A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the administrative procedures of the National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary Education.
PL 101-324 (S.1999), enacted 07/06/1990

104 STAT. 300 
PUBLIC LAW 101-324-JULY 6, 1990 
Public Law 101-324 
101st Congress 
An Act 
iQQn 
'"° amend the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 to clarify the administrative 
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procedures of the National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsec-
[S. 1999] 
ondary Education, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ADMINISTRATION OF COMMISSION. 
Section 1321 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (20 
U.S.C. 1221-1 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) 
and (g), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
subsection: 
"(e) ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMISSION.— 
"(1) RATE OF PAY.—Members of the Commission who are not 
full-time officers or employees of the United States and who are 
not Members of Congress may, while serving on business of the 
Commission, be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate 
specified at the time of such service for Grade GS-18 of the 
General Schedule as authorized by section 5332 of title 5, United 
States Code, for each day, or any part of a day, they are engaged 
in the actual performance of Commission duties, includmg 
travel time; and while so serving away from their homes or 
regular places of business, all members of the Commission 
may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, IJnited 
States Code, for persons in Government service employed 
intermittently. 
"(2) TEMPORARY EXEMPTION.—Subject to such rules as may be 
adopted by the Commission, the Chairperson, without regard to 
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appoint-
ments in the competitive service and without regard to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 
title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
shall have the power to— 
"(A) appoint a Director or Executive Director who shall 
be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for GS-
18 of the General Schedule; and 
"(B) appoint and fix the compensation at a rate not to 
exceed the rate payable at the GS-18 rate of such other 
personnel as the Chairperson considers necessary. 
"(3) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.—Subject to the Federal Prop-
erty and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, the 
Commission is authorized to enter into contracts with Federal 
and State agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals 
for the conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its 
duties and responsibilities. 
PUBLIC LAW 101-324—JULY 6, 1990 
104 STAT. 301 
"(4) 
SOURCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—Financial 
and 
administrative support services (including those related to 
budget and accounting, financial reporting, pajn-oU, and person-
nel) shall be provided to the Commission Jby the (jeneral Serv-
ices Administration (or other appropriate organization) for 
which pa5nnent shall be made in advance, or by reimbursement, 
fi"om funds of the Commission, in such amounts as may be 
agreed by the Chairperson of the Commission and the Adminis-
trator of General Services. 
"(5) AUTHORITY TO HIRE EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The 
Commission is authorized to procure temporary and intermit-
tent services of experts and consultants as are necessary to the 
extent authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
but at rates not to exceed the rate specified at the time of such 
service for grade GS-18. Experts and consultants may be em-
ployed without compensation if they agree to do so in advance. 
"(6) AUTHORITY FOR DETAIL OF EMPLOYEES.—Upon request of 
the Commission, the head of any Federal agency is authorized 
to detail on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such 
agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying 
out its duties under this section.". 
SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
Subsection (g) of section 1321 of the Higher Education Amend-
ments of 1986, as redesignated by section 1 of this Act, is amended to 
read as follows: 
"(g) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 2 years after 
the first meeting of the members.". 
Approved July 6, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1999: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-517 (Comm. on Education and Labor). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 135 (1989): Nov. 21, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 136 (1990): June 5, considered and passed House, amended. 
June 22, Senate concurred in House amendment.