(4) provide an annual report to the Board re-
garding the activities of the Office; 
(5) provide such periodic reports and work 
product to the Board sufficient for the Board to ful-
fill its duties under section 203(k); 
(6) allocate and disburse funds appropriated for 
legal representation and related services in cases 
subject to this Act pursuant to rules and procedures 
established by the Board; 
(7) enter into contracts to provide or receive 
services with any public or private agency, group, or 
individual; 
(8) appoint a Local Administrator for each re-
gion to administer and approve, subject to the poli-
cies established by the Board, the payment of funds 
necessary for Panel Attorney representation, includ-
ing Panel Attorney compensation, investigators, ex-
perts, and other providers of representation services, 
and any other necessary expenses for effective rep-
resentation; 
(9) assist the Board in developing rules and 
standards for the delivery of services under this Act; 
(10) coordinate the services funded by the Of-
fice with any Federal, state, county, local, or private 
programs established to provide legal assistance to 
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persons in cases subject to this Act who are unable 
to afford representation; 
(11) consult with professional bodies concerning 
improving the administration of legal representation 
for persons in proceedings described in section 292 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended 
by section 101 of this Act; and 
(12) perform such other duties as may be as-
signed by the Board. 
SEC. 205. EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Employees of the Office shall be 
treated as employees of the Federal Government solely for 
purposes of— 
(1) subchapter 1 of chapter 81 of title 5, 
United States Code (relating to compensation for 
work injuries); 
(2) chapter 83 of such title 5 (relating to retire-
ment); 
(3) chapter 84 of such title 5 (relating to the 
Federal Employees’ Retirement System); 
(4) chapter 87 of such title 5 (relating to life 
insurance); and 
(5) chapter 89 of such title 5 (relating to health 
insurance). 
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(b) EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Office shall 
make contributions on behalf of employees of the Office 
under the provisions referred to in subsection (a) at the 
same rates applicable to employees of agencies of the Fed-
eral Government. 
(c) THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN.—Employees of the Office 
may make an election under section 8351 or 8432 of title 
5, United States Code, to participate in the Thrift Savings 
Plan for Federal employees. 
SEC. 206. LOCAL IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATION BOARDS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 6 months after 
the establishment of the Board, the Office shall delineate 
administrative regions throughout the United States and 
establish a local immigration representation board for 
each region. 
(b) COMPOSITION OF LOCAL BOARDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c), 
each Local Board shall consist of not fewer than 5 
members and not greater than 15 members, who 
shall initially be selected by the Board after con-
sultation with stakeholders in the Local Board’s re-
gion, including immigration legal service providers, 
community-based organizations, and people who are 
or have been subject to proceedings described in sec-
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tion 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 
amended by section 101. 
(2) ATTORNEYS.—Not fewer than 50 percent of 
the members of the Local Board selected pursuant 
to paragraph (1) shall be— 
(A) licensed attorneys with experience in 
the practice of removal defense; or 
(B) employees of community-based organi-
zations providing services to immigrants. 
(3) SUBSEQUENT MEMBERS.—After the initial 
members are selected pursuant to paragraph (1), 
each Local Board shall select its own members in 
accordance with bylaws that have been approved by 
the Office. 
(c) QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(1) EXPERIENCE; COMMITMENT.—Members of 
a Local Board shall have— 
(A) significant experience defending cases 
described in section 292 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act, as amended by section 101; 
and 
(B) demonstrated a strong commitment to 
representation in indigent defense matters. 
(2) DIVERSITY.—The composition of each Local 
Boards shall reflect the diversity of the population 
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that counsel appointed pursuant to such section 292 
are responsible for representing, including diversity 
of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigra-
tion experience, and socioeconomic background. 
(3) RESTRICTIONS.—A member of a Local 
Board may not— 
(A) be an employee of an Immigration 
Public Defender Organization or Community 
Defender Organization with a contract to pro-
vide representation under such section 292; 
(B) be a member of an Attorney Panel re-
ferred to in section 207(d); 
(C) be a judicial officer of the United 
States or of a State, territory, district, posses-
sion, or commonwealth of the United States; 
(D) be employed as a prosecutor, a law en-
forcement official, or a judicial official, or by a 
prosecutorial or law enforcement agency; or 
(E) have held a position described in sub-
paragraph (D) during the 3-year period imme-
diately preceding his or her appointment to the 
Board. 
(d) TERM OF MEMBERS OF A LOCAL BOARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of a Local Board 
shall serve 4-year terms, except that the terms of 
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