ment and Administration of Justice was established 
in 1965; 
(3) that commission, in a span of 18 months, 
produced a comprehensive report entitled ‘‘The 
Challenge of Crime in a Free Society’’, which con-
tained 200 specific recommendations on all aspects 
of the criminal justice system involving Federal, 
State, tribal, and local governments, civic organiza-
tions, religious institutions, business groups, and in-
dividual citizens; and 
(4) developments over the intervening 50 years 
require once again that Federal, State, tribal, and 
local governments, civic organizations, religious in-
stitutions, business groups, and individual citizens 
come together to review evidence and consider how 
to improve the criminal justice system. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘National Criminal Justice Commission’’ (referred to in 
this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 4. PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) undertake a comprehensive review of the 
criminal justice system; 
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(2) make recommendations for Federal criminal 
justice reform to the President and Congress; and 
(3) disseminate findings and supplemental guid-
ance to the Federal Government, as well as to State, 
local, and tribal governments. 
SEC. 5. REVIEW, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND REPORT. 
(a) GENERAL REVIEW.—The Commission shall un-
dertake a comprehensive review of all areas of the criminal 
justice system, including Federal, State, local, and tribal 
governments’ criminal justice costs, practices, and policies. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the first meeting of the Commission, the Com-
mission shall submit to the President and Congress 
recommendations for changes in Federal oversight, 
policies, practices, and laws designed to prevent, 
deter, and reduce crime and violence, reduce recidi-
vism, improve cost-effectiveness, and ensure the in-
terests of justice at every step of the criminal justice 
system. 
(2) UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUIRED.—A rec-
ommendation of the Commission may be adopted 
and submitted under paragraph (1) if the rec-
ommendation is approved by a unanimous vote of 
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the Commissioners at a meeting where a quorum is 
present pursuant to section 6(d). 
(3) 
REQUIREMENT.—The 
recommendations 
submitted under this subsection shall be made avail-
able to the public. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the first meeting of the Commission, the Com-
mission shall also disseminate to the Federal Gov-
ernment, as well as to State, local, and tribal gov-
ernments, a report that details the findings and sup-
plemental guidance of the Commission regarding the 
criminal justice system at all levels of government. 
(2) MAJORITY
VOTE
REQUIRED.—Commission 
findings and supplemental guidance may be adopted 
and included in the report required under paragraph 
(1) if the findings or guidance is approved by a ma-
jority vote of the Commissioners at a meeting where 
a quorum is present pursuant to section 6(d), except 
that any Commissioners dissenting from particular 
finding or supplemental guidance shall have the 
right to state the reason for their dissent in writing 
and such dissent shall be included in the report of 
the Commission. 
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(3) REQUIREMENT.—The report submitted 
under this subsection shall be made available to the 
public. 
(d) PRIOR COMMISSIONS.—The Commission shall 
take into consideration the work of prior relevant commis-
sions in conducting its review. 
(e) STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.—In issuing its 
recommendations and report under this section, the Com-
mission shall not infringe on the legitimate rights of the 
States to determine their own criminal laws or the enforce-
ment of such laws. 
(f) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—The Commission shall con-
duct public hearings in various locations around the 
United States. 
(g) CONSULTATION WITH GOVERNMENT AND NON-
GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(A) closely consult with Federal, State, 
local, and tribal government and nongovern-
mental leaders, including State, local, and tribal 
law enforcement officials, legislators, public 
health officials, judges, court administrators, 
prosecutors, defense counsel, victims’ rights or-
ganizations, probation and parole officials, 
criminal justice planners, criminologists, civil 
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rights and liberties organizations, formerly in-
carcerated individuals, professional organiza-
tions, and corrections officials; and 
(B) include in the final report required 
under subsection (c) summaries of the input 
and recommendations of these leaders. 
(2) UNITED
STATES
SENTENCING
COMMIS-
SION.—To the extent the review and recommenda-
tions required by this section relate to sentencing 
policies and practices for the Federal criminal jus-
tice system, the Commission shall conduct such re-
view and make such recommendations in consulta-
tion with the United States Sentencing Commission. 
(h) SENSE OF CONGRESS, GOAL OF UNANIMITY.— 
It is the sense of the Congress that, given the national 
importance of the matters before the Commission, the 
Commission should work toward unanimously supported 
findings and supplemental guidance, and that unani-
mously supported findings and supplemental guidance 
should take precedence over those findings and supple-
mental guidance that are not unanimously supported. 
SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 14 members, as follows: 
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(1) One member shall be appointed by the 
President, who shall serve as co-chairman of the 
Commission. 
(2) One member shall be appointed by the lead-
er of the Senate, in consultation with the leader of 
the House of Representatives, that is a member of 
the opposite party of the President, who shall serve 
as co-chairman of the Commission. 
