 
        disabilities; and
            (5) such other matters as the Commission considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) four shall be appointed by the President, of 
                whom not more than 2 shall be of the same major 
                political party;
                    (B) two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader 
                of the Senate;
                    (C) two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
                of the Senate;
                    (D) two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    (E) two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
                of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Representation.--The Commission members shall be chosen 
        based on their education, training, or experience. In 
        appointing individuals as members of the Commission, the 
        President and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate 
        and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of 
        Representatives shall seek to ensure that the membership of the 
        Commission reflects the diversity of individuals with 
        disabilities in the United States.
    (b) Comptroller General.--The Comptroller General shall serve on 
the Commission as an ex officio member of the Commission to advise and 
oversee the methodology and approach of the study of the Commission.
    (c) Prohibition Against Officer or Employee.--Each individual 
appointed under subsection (a) shall not be an officer or employee of 
any government.
    (d) Deadline for Appointment; Term of Appointment.--Members of the 
Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. The members shall serve on the Commission for 
the life of the Commission.
    (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall locate its headquarters in the 
District of Columbia, and shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, 
but not less than four times each year during the life of the 
Commission.
    (f) Quorum.--Ten members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--Not later than 15 days after 
the members of the Commission are appointed, such members shall 
designate a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of 
the Commission.
    (h) Continuation of Membership.--If a member of the Commission 
becomes an officer or employee of any government after appointment to 
the Commission, the individual may continue as a member until a 
successor member is appointed.
    (i) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made not later than 30 
days after the Commission is given notice of the vacancy.
    (j) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall receive no 
additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 
the Commission.
    (k) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 6. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

    (a) Director.--
            (1) Appointment.--Upon consultation with the members of the 
        Commission, the Chairperson shall appoint a Director of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Compensation.--The Director shall be paid the rate of 
        basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule.
    (b) Staff.--With the approval of the Commission, the Director may 
appoint such personnel as the Director considers appropriate.
    (c) Applicability of Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the 
Commission shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and shall be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
classification and General Schedule pay rates.
    (d) Experts and Consultants.--With the approval of the Commission, 
the Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon the request of the Commission, 
the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any 
of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist in carrying 
out the duties of the Commission under this Act.
    (f) Other Resources.--The Commission shall have reasonable access 
to materials, resources, statistical data, and other information from 
the Library of Congress and agencies and elected representatives of the 
executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government. The 
Chairperson of the Commission shall make requests for such access in 
writing when necessary.
    (g) Physical Facilities.--The Administrator of the General Services 
Administration shall locate suitable office space for the operation of 
the Commission. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the 
Commission and shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals 
required for proper functioning of the Commission.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may conduct public hearings or forums 
at the discretion of the Commission, at any time and place the 
Commission is able to secure facilities and witnesses, for the purpose 
of carrying out the duties of the Commission under this Act.
    (b) Delegation of Authority.--Any member or agent of the Commission 
may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action the Commission is 
authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Information.--The Commission may secure directly from any 
Federal agency information necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
out its duties under this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson or Vice 
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall 
furnish the information to the Commission to the extent permitted by 
law.
    (d) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Commission may accept, use, 
and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devices of services or property, 
both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 
work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and 
proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or 
devices shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for 
disbursement upon order of the Commission.
    (e) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

    (a) Interim Report.--Not later than 1 year prior to the date on 
which the Commission terminates pursuant to section 9, the Commission 
shall submit an interim report to the President and to the Congress. 
The interim report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings 
and conclusions of the Commission, together with the Commission's 
recommendations for legislative and administrative action, based on the 
activities of the Commission.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than the date on which the Commission 
terminates, the Commission shall submit to the Congress and to the 
President a final report containing--
            (1) a detailed statement of final findings, conclusions, 
        and recommendations; and
            (2) an assessment of the extent to which recommendations of 
        the Commission included in the interim report under subsection 
        (a) have been implemented.
    (c) Printing and Public Distribution.--Upon receipt of each report 
of the Commission under this section, the President shall--
            (1) order the report to be printed; and
            (2) make the report available to the public upon request.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after 
the date on which the members of the Commission have met and designated 
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.