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project, the Attorney General shall, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, award a grant to the National
Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (referred to in this sub-
title as the ‘‘National Center’’) to enable the National Cen-
ter to award grants to grassroots entities in the following
8 cities:
(1) Washington, District of Columbia.
(2) Detroit, Michigan.
(3) Hartford, Connecticut.
(4) Indianapolis, Indiana.
(5) Chicago (and surrounding metropolitan
area), Illinois.
(6) San Antonio, Texas.
(7) Dallas, Texas.
(8) Los Angeles, California.
SEC. 1584. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subtitle, a grassroots entity referred to in section
1583 shall submit an application to the National Center
to fund intervention models that establish violence-free
zones.
(b) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In awarding grants under
this subtitle, the National Center shall consider—
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(1) the track record of a grassroots entity and
key participating individuals in youth group medi-
ation and crime prevention;
(2) the engagement and participation of a grass-
roots entity with other local organizations; and
(3) the ability of a grassroots entity to enter into
partnerships with local housing authorities, law en-
forcement agencies, and other public entities.
SEC. 1585. USES OF FUNDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Funds received under this subtitle
may be used for youth mediation, youth mentoring, life
skills training, job creation and entrepreneurship, organiza-
tional development and training, development of long-term
intervention plans, collaboration with law enforcement,
comprehensive support services and local agency partner-
ships, and activities to further community objectives in re-
ducing youth crime and violence.
(b) GUIDELINES.—The National Center will identify
local lead grassroots entities in each designated city.
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The National Center, in
cooperation with the Attorney General, shall also provide
technical assistance for startup projects in other cities.
SEC. 1586. REPORTS.
The National Center shall submit a report to the Attor-
ney General evaluating the effectiveness of grassroots agen-
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cies and other public entities involved in the demonstration
project.
SEC. 1587. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) GRASSROOTS ENTITY.—The term ‘‘grassroots
entity’’ means a not-for-profit community organiza-
tion with demonstrated effectiveness in mediating and
addressing youth violence by empowering at-risk
youth to become agents of peace and community res-
toration.
(2) NATIONAL CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD EN-
TERPRISE.—The term ‘‘National Center for Neighbor-
hood Enterprise’’ means a not-for-profit organization
incorporated in the District of Columbia.
SEC. 1588. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this subtitle—
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
(3) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(4) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
(5) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
(b) RESERVATION.—The National Center for Neighbor-
hood Enterprise may use not more than 20 percent of the
amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in any
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fiscal year for administrative costs, technical assistance and
training, comprehensive support services, and evaluation of
participating grassroots organizations.
Subtitle I—National Youth Violence
Commission
SEC. 1591. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘National Youth Vio-
lence Commission Act’’.
SEC. 1592. NATIONAL YOUTH VIOLENCE COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.—There is estab-
lished a commission to be known as the National Youth Vio-
lence Commission (hereinafter referred to in this subtitle as
the ‘‘Commission’’). The Commission shall—
(1) be composed of 16 members appointed in ac-
cordance with subsection (b); and
(2) conduct its business in accordance with the
provisions of this subtitle.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) PERSONS ELIGIBLE.—Except for those mem-
bers who hold the offices described under paragraph
(2)(A), and those members appointed under para-
graph (2) (C)(ii) and (D)(iv), the members of the
Commission shall be individuals who have expertise,
by both experience and training, in matters to be
studied by the Commission under section 1593. The
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members of the Commission shall be well-known and
respected among their peers in their respective fields
of expertise.
(2) APPOINTMENTS.—The members of the Com-
mission shall be appointed for the life of the Commis-
sion as follows:
(A) Four shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States, including—
(i) the Surgeon General of the United
States;
(ii) the Attorney General of the United
States;
(iii) the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services; and
(iv) the Secretary of the Department of
Education.
(B) Four shall be appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, including—
(i) 1 member who meets the criteria for
eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field of
law enforcement or crime enforcement;
(ii) 1 member who meets the criteria
for eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field
of school administration, teaching, or coun-
seling;
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(iii) 1 member who meets the criteria
for eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field
of parenting and family studies; and
(iv) 1 member who meets the criteria
for eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field
of child or adolescent psychology.
