Restore the Partnership Act

To establish the National Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to facilitate the fullest cooperation and coordination between all levels of government. 1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the Restore the Partnership Act 2. Establishment There is established a permanent bipartisan commission to be known as the National Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Commission 3. Declaration of purpose In order to facilitate the fullest cooperation and coordination between all levels of government in an increasingly complex society, it is essential that a commission be established to give continuing attention to intergovernmental issues. It is intended that the Commission, in the performance of its duties, will— (1) bring together representatives of Federal, State, and local governments for the consideration of common problems; (2) provide a forum for discussing the administration and coordination of Federal aid and other programs requiring intergovernmental cooperation; (3) give critical attention to the conditions, controls, and oversight involved in the administration of such Federal programs; and (4) encourage discussion and study during the early stages of emerging public challenges that are likely to require intergovernmental cooperation. 4. Membership (a) Number and appointment The Commission shall be composed of 30 members, as follows: (1) 6 appointed by the President of the United States, 3 of whom shall be officers of the executive branch of the government, and 3 private citizens, each of whom shall have experience or familiarity with relations between the levels of government. (2) 3 appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall be Members of the Senate. (3) 3 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be Members of the House. (4) 4 appointed by the President from a panel of at least 8 Governors submitted by the National Governors’ Association. (5) 4 appointed by the President from a panel of at least 8 members of State legislative bodies submitted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. (6) 4 appointed by the President from a panel of at least 8 mayors submitted jointly by the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors. (7) 4 appointed by the President from a panel of at least 8 elected county officers submitted by the National Association of Counties. (8) 2 tribal officials appointed by the Secretary of the Interior from a panel of at least 4 submitted by the National Congress of American Indians. (b) Political and geographical composition (1) The members appointed from private life under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation. (2) Of each class of members enumerated in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a), 2 shall be from the majority party of the respective houses. (3) Of each class of members enumerated in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (a), not more than 2 shall be from any 1 political party. (4) Of each class of members enumerated in paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) of subsection (a), not more than 1 shall be from any 1 State. (5) At least 2 of the appointees under paragraph (6) of subsection (a) shall be from cities with a population of less than 500,000. (6) At least 2 of the appointees under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) shall be from counties with a population of less than 50,000. (7) 1 of the appointees under paragraph (8) of subsection (a) shall be from a gaming tribe and 1 shall be from a non-gaming tribe. (c) Terms (1) In general The term of office of each member of the Commission shall be 2 years. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. Except as provided in paragraph (2), members shall serve until their successors are appointed. (2) Termination of service in official position from which originally appointed Where any member ceases to serve in the official position from which originally appointed under section 3(a), his or her place on the Commission shall be deemed to be vacant. (3) Vacancies in membership Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made; except that where the number of vacancies is fewer than the number of members specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of section 3(a), each panel of names submitted in accordance with the aforementioned paragraphs shall contain at least 2 names for each vacancy. 5. Organization of Commission (a) Initial meeting The President shall convene the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act at such time and place as the President may designate. (b) Chairman and Vice Chairman The Commission shall designate a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among members of the Commission. (c) Quorum 13 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but 2 or more members, representing more than 1 of the class of members enumerated in section 4(a), shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting hearings. 6. Duties of Commission The Commission shall— (1) engage in such activities and make such studies and investigations as are necessary or desirable in the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in section 2; (2) consider, on its own initiative, mechanisms for fostering better relations between the levels of government; (3) make available technical assistance to the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government in the review of proposed legislation to determine its overall effect on all levels of government; (4) recommend, within the framework of the Constitution, the most desirable allocation of governmental functions, responsibilities, and revenues among the levels of government; (5) recommend methods of coordinating and simplifying tax laws and administrative policies and practices to achieve a more orderly and less competitive fiscal relationship between the levels of government and to reduce the burden of compliance for taxpayers; and (6) submit an annual report to the President and the Congress on or before January 31 of each year. The Commission may also submit such additional reports to the President, to Congress or any committee of Congress, and to any unit of government or organization as the Commission may deem appropriate. 7. Powers and administrative provisions (a) Hearings and Sessions The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or members thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings, take such testimony, and sit and act at such times and places as the Commission deems advisable. Any member authorized by the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission or any subcommittee or members thereof. (b) Cooperation by Federal agencies Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the government, including independent agencies, is authorized and directed to furnish to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman, such information as the Commission deems necessary to carry out its functions under this Act. (c) Executive Director The Commission shall have power to appoint and remove an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule. Such appointment shall be made solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the position and without regard to political affiliation. (d) Staff Subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Commission, the Executive Director shall have the power— (1) to appoint, fix the compensation of, and remove such other personnel as he deems necessary; and (2) to procure temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by law. (e) Applicability of other laws to employees Except as otherwise provided in this Act, persons in the employ of the Commission under subsections (c) and (d)(1) shall be considered Federal employees for all purposes. (f) Maximum compensation of employees No individual in the employ of the Commission under subsection (d)(1) shall be paid compensation for such employment at a rate in excess of the highest rate provided for under the General Schedule. 8. Reimbursement Members of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the Commission. 9. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 10. Receipt of funds; consideration by Congress The Commission is authorized to receive funds through grants, contracts, and contributions from State and local governments and organizations thereof, and from nonprofit organizations. Such funds may be received and expended by the Commission only for purposes of this Act. In making appropriations to the Commission, Congress shall consider the amount of any funds received by the Commission in addition to those funds appropriated to it by Congress.

Summary: Restore the Partnership Act - Establishes a permanent, bipartisan National Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. Requires the Commission to: (1) engage in activities and studies necessary to give continuing attention to intergovernmental issues in order to facilitate cooperation and coordination among all levels of government; (2) consider mechanisms for fostering better relations among the levels of government; (3) make available technical assistance to the federal executive and legislative branches in the review of proposed legislation to determine its overall effect on all levels of government; (4) recommend, within the framework of the Constitution, the most desirable allocation of government functions, responsibilities, and revenues among the levels of government; (5) recommend methods of coordinating and simplifying tax laws and administrative policies and practices to achieve a more orderly and less competitive fiscal relationship among the levels of government and to reduce the burden of compliance for taxpayers; and (6) submit an annual report to the President and Congress.