103 P.L. 419, *; 108 Stat. 4338, **; 

1994 Enacted S. 2372; 103 Enacted S. 2372 

UNITED STATES PUBLIC LAWS 

103rd Congress -- 2nd Session 

PUBLIC LAW 103-419 [S. 2372] 

OCTOBER 25, 1994 

CIVIL RIGHT COMMISSION AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1994

103 P.L. 419; 108 Stat. 4338; 1994 Enacted S. 2372; 103 Enacted S. 2372

BILL TRACKING REPORT: 103 Bill Tracking S. 2372 

FULL TEXT VERSION(S) OF BILL: 103 S. 2372

CIS LEGIS. HISTORY DOCUMENT: 103 CIS Legis. Hist. P.L. 419 

An Act 

To amend the United States Commission on Civil Rights Act of 1983. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 

in Congress assembled, 

[*1] SECTION 1. <42 USC 1975 note> SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the "Civil Rights Commission Amendments Act of 1994". 

[*2] SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF 1983 ACT. 

That the portion of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Act of 1983 which 

follows the enacting clause is amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 1. <42 USC 1975 note> SHORT TITLE. 

"This Act may be cited as the 'Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983'. 

"Sec. 2. <42 USC 1975> ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

"(a) Generally.--There is established the United States Commission on Civil Rights

(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 'Commission'). 

"(b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members. Not more than 4 of 

the members shall at any one time be of the same political party. The initial membership of

the Commission shall be the members of the United States Commission on Civil Rights

on September 30, 1994. Thereafter vacancies in the membership of the Commission shall 

continue to be appointed as follows: 

"(1) 4 members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President. 

"(2) 2 members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the 

Senate, upon the recommendations of the majority leader and the minority leader, and of
the members appointed not more than one shall be appointed from the same political party. 

"(3) 2 members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 

Representatives upon the recommendations of the majority leader and the minority leader, 

and of the members appointed not more than one shall be appointed from the same political 

party. 

"(c) Terms.--The term of office of each member of the Commission shall be 6 years. The 

term of each member of the Commission [**4339] in the initial membership of the 

Commission shall expire on the date such term would have expired as of September 30, 

1994. 

"(d) Chairperson.--(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the individuals serving 

as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the United States Commission on Civil Rights on 

September 30, 1994 shall initially fill those roles on the Commission. 

"(2) Thereafter the President may, with the concurrence of a majority of the Commission's 

members, designate a Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, as the case may be, from among 

the Commission's members. 

"(3) The President shall, with the concurrence of a majority of the Commission's members, 

fill a vacancy by designating a Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, as the case may be, from 

among the Commission's members. 

"(4) The Vice Chairperson shall act in place of the Chairperson in the absence of the 

Chairperson. 

"(e) Removal of Members.--The President may remove a member of the Commission only 

for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. 

"(f) Quorum.--5 members of the Commission constitute a quorum of the Commission. 

"Sec. 3. <42 USC 1975a> DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

"(a) Generally.--The Commission-- 

"(1) shall investigate allegations in writing under oath or affirmation relating to 

deprivations-- 

"(A) because of color, race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin; or 

"(B) as a result of any pattern or practice of fraud; 

of the right of citizens of the United States to vote and have votes counted; and 

"(2) shall-- 

"(A) study and collect information relating to; 

"(B) make appraisals of the laws and policies of the Federal Government with respect to; 

"(C) serve as a national clearinghouse for information relating to; and 
"(D) prepare public service announcements and advertising campaigns to discourage; 

discrimination or denials of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution of the United 

States because of color, race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the 

administration of justice. 

"(b) Limitations on Investigatory Duties.--Nothing in this or any other Act shall be construed 

as authorizing the Commission, its advisory committees, or any person under its supervision 

or control, to inquire into or investigate any membership practices or internal operations of 

any fraternal organization, any college or university fraternity or sorority, any private club, 

or any religious organization. 

"(c) Reports.-- 

"(1) Annual report.--The Commission shall submit to the President and Congress at least 

one report annually that monitors Federal civil rights enforcement efforts in the United 

States . 

"(2) Other reports generally.--The Commission shall submit such other reports to the 

President and the Congress [**4340] as the Commission, the Congress, or the President 

shall deem appropriate. 

