1.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
).
2.
(a)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)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)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.
3.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.
4.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.
5.Commission
personnel matters
(a)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)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.
6.The Commission shall terminate 30 days after
the submission of the report under section 4.