(C) Two shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader 
of 
the 
House 
of 
Representatives,
including—
(i) 1 member who meets the criteria for
eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field of
law enforcement or crime enforcement; and
(ii) 1 member who is a recognized reli-
gious leader.
(D) Four shall be appointed by the Majority
Leader of the Senate, including—
(i) 1 member who meets the criteria for
eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field of
law enforcement or crime enforcement;
(ii) 1 member who meets the criteria
for eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field
of school administration, teaching, or coun-
seling;
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(iii) 1 member who meets the criteria
for eligibility in paragraph (1) in the social
sciences; and
(iv) 1 member who is a recognized reli-
gious leader.
(E) Two shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate, including—
(i) 1 member who meets the criteria for
eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field of
school administration, teaching, or coun-
seling; and
(ii) 1 member who meets the criteria
for eligibility in paragraph (1) in the field
of parenting and family studies.
(3) COMPLETION
OF
APPOINTMENTS; 
VACAN-
CIES.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the appointing authorities under
paragraph (2) shall each make their respective ap-
pointments. Any vacancy that occurs during the life
of the Commission shall not affect the powers of the
Commission, and shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment not later than 30 days
after the vacancy occurs.
(4) OPERATION OF THE COMMISSION.—
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(A) CHAIRMANSHIP.—The appointing au-
thorities under paragraph (2) shall jointly des-
ignate 1 member as the Chairman of the Com-
mission. In the event of a disagreement among
the appointing authorities, the Chairman shall
be determined by a majority vote of the appoint-
ing authorities. The determination of which
member shall be Chairman shall be made not
later than 15 days after the appointment of the
last member of the Commission, but in no case
later than 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(B) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall
meet at the call of the Chairman. The initial
meeting of the Commission shall be conducted
not later than 30 days after the later of—
(i) the date of the appointment of the
last member of the Commission; or
(ii) the date on which appropriated
funds are available for the Commission.
(C) QUORUM; VOTING; RULES.—A majority
of the members of the Commission shall con-
stitute a quorum to conduct business, but the
Commission may establish a lesser quorum for
conducting hearings scheduled by the Commis-
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sion. Each member of the Commission shall have
1 vote, and the vote of each member shall be ac-
corded the same weight. The Commission may es-
tablish by majority vote any other rules for the
conduct of the Commission’s business, if such
rules are not inconsistent with this subtitle or
other applicable law.
SEC. 1593. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be the duty of the
Commission to conduct a comprehensive factual study
of incidents of youth violence to determine the root
causes of such violence.
(2) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.—In determining
the root causes of incidents of youth violence, the
Commission shall study any matter that the Commis-
sion determines relevant to meeting the requirements
of paragraph (1), including at a minimum—
(A) the level of involvement and awareness
of teachers and school administrators in the lives
of their students and any impact of such involve-
ment and awareness on incidents of youth vio-
lence;
(B) trends in family relationships, the level
of involvement and awareness of parents in the
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lives of their children, and any impact of such
relationships, involvement, and awareness on in-
cidents of youth violence;
(C) the alienation of youth from their
schools, families, and peer groups, and any im-
pact of such alienation on incidents of youth vio-
lence;
(D) the availability of firearms to youth,
including any illegal means by which youth ac-
quire such firearms, and any impact of such
availability on incidents of youth violence;
(E) any impact upon incidents of youth vi-
olence of the failure to execute existing laws de-
signed to restrict youth access to certain fire-
arms, and the illegal purchase, possession, or
transfer of certain firearms;
(F) the effect upon youth of depictions of vi-
olence in the media and any impact of such de-
pictions on incidents of youth violence; and
(G) the availability to youth of information
regarding the construction of weapons, including
explosive devices, and any impact of such infor-
mation on incidents of youth violence.
(3) TESTIMONY OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS.—In
determining the root causes of incidents of youth vio-
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lence, the Commission shall, pursuant to section
1594(a), take the testimony of parents and students to
learn and memorialize their views and experiences re-
garding incidents of youth violence.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Based on the findings of the
study required under subsection (a), the Commission shall
make recommendations to the President and Congress to ad-
dress the causes of youth violence and reduce incidents of
youth violence. If the Surgeon General issues any report
on media and violence, the Commission shall consider the
findings and conclusions of such report in making rec-
ommendations under this subsection.
