ADMINISTRATION OF COMMISSION.

SECTION 1. ADMINISTRATION OF COMMISSION.Section 1321 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (20 U.S.C. 1221–1 note) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection: “(e) Administration of the Commission.— (1) Rate of pay.—Members of the Commission who are not full-time officers or employees of the United States and who are not Members of Congress may, while serving on business of the Commission, be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate specified at the time of such service for Grade GS–18 of the General Schedule as authorized by section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day, or any part of a day, they are engaged in the actual performance of Commission duties, including travel time; and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, all members of the Commission may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons in Government service employed intermittently. (2) Temporary exemption.— Subject to such rules as may be adopted by the Commission, the Chairperson, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and 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, shall have the power to— “(A) appoint a Director or Executive Director who shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for GS–18 of the General Schedule; and “(B) appoint and fix the compensation at a rate not to exceed the rate payable at the GS-18 rate of such other personnel as the Chairperson considers necessary. (3) Authority to contract.—Subject to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, the Commission is authorized to enter into contracts with Federal and State agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals for the conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its