article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Bipartisan Panel to Design Long- Range Social Security Reform Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PANEL. There is established a panel to be known as the Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range Social Security Reform (in this Act referred to as the ``Panel''). SEC. 3. DUTIES OF PANEL. The Panel shall design a single set of legislative and administrative recommendations for long-range reforms for restoring the solvency of the social security system and maintaining retirement income security in the United States. SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP OF THE PANEL. (a) Number and Appointment.--The Panel shall be composed of eight members, of whom-- (1) two shall be appointed by the President, (2) four shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate, (3) one shall be appointed jointly by the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and (4) one shall be appointed jointly by the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Finance of the Senate. The members of the Panel shall consist of individuals who are of recognized standing and distinction, who can represent the multiple generations who have a stake in the viability of the system, and who possess the demonstrated capacity to discharge the duties imposed on the Panel. At least one of the members shall be appointed from individuals representing the interests of employees, and at least one of the members shall be appointed from individuals representing the interests of employers. (b) Co-Chairs.--The officials referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) shall designate two of the members of the Panel to serve as Co-Chairs of the Panel, who shall jointly chair the Panel, determine its duties, and supervise its staff. (c) Terms of Appointment.--The members of the Panel shall serve for the life of the Panel. (d) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Panel shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the Panel, but any such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. SEC. 5. PROCEDURES. (a) Meetings.--The Panel shall meet at the call of its Co-Chairs or a majority of its members. (b) Quorum.--A quorum shall consist of 4 members of the Panel, except that a lesser number may conduct a hearing under subsection (c). (c) Hearings and Other Activities.--For the purpose of carrying out its duties, the Panel may hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as the Panel determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. Meetings held in order to conduct fact finding, as determined by the Co-Chairs, shall be open to the public. Meetings held in order to develop policy, as determined by the Co-Chairs, may be held in executive session, notwithstanding the Federal Advisory Committee Act and any other provision of law. (d) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Panel, the Commissioner of Social Security and the head of any other agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government shall furnish information deemed necessary by the Panel to enable it to carry out its duties. SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION. (a) Compensation.--Except as provided in subsection (b), members of the Panel shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Panel. (b) Travel Expenses and Per Diem.--Each member of the Panel who is not a present Member of the Congress and who is not otherwise an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall receive travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (c) Staff and Support Services.-- (1) Staff director.-- (A) Appointment.--The Panel shall appoint a staff director of the Panel. (B) Compensation.--The staff director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate established for level V of the Executive Schedule. (2) Staff.--The Panel shall appoint such additional personnel as the Panel determines to be necessary. (3) Applicability of civil service laws.--The staff director and other members of the staff of the Panel shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid 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. (4) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the Panel, the staff director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. (d) Contract Authority.--The Panel may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for items and services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). (e) Physical Facilities.--The Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the appropriate entities in the legislative branch, shall locate and provide suitable office space for the operation of the Panel on a reimbursable basis. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the Panel and shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals required for the proper functioning of the Panel. (f) Detail of Federal Employees.--Upon the request of the Panel, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Panel to assist the Panel in carrying out its duties. (g) Use of Mails.--The Panel may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal agencies and shall, for purposes of the frank, be considered a commission of Congress as described in section 3215 of title 39, United States Code. (h) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the Panel, the Architect of the Capitol shall provide to the Panel on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Panel may request. (i) Printing.--For purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including the cost of personnel detailed from the Government Printing Office, the Panel shall be deemed to be a committee of the Congress. SEC. 7. REPORT. Not later than February 1, 1999, the Panel shall submit to the President, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report which shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Panel, including the set of recommendations required under section 3. The report shall include only those recommendations of the Panel that receive the approval of at least 6 members of the Panel, including both Co-Chairs. SEC. 8. TERMINATION. The Panel shall terminate March 31, 1999. SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Panel, from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, but not to exceed $2,000,000.
summary: Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range Social Security Reform Act of 1998 - Establishes the Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range Social Security Reform to design a single set of legislative and administrative recommendations for long-range reforms for restoring the solvency of the social security system and maintaining retirement income security in the United States. Authorizes appropriations.