(c) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after
the date on which the Commission first meets, the
Commission shall submit to the President and Con-
gress a comprehensive report of the Commission’s
findings and conclusions, together with the rec-
ommendations of the Commission.
(2) SUMMARIES.—The report under this sub-
section shall include a summary of—
(A) the reports submitted to the Commission
by any entity under contract for research under
section 1594(e); and
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(B) any other material relied on by the
Commission in the preparation of the Commis-
sion’s report.
SEC. 1594. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission may hold
such hearings, sit and act at such times and places,
administer such oaths, take such testimony, and re-
ceive such evidence as the Commission considers ad-
visable to carry out its duties under section 1593.
(2) WITNESS EXPENSES.—Witnesses requested to
appear before the Commission shall be paid the same
fees as are paid to witnesses under section 1821 of
title 28, United States Code.
(b) SUBPOENAS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—If a person fails to supply in-
formation requested by the Commission, the Commis-
sion may by majority vote request the Attorney Gen-
eral of the United States to require by subpoena the
production of any written or recorded information,
document, report, answer, record, account, paper,
computer file, or other data or documentary evidence
necessary to carry out the Commission’s duties under
section 1593. The Commission shall transmit to the
Attorney General a confidential, written request for
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the issuance of any such subpoena. The Attorney Gen-
eral shall issue the requested subpoena if the request
is reasonable and consistent with the Commission’s
duties under section 1593. A subpoena under this
paragraph may require the production of materials
from any place within the United States.
(2) INTERROGATORIES.—The Commission may,
with respect only to information necessary to under-
stand any materials obtained through a subpoena
under paragraph (1), request the Attorney General to
issue a subpoena requiring the person producing such
materials to answer, either through a sworn deposi-
tion or through written answers provided under oath
(at the election of the person upon whom the subpoena
is served), to interrogatories from the Commission re-
garding such information. The Attorney General shall
issue the requested subpoena if the request is reason-
able and consistent with the Commission’s duties
under section 1593. A complete recording or tran-
scription shall be made of any deposition made under
this paragraph.
(3) CERTIFICATION.—Each person who submits
materials or information to the Attorney General
pursuant to a subpoena issued under paragraph (1)
or (2) shall certify to the Attorney General the au-
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thenticity and completeness of all materials or infor-
mation submitted. The provisions of section 1001 of
title 18, United States Code, shall apply to any false
statements made with respect to the certification re-
quired under this paragraph.
(4) TREATMENT OF SUBPOENAS.—Any subpoena
issued by the Attorney General under paragraph (1)
or (2) shall comply with the requirements for sub-
poenas issued by a United States district court under
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(5) FAILURE TO OBEY A SUBPOENA.—If a person
refuses to obey a subpoena issued by the Attorney
General under paragraph (1) or (2), the Attorney
General may apply to a United States district court
for an order requiring that person to comply with
such subpoena. The application may be made within
the judicial district in which that person is found, re-
sides, or transacts business. Any failure to obey the
order of the court may be punished by the court as
civil contempt.
(c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out its duties under section 1593.
Upon the request of the Commission, the head of such de-
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partment or agency may furnish such information to the
Commission.
(d) INFORMATION TO BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be con-
sidered an agency of the Federal Government for pur-
poses of section 1905 of title 18, United States Code,
and any individual employed by any individual or
entity under contract with the Commission under
subsection (e) shall be considered an employee of the
Commission for the purposes of section 1905 of title
18, United States Code.
(2) DISCLOSURE.—Information obtained by the
Commission or the Attorney General under this Act
and shared with the Commission, other than informa-
tion available to the public, shall not be disclosed to
any person in any manner, except—
(A) to Commission employees or employees
of any individual or entity under contract to the
Commission under subsection (e) for the purpose
of receiving, reviewing, or processing such infor-
mation;
(B) upon court order; or
(C) when publicly released by the Commis-
sion in an aggregate or summary form that does
not directly or indirectly disclose—
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(i) the identity of any person or busi-
ness entity; or
(ii) any information which could not
be released under section 1905 of title 18,
United States Code.
(e) CONTRACTING FOR RESEARCH.—The Commission
may enter into contracts with any entity for research nec-
essary to carry out the Commission’s duties under section
1593.
