article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Civil Rights Commission Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION AND AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Extension.--Section 6 of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975d) is amended by striking ``1996'' and inserting ``2001''. (b) Authorization.--The first sentence of section 5 of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975c) is amended to read ``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act for fiscal years through fiscal year 2001.''. SEC. 3. STAFF DIRECTOR. Section 4(a)(1) of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975b(a)(1)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``There shall'' and inserting the following: ``(A) In general.--There shall''; (2) by striking ``(A)'' and inserting the following: ``(i)''; (3) by striking ``(B)'' and inserting the following: ``(ii)''; and (4) by adding at the end the following: ``(B) Term of office.--The term of office of the Staff Director shall be 4 years. ``(C) Review and retention.--The Commission shall annually review the performance of the staff director.''. SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION, PRIVACY, SUNSHINE, AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACTS. Section 4 of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975b) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(f) Application of Certain Provisions of Law.--The Commission shall be considered to be an agency, as defined in section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code, for the purposes of sections 552, 552a, and 552b of title 5, United States Code, and for the purposes of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.''. SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT FOR INDEPENDENT AUDIT. Section 4 of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975b) is further amended by adding at the end the following: ``(g) Independent Audit.--Beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and each year thereafter, the Commission shall prepare an annual financial statement in accordance with section 3515 of title 31, United States Code, and shall have the statement audited by an independent external auditor in accordance with section 3521 of such title.''. SEC. 6. TERMS OF MEMBERS. (a) In General.--Section 2(c) of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975(c)) is amended by striking ``6 years'' and inserting ``5 years''. (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section shall apply only with respect to terms of office commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 7. REPORTS. Section 3(c)(1) of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975a(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``at least one report annually'' and inserting ``a report on or before September 30 of each year''. SEC. 8. SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMISSION. (a) Implementation of GAO Recommendations.--The Commission shall, not later than June 30, 1998, implement the United States General Accounting Office recommendations regarding revision of the Commission's Administrative Instructions and structural regulations to reflect the current agency structure, and establish a management information system to enhance the oversight and project efficiency of the Commission. (b) ADA Enforcement Report.--Not later than September 30, 1998, the Commission shall complete and submit a report regarding the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. (c) Religious Freedom in Public Schools.-- (1) Report required.--Not later than September 30, 1998, the Commission shall prepare, and submit under section 3 of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983, a report evaluating the policies and practices of public schools to determine whether laws are being effectively enforced to prevent discrimination or the denial of equal protection of the law based on religion, and whether such laws need to be changed in order to protect more fully the constitutional and civil rights of students and of teachers and other school employees. (2) Review of enforcement activities.--Such report shall include a review of the enforcement activities of Federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice and Education, to determine if those agencies are properly protecting the religious freedom in schools. (3) Description of rights.--Such report shall also include a description of-- (A) the rights of students and others under the Federal Equal Access Act (20 U.S.C. 4071 et seq.), constitutional provisions regarding equal access, and other similar laws; (B) the rights of students and teachers and other school employees to be free from discrimination in matters of religious expression and the accommodation of the free exercise of religion; and (C) issues relating to religious non-discrimination in curriculum construction. (d) Crisis of Young African-American Males Report.--Not later than September 30, 1999, the Commission shall submit a report on the crisis of young African-American males. (e) Fair Employment Law Enforcement Report.--Not later than September 30, 1999, the Commission shall submit a report on fair employment law enforcement. (f) Regulatory Obstacles Confronting Minority Entrepreneurs.--Not later than September 30, 1999, the Commission shall develop and carry out a study on the civil rights implications of regulatory obstacles confronting minority entrepreneurs, and report the results of such study under section 3 of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983. SEC. 9. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. Section 3(d) of the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 1975a(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The purpose of each such advisory committee shall be to conduct fact finding activities and develop findings or recommendations for the Commission. Any report by such an advisory committee to the Commission shall be fairly balanced as to the viewpoints represented.''. Passed the House of Representatives March 18, 1998. Attest: Robin H. Carle, Clerk.
summary: Civil Rights Commission Act of 1998 - Amends the Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983 to extend the termination date of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Authorizes appropriations to carry out that Act. Sets a four-year term of office for the Commission's staff director and requires the Commission to annually review the staff director's performance. Includes the Commission in the term "agency" for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, the Government in the Sunshine Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Requires the Commission to prepare an annual financial statement and have the statement audited by an independent external auditor. Shortens Commission Members' terms of office to five years. Requires the Commission to implement the General Accounting Office's recommendations regarding revision of the Commission's Administrative Instructions and structural regulations and to establish a management information system. Requires the Commission to report regarding: (1) enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (2) religious freedom in public schools; (3) the crisis of young African-American males; (4) fair employment law enforcement; and (5) the civil rights implications of regulatory obstacles confronting minority entrepreneurs. Declares that the purpose of advisory committees constituted by the Commission is to conduct fact finding and develop findings or recommendations. Requires any report by an advisory committee to be fairly balanced in the viewpoints represented.