(e) MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet
at the call of the Chairperson or a majority if its
members.
(2) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold
its first meeting.
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings.
(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among its members.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may hold such hearings for the purpose of carrying out
this Act, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
considers advisable to carry out this Act. The Commission
may administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses ap-
pearing before the Commission.
(b) 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 this Act. Upon request of
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such de-
partment or agency shall furnish such information to the
Commission.
(c) WEBSITE.—For purposes of conducting the study
under section 4(a), the Commission shall establish a
website to facilitate public comment and participation.
(d) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use
the United States mails in the same manner and under
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the Federal Government.
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Ad-
ministrator of the General Services Administration shall
provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services that are necessary to en-
able the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.
(f) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may contract with
and compensate persons and Federal agencies for supplies
and services without regard to section 3709 of the Revised
Statutes (42 U.S.C. 5).
(g) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—The Commission may
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services
or property to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. 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 sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in-
cluding 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 Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of 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 services
for the Commission.
(c) STAFF.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the
Commission may, without regard to the civil service
laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an exec-
utive director and such other additional personnel as
may be necessary to enable the Commission to per-
form its duties. The employment of an executive di-
rector shall be subject to confirmation by the Com-
mission.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson of the
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title
5, United States Code, relating to classification of
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except
that the rate of pay for the executive director and
other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
of such title.
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals which do not 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. 8. LIMITATION ON CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.
Any new contracting authority provided for in this
Act shall be effective only to the extent, or in the amounts,
provided for in advance in appropriations Acts.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
date on which the Commission submits its report under
section 4.
SEC. 10. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the
enactment of an Act with respect to voting practices and
procedures during the period in which the Commission is
carrying out its duties under this Act.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to the Commission
to carry out this Act.
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under
the authorization contained in this section shall remain
available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.
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