SEC. 1595. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the
Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal
to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre-
scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section
5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including
travel time) during which such member is engaged in the
performance of the duties of the Commission. All members
of the Commission who are officers or employees of the
United States shall serve without compensation in addition
to that received for their services as officers or employees
of the United States.
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of
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agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places
of business in the performance of service for the Commis-
sion.
(c) STAFF.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of the Com-
mission may, without regard to the civil service laws
and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive
director and such other additional personnel as may
be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its
duties. The employment and termination of an execu-
tive director shall be subject to confirmation by a ma-
jority of the members of the Commission.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The executive director shall
be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate pay-
able for level V of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5316 of title 5, United States Code. The Chair-
man may fix the compensation of other personnel
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States
Code, relating to classification of positions and Gen-
eral Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay
for such personnel may not exceed the rate payable for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
of such title.
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(3) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any
Federal Government employee, with the approval of
the head of the appropriate Federal agency, may be
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement,
and such detail shall be without interruption or loss
of civil service status, benefits, or privilege.
(d) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairman of the Commission may
procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ-
uals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate
of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of such title.
SEC. 1596. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Com-
mission and any agency of the Federal Government assist-
ing the Commission in carrying out its duties under this
subtitle such sums as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this subtitle. Any sums appropriated shall re-
main available, without fiscal year limitation, until ex-
pended.
SEC. 1597. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
Commission submits the report under section 1593(c).
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Subtitle J—School Safety
SEC. 1598. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘School Safety Act
of 1999’’.
SEC. 1599. AMENDMENTS TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES EDUCATION ACT.
(a) PLACEMENT IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL SET-
TING.—Section 615(k) of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1415(k)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(I), by inserting
‘‘(other than a gun or firearm)’’ after ‘‘weapon’’;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (10) as para-
graph (11); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing new section:
‘‘(10) DISCIPLINE WITH REGARD TO GUNS OR
FIREARMS.—
‘‘(A) AUTHORITY
OF
SCHOOL
PERSONNEL
WITH RESPECT TO GUNS OR FIREARMS.—
‘‘(i) Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of this Act, school personnel may dis-
cipline (including expel or suspend) a child
with a disability who carries or possesses a
gun or firearm to or at a school, on school
premises, or to or at a school function,
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under the jurisdiction of a State or a local
educational agency, in the same manner in
which such personnel may discipline a child
without a disability.
‘‘(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be con-
strued to prevent a child with a disability
who is disciplined pursuant to the authority
provided under clause (i) from asserting a
defense that the carrying or possession of
the gun or firearm was unintentional or in-
nocent.
‘‘(B) FREE
APPROPRIATE
PUBLIC
EDU-
CATION.—
‘‘(i) 
CEASING
TO
PROVIDE
EDU-
CATION.—Notwithstanding 
section
612(a)(1)(A), a child expelled or suspended
under subparagraph (A) shall not be enti-
tled to continued educational services, in-
cluding a free appropriate public education,
under this title, during the term of such ex-
pulsion or suspension, if the State in which
the local educational agency responsible for
providing educational services to such child
does not require a child without a disability
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to receive educational services after being
expelled or suspended.
‘‘(ii) 
PROVIDING
EDUCATION.—Not-
withstanding clause (i), the local edu-
cational agency responsible for providing
educational services to a child with a dis-
ability who is expelled or suspended under
subparagraph (A) may choose to continue to
provide educational services to such child. If
the local educational agency so chooses to
continue to provide the services—
‘‘(I) nothing in this title shall re-
quire the local educational agency to
provide such child with a free appro-
priate public education, or any par-
ticular level of service; and
‘‘(II) the location where the local
educational agency provides the serv-
ices shall be left to the discretion of the
local educational agency.
‘‘(C) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
‘‘(i) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—No agency
shall be considered to be in violation of sec-
tion 612 or 613 because the agency has pro-
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vided discipline, services, or assistance in
accordance with this paragraph.
‘‘(ii) PROCEDURE.—Actions taken pur-
suant to this paragraph shall not be subject
to the provisions of this section, other than
this paragraph.
‘‘(D) FIREARM.—The term ‘firearm’ has the
meaning given the term under section 921 of
title 18, United States Code.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 615(f)(1) of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1415(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘Whenever’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘Except as provided in section
615(k)(10), whenever’’.
Attest:
Secretary.
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