(3) Two members shall be appointed by the sen-
ior member of the Senate leadership of the Demo-
cratic Party, in consultation with the Democratic 
leadership of the Committee on the Judiciary. 
(4) Two members shall be appointed by the sen-
ior member of the Senate leadership of the Repub-
lican Party, in consultation with the Republican 
leadership of the Committee on the Judiciary. 
(5) Two members shall be appointed by the sen-
ior member of the leadership of the House of Rep-
resentatives of the Republican Party, in consultation 
with the Republican leadership of the Committee on 
the Judiciary. 
(6) Two members shall be appointed by the sen-
ior member of the leadership of the House of Rep-
resentatives of the Democratic Party, in consultation 
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with the Democratic leadership of the Committee on 
the Judiciary. 
(7) Two members, who shall be State and local 
representatives, shall be appointed by the President 
in agreement with the leader of the Senate (majority 
or minority leader, as the case may be) of the Re-
publican Party and the leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives (majority or minority leader, as the case 
may be) of the Republican Party. 
(8) Two members, who shall be State and local 
representatives, shall be appointed by the President 
in agreement with the leader of the Senate (majority 
or minority leader, as the case may be) of the Demo-
cratic Party and the leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives (majority or minority leader, as the case 
may be) of the Democratic Party. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) 
QUALIFICATIONS.—The 
individuals 
ap-
pointed from private life as members of the Commis-
sion shall be individuals with distinguished reputa-
tions for integrity and nonpartisanship who are na-
tionally recognized for expertise, knowledge, or expe-
rience in such relevant areas as— 
(A) law enforcement; 
(B) criminal justice; 
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(C) national security; 
(D) prison and jail administration; 
(E) prisoner reentry; 
(F) public health, including physical and 
sexual victimization, drug addiction and mental 
health; 
(G) victims’ rights; 
(H) civil liberties; 
(I) court administration; 
(J) social services; and 
(K) State, local, and tribal government. 
(2) DISQUALIFICATION.—An individual shall 
not be appointed as a member of the Commission if 
such individual possesses any personal financial in-
terest in the discharge of any of the duties of the 
Commission. 
(3) TERMS.—Members shall be appointed for 
the life of the Commission. 
(c) APPOINTMENT; FIRST MEETING.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—Members of the Commis-
sion shall be appointed not later than 45 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) FIRST
MEETING.—The Commission shall 
hold its first meeting on the date that is 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, or not later 
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than 30 days after the date on which funds are 
made available for the Commission, whichever is 
later. 
(3) ETHICS.—At the first meeting of the Com-
mission, the Commission shall draft appropriate eth-
ics guidelines for commissioners and staff, including 
guidelines relating to conflict of interest and finan-
cial disclosure. The Commission shall consult with 
the Senate and House Committees on the Judiciary 
as a part of drafting the guidelines and furnish the 
committees with a copy of the completed guidelines. 
(d) MEETINGS; QUORUM; VACANCIES.— 
(1) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
the call of the co-chairs or a majority of its mem-
bers. 
(2) QUORUM.—Eight members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum for purposes of con-
ducting business, except that 2 members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes 
of receiving testimony. 
(3) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commis-
sion shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in 
the same manner in which the original appointment 
was made. If vacancies in the Commission occur on 
any day after 45 days after the date of the enact-
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ment of this Act, a quorum shall consist of a major-
ity of the members of the Commission as of such 
day, so long as not less than 1 Commission member 
chosen by a member of each party, Republican and 
Democratic, is present. 
(e) ACTIONS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission— 
(A) shall, subject to the requirements of 
section 5, act by resolution agreed to by a ma-
jority of the members of the Commission voting 
and present; and 
(B) may establish panels composed of less 
than the full membership of the Commission for 
purposes of carrying out the duties of the Com-
mission under this title— 
(i) which shall be subject to the review 
and control of the Commission; and 
(ii) any findings and determinations 
made by such a panel shall not be consid-
ered the findings and determinations of the 
Commission unless approved by the Com-
mission. 
(2) DELEGATION.—Any member, agent, or staff 
of the Commission may, if authorized by the co- 
chairs of the Commission, take any action which the 
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Commission is authorized to take pursuant to this 
Act. 
SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) STAFF.— 
(1) EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.—The Commission 
shall have a staff headed by an Executive Director. 
The Executive Director shall be paid at a rate estab-
lished for the Certified Plan pay level for the Senior 
Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.—The 
co-chairs of the Commission shall designate and fix 
the compensation of the Executive Director and, in 
accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commis-
sion, may appoint and fix the compensation of such 
other personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
Commission to carry out its functions, without re-
gard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relat-
ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
except that no rate of pay fixed under this sub-
section may exceed the equivalent of that payable for 
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a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Executive Director 
and any personnel of the Commission who are 
employees shall be employees under section 
2105 of title 5, United States Code, for pur-
poses of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 
and 90 of that title. 
