Federal Trade Commission Technologists Act of 2021
Bill: S.3187 | Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray (D-NM)
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Federal Trade Commission Technologists Act of 2021
This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish the Office of Technologists to advise on matters such as the FTC's use of technology, technical aspects of law enforcement actions, and technology policy recommendations.

To establish the Office of Technologists within the Federal Trade 
                              Commission.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Trade Commission 
Technologists Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGISTS.

    (a) Office of Technologists.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall establish 
within the Commission the Office of Technologists (in this section 
referred to as the ``Office'') to advise the Commission on technology 
matters, including the Commission's use of technology, technical 
aspects of law enforcement actions, and technology policy 
recommendations.
    (b) Personnel.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall appoint to positions 
        in the Office--
                    (A) not less than 25 technologists; and
                    (B) other necessary employees.
            (2) Direct hire authority.--The Commission may make 
        appointments of technologists under paragraph (1) without 
        regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 
        5, United States Code.
            (3) Calculation of number of technologists.--For purposes 
        of paragraph (1)(A), the number of individuals appointed to a 
        position as a technologist shall be determined on a full-time 
        equivalent basis, except that an appointment of an individual 
        to a position as a technologist on a term or temporary basis 
        shall be counted as an appointment to a full-time position, 
        without regard to the number of hours in the administrative 
        workweek of the individual.
            (4) Compensation.--
                    (A) Rate of pay.--Subject to subparagraph (B), in 
                order to recruit and retain qualified technologists, 
                the Commission may fix the rate of pay, including 
                compensation for night and overtime work and other 
                premium pay, of any technologist appointed under 
                paragraph (1), as the Commission considers necessary 
                for the interest of the Federal Government and just to 
                the individuals employed.
                    (B) Maximum.--The total amount payable to a 
                technologist appointed under paragraph (1), including 
                compensation for night and overtime work and other 
                premium pay, during any pay period may not exceed the 
                rate of basic pay payable for a position at level II of 
                the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
                    (C) Time off.--With respect to a technologist 
                appointed under paragraph (1) who is not eligible for 
                overtime or other premium pay, the Commission may grant 
                such technologist compensatory time off from duty for 
                overtime work performed.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Trade Commission.
            (2) Technologist.--The term ``technologist'' means an 
        individual with training and expertise regarding the state of 
        the art in information technology, including product 
        development, supply chain management, data privacy and 
        analytics, algorithms, information security, network security, 
        the manufacturing of hardware, software development, computer 
        science, or other related fields.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out the requirements of 
this section.
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