[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3018 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3018

  To establish a Commission on Federal Criminal and Juvenile Justice 
                          Assistance Programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2008

 Mr. Sessions introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a Commission on Federal Criminal and Juvenile Justice 
                          Assistance Programs.

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

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a temporary commission to be known as the 
Commission on Federal Criminal and Juvenile Justice Assistance Programs 
(in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'') for the purpose of 
conducting a study under this Act regarding methods to help revitalize 
and strengthen the Federal justice assistance programs that are 
administered by the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, 
Office on Violence Against Women, and Community Oriented Policing 
Services Office (in this Act referred to as the ``Justice Assistance 
Program Offices'').

SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 members, as 
follows:
            (1) 2 members who have previously served as appointees in 
        the Office of Justice Programs under Presidents from different 
        political parties.
            (2) 2 members who are current or former State or local law 
        enforcement officers.
            (3) 4 members who are criminal justice practitioners.
            (4) 2 ex officio members who are current officers or 
        employees of the Office of Justice Programs, designated by the 
        Attorney General, including at least 1 career employee.
    (b) Appointments.--Of the members of the Commission described in 
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a), an equal number shall be 
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, and the 
minority leader of the House of Representatives. The appointments shall 
be made not later than 30 days of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Chairman.--The majority leader of the Senate, after 
consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall 
designate 1 of the members of the Commission to serve as Chairman.

SEC. 3. STUDY.

    The Commission shall conduct a study that--
            (1) identifies means to revitalize and strengthen the 
        Federal justice assistance programs in accordance with 
        principles of good government and effective management; and
            (2) considers and recommends--
                    (A) ways to strengthen the justice assistance 
                programs' offices ability to provide customer oriented 
                service to State and local practitioners;
                    (B) the need to make criminal justice research 
                accessible to criminal justice practitioners;
                    (C) the best means to measure and report the need 
                for and impact of the Federal justice assistance 
                programs;
                    (D) the potential for overlap and duplication of 
                Federal justice assistance programs;
                    (E) the best means to transition Federal grantee 
                recipients to sustainable independence;
                    (F) the organizational structure and authorities of 
                the Justice Assistance Program Offices; and
                    (G) any other changes necessary to enhance the 
                Justice Assistance Program Offices' stewardship of 
                Federal grant initiatives and improve their customer 
                service orientation.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 6 months after the enactment of this Act, the 
Commission shall submit a report to the Congress and the Attorney 
General containing the results of the study under this Act, which shall 
include--
            (1) a description of the challenges identified by the 
        Commission;
            (2) the conclusions of the Commission regarding each such 
        challenge; and
            (3) recommendations for legislative or administrative 
        actions to implement the conclusions of the Commission.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Staff and Resources.--The Attorney General, or designee, shall 
provide to the Commission such staff and resources as the Attorney 
General, or designee, determines necessary for the Commission to 
perform its duty efficiently and in accordance with this Act, which 
shall include not less than 2 staff members.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees 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.

SEC. 6. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the submission of the 
report under section 4.
                                 <all>