text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission on Fairness in 
  the Workplace Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) there is an increasing trend toward the use of part-
          time workers;
              (2) part-time jobs often have no or limited health or 
          pension benefits and few labor protections;
              (3) there is a trend toward the creation of more part-time 
          jobs than full-time jobs;
              (4) questions have been raised regarding the impact of 
          part-time employment on wage levels, benefits, earning 
          potential, and productivity; and
              (5) a Federal commission should be established to conduct a 
          thorough study of all matters relating to the impact of part-
          time employment on wage levels, benefits, earning potential, 
          and productivity and to study the practice of providing 
          different wage and benefit levels to part-time and full-time 
          workers.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
  as the National Commission on Fairness in the Workplace (hereafter 
  referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
      (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 members of 
  whom--
              (1) 3 shall be appointed by the President;
              (2) 3 shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of 
          the Senate, upon the recommendation of the Majority and 
          Minority Leaders of the Senate; and
              (3) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
          Representatives, in consultation with the Minority Leader of 
          the House of Representatives.
      (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed 
  for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
  affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the 
  original appointment.
      (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
  which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission 
  shall hold its first meeting as directed by the President.
      (e) Meetings.--After the initial meeting, the Commission shall meet 
  at the call of the Chairperson.
      (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
  constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser 
  number of members may hold hearings.
      (g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall select 
  a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.
  
  SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Study.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a 
          comprehensive study of the impact of part-time employment in 
          the United States.
              (2) Matters to be studied.--The matters to be studied by 
          the Commission under paragraph (1) shall include--
                      (A) a review of the trend toward creation of more 
                  part-time than full-time jobs;
                      (B) an assessment of the relationship between part-
                  time work and wage levels, benefits, earning potential, 
                  and productivity; and
                      (C) a review of the practice of providing different 
                  wage and benefit levels to part-time and full-time 
                  workers.
      (b) Report.--No later than 12 months after the Commission holds its 
  first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report on the study to the 
  President and Congress. The report shall contain a detailed statement 
  of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its 
  recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it 
  considers appropriate.
  
  SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act 
  at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
  evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties 
  of this Act.
      (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure 
  directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the 
  Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
  Upon request of the Chairperson of the Committee, the head of such 
  department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
  
  SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
  
      (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is 
  not otherwise an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be 
  compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
  of basic pay prescribed for a position at level IV of the Executive 
  Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each 
  day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the 
  performance of the duties of the Commission. Each member of the 
  Commission who is otherwise an officer or employee of the United States 
  shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for 
  services as an officer or employee of the United States.
      (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 service for the 
  Commission.
      (c) Staff.--
              (1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission may, 
          without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
          appoint and terminate an executive director and such other 
          additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
          Commission to perform its duties. The employment and 
          termination of an executive director shall be subject to 
          confirmation by a majority of the members of the Commission.
              (2) Compensation.--The executive director shall be 
          compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate payable for a 
          position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
          5316 of title 5, United States Code. The Chairperson may fix 
          the compensation of other personnel without regard to the 
          provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
          title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of 
          positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate 
          of pay for such personnel may not exceed the rate payable for a 
          position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
          5316 of such title.
              (3) Detail of government employees.--Any Federal Government 
          employee, with the approval of the head of the appropriate 
          Federal agency, may be detailed to the Commission without 
          reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or 
          loss of civil service status, benefits, or privilege.
      (d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
  Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
  services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
  for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
  of basic pay prescribed for a position at level V of the Executive 
  Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums 
  as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Any sums 
  appropriated shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, 
  until expended.
  
  SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
  
      The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submission of its 
  report under section 4(b).
target: National Commission on Fairness in the Workplace Act - Establishes the National Commission on Fairness in the Workplace, which shall conduct a comprehensive study of the impact of part-time employment in the United States, including:  (1) a review of the trend toward creation of more part-time than full-time jobs; (2) an assessment of the relationship between part-time work and wage levels, benefits, earning potential, and productivity; and (3) a review of the practice of providing different wage and benefit levels to part-time and full-time workers. 
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: National Commission on Fairness in the Workplace Act