(B) MEMBERS OF COMMISSION.—Subpara-
graph (A) shall not be construed to apply to 
members of the Commission. 
(4) THE COMPENSATION OF COMMISSIONERS.— 
Each member of the Commission may be com-
pensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the 
annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 
of title 5, United States Code, for each day during 
which that member is engaged in the actual per-
formance of the duties of the Commission. All mem-
bers of the Commission who are officers or employ-
ees of the United States, State, or local government 
shall serve without compensation in addition to that 
received for their services as officers or employees. 
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(5) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—While away from 
their homes or regular places of business in the per-
formance of services for the Commission, members 
of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as persons employed intermittently in 
the Government service are allowed expenses under 
section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.—With the ap-
proval of the Commission, the Executive Director may 
procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the per-
sonnel of such agency to the Commission to assist in car-
rying out the duties of the Commission. Any such detail 
shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service sta-
tus or privileges of the Federal employee. 
(d) OTHER RESOURCES.—The Commission shall 
have reasonable access to materials, resources, statistical 
data, and other information such Commission determines 
to be necessary to carry out its duties from the Library 
of Congress, the Department of Justice, the Office of Na-
tional Drug Control Policy, the Department of State, and 
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other agencies of the executive and legislative branches of 
the Federal Government. The co-chairs of the Commission 
shall make requests for such access in writing when nec-
essary. 
(e) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—Notwithstanding the 
provisions of section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, 
the Commission is authorized to accept and utilize the 
services of volunteers serving without compensation. The 
Commission may reimburse such volunteers for local travel 
and office supplies, and for other travel expenses, includ-
ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by sec-
tion 5703 of title 5, United States Code. A person pro-
viding volunteer services to the Commission shall be con-
sidered an employee of the Federal Government in per-
formance of those services for the purposes of chapter 81 
of title 5, United States Code, relating to compensation 
for work-related injuries, chapter 171 of title 28, United 
States Code, relating to tort claims, and chapter 11 of 
title 18, United States Code, relating to conflicts of inter-
est. 
(f) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any agency of the United States 
information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. 
Upon the request of the co-chairs of the Commission, the 
head of that department or agency shall furnish that infor-
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mation to the Commission. The Commission shall not have 
access to sensitive information regarding ongoing inves-
tigations. 
(g) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 
States. 
(h) ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTING.—The Commission 
shall issue biannual status reports to Congress regarding 
the use of resources, salaries, and all expenditures of ap-
propriated funds. 
(i) CONTRACTS.—The Commission is authorized to 
enter into contracts with Federal and State agencies, pri-
vate firms, institutions, and individuals for the conduct of 
activities necessary to the discharge of its duties and re-
sponsibilities. A contract, lease or other legal agreement 
entered into by the Commission may not extend beyond 
the date of the termination of the Commission. 
(j) GIFTS.—Subject to existing law, the Commission 
may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of serv-
ices or property. 
(k) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE.—The Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Commis-
sion, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its re-
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sponsibilities under this Act. These administrative services 
may include human resource management, budget, leas-
ing, accounting, and payroll services. 
(l) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA AND PUBLIC AC-
CESS TO MEETINGS AND MINUTES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Commission. 
(2) MEETINGS AND MINUTES.— 
(A) MEETINGS.— 
(i) ADMINISTRATION.—All meetings of 
the Commission shall be open to the pub-
lic, except that a meeting or any portion of 
it may be closed to the public if it concerns 
matters or information described in section 
552b(c) of title 5, United States Code. In-
terested persons shall be permitted to ap-
pear at open meetings and present oral or 
written statements on the subject matter 
of the meeting. The Commission may ad-
minister oaths or affirmations to any per-
son appearing before it. 
(ii) NOTICE.—All open meetings of 
the Commission shall be preceded by time-
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ly public notice in the Federal Register of 
the time, place, and subject of the meeting. 
(B) 
MINUTES
AND
PUBLIC
AVAIL-
ABILITY.—Minutes of each open meeting shall 
be kept and shall contain a record of the people 
present, a description of the discussion that oc-
curred, and copies of all statements filed. The 
minutes and records of all open meetings and 
other documents that were made available to or 
prepared for the Commission shall be available 
for public inspection and copying at a single lo-
cation in the offices of the Commission. 
(m) ARCHIVING.—Not later than the date of termi-
nation of the Commission, all records and papers of the 
Commission shall be delivered to the Archivist of the 
United States for deposit in the National Archives. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF FUNDS. 
For each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the Attorney 
General may use, from any unobligated balances made 
available under the heading ‘‘GENERAL ADMINISTRA-
TION’’ to the Department of Justice in an appropriations 
Act, such amounts as are necessary, not to exceed 
$7,000,000 per fiscal year and not to exceed $14,000,000 
total for both fiscal years, to carry out this Act, except 
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