Commission for Review and Correction of Historical Injustices

(a)

Establishment

There is established a commission to be known as the Commission for Review and Correction of Historical Injustices (in this Act referred to as the Commission). (b)

Duties of Commission

The Commission shall—(1)identify and review each instance of historical injustice;(2)identify and review any instance in which a Federal agency has unjustly discriminated against an individual or group protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), by the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 705), and members of the uniformed services as defined by section 101 of title 10, United States Code, that led to a discriminatory charge, conviction, or dismissal of that individual or group;(3)identify and review any instance where an individual or group has been discriminated against and has not received compensation for the discriminatory act of the Federal agency; (4)not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, establish a mechanism for the public to submit and be heard on each instance of discrimination by a Federal agency for consideration by the Commission; and(5)not later than 180 days after a public submission described in paragraph (4) is submitted, the Commission shall review the submission or decline to consider the instance of discrimination.(c)

Membership

(1)

Number

The Commission shall be composed of 12 members appointed as follows:(A)Four members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(B)Two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.(C)Four members shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.(D)Two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.(2)

Appointment

Members of the Commission shall be appointed to the Commission not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.(3)

Member qualifications

(A)

In general

Members of the Commission appointed shall be civil rights leaders, historians, lawyers, or judges with expertise or academic experience in—(i)civil rights;(ii)social justice;(iii)civil law;(iv)criminal law;(v)constitutional law; or(vi)history.(B)

Recommendations

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, minority leader of the House of Representatives, majority leader of the Senate, and minority leader of the Senate may solicit and receive recommendations from civil rights groups and submit such recommendations to the Commission for review.(4)

Terms

(A)

In general

Each member appointed after the initial appointments described in subparagraph (B) shall be appointed for three years.(B)

Vacancies

A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (5)

Basic pay

The rate of pay for members of the Commission shall be set by the Chairperson of the Commission.(6)

Quorum

9 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum and are required to conduct the duties of the Commission.(7)

Chairperson

One member shall be elected to serve as the chair of the Commission.(8)

Meetings

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and quarterly thereafter, the Commission shall hold a meeting. Additional meetings may be called by a majority of the members.(d)

Director; Staff of Commission

(1)

Director

The Commission shall have a Director who shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Commission.(2)

Staff

Subject to rules prescribed by the Commission, the Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of at least 11 additional personnel as the Director considers appropriate.(3)

Civil service protection

The Director and staff shall qualify for civil service protection.(e)

Consultation

The Commission may collaborate with historians, sociologists, researchers, graduate students, doctoral students, law students, community members, formerly incarcerated or exonerated individuals, or other individuals directly impacted by discrimination by any Federal agency to identify any appropriate instance to be reviewed by the Commission.(f)

Research

The Commission may investigate any instance brought to the attention of the Commission as described in subsection (e) and may issue a subpoena to any agency that a majority of the Commission determines is necessary.(g)

Report to Congress

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and at least quarterly thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress and the appropriate congressional committees, a report including the following:(1)Information on any alternative to the pardon process, including exoneration or other forgiveness.(2)Each instance reviewed during the quarter.(3)Recommendations on legislative or executive action with respect to each instance reviewed by the Commission. (h)

Exception for termination of Commission

Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the Commission.(i)

Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means the following:(1)The Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.(2)The Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.