"(d) Advisory Committees.--The Commission may constitute such advisory committees as it 

deems advisable. The Commission shall establish at least one such committee in each State 

and the District of Columbia composed of citizens of that State or District. 

"(e) Hearings and Ancillary Matters.-- 

"(1) Power to hold hearings.--The Commission, or on the authorization of the Commission, 

any subcommittee of two or more members of the Commission, at least one of whom shall 

be of each major political party, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such 

hearings and act at such times and places as the Commission or such authorized 

subcommittee deems advisable. Each member of the Commission shall have the power to 

administer oaths and affirmations in connection with the proceedings of the Commission. 

The holding of a hearing by the Commission or the appointment of a subcommittee to hold 

a hearing pursuant to this paragraph must be approved by a majority of the Commission, or 

by a majority of the members present at a meeting when a quorum is present. 

"(2) Power to issue subpoenas.--The Commission may issue subpoenas for the attendance 

of witnesses and the production of written or other matter. Such a subpoena may not 

require the presence of a witness more than 100 miles outside the place wherein the 

witness is found or resides or is domiciled or transacts business, or has appointed an agent 

for receipt of service of process. In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena, the 

Attorney General may in a Federal court of appropriate jurisdiction obtain an appropriate 

order to enforce the subpoena. 

"(3) Witness fees.--A witness attending any proceeding of the Commission shall be paid the 

same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States . 

"(4) Depositions and interrogatories.--The Commission may use depositions and written 

interrogatories to obtain information and testimony about matters that are the subject of a 

Commission hearing or report. 
"(f) Limitation Relating to Abortion.--Nothing in this or any other Act shall be construed as 

authorizing the Commission, its advisory committees, or any other person under its 

supervision or control to study and collect, make appraisals of, or serve as a clearinghouse 

for any information about laws and policies of the Federal Government or any other 

governmental authority in the United States, with respect to abortion. 

"Sec. 4. <42 USC 1975b> ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 

"(a) Staff.-- 

"(1) Director.--There shall be a full-time staff director for the Commission who shall-- 

"(A) serve as the administrative head of the Commission; and 

"(B) be appointed by the President with the concurrence of a majority of the Commission. 

"(2) Other personnel.--Within the limitation of its appropriations, the Commission may-- 

[**4341] "(A) appoint such other personnel as it deems advisable, under the civil service 

and classification laws; and 

"(B) procure services, as authorized in section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at 

rates for individuals not in excess of the daily equivalent paid for positions at the maximum 

rate for GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. 

"(b) Compensation of Members.-- 

"(1) Generally.--Each member of the Commission who is not otherwise in the service of the 

Government of the United States shall receive a sum equivalent to the compensation paid at 

level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, 

prorated on a daily basis for time spent in the work of the Commission. 

"(2) Persons otherwise in government service.--Each member of the Commission who is 

otherwise in the service of the Government of the United States shall serve without 

compensation in addition to that received for such other service, but while engaged in the 

work of the Commission shall be paid actual travel expenses and per diem in lieu of 

subsistence expenses when away from such member's usual place of residence, under 

subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 

"(c) Voluntary or Uncompensated Personnel.--The Commission shall not accept or use the 

services of voluntary or uncompensated persons. This limitation shall apply with respect to 

services of members of the Commission as it does with respect to services by other persons. 

"(d) Rules.-- 

"(1) Generally.--The Commission may make such rules as are necessary to carry out the 

purposes of this Act. 

"(2) Continuation of old rules.--Except as inconsistent with this Act, and until modified by 

the Commission, the rules of the Commission on Civil Rights in effect on September 30, 

1994 shall be the initial rules of the Commission. 

"(e) Cooperation.--All Federal agencies shall cooperate fully with the Commission to the end 
that it may effectively carry out its functions and duties. 

"Sec. 5. <42 USC 1975c> AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

"There are authorized to be appropriated, to carry out this Act $ 9,500,000 for fiscal year 

1995. None of the sums authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1995 may be used to 

create additional regional offices. 

[**4342] "Sec. 6. <42 USC 1975d> TERMINATION. 

"This Act shall terminate on September 30, 1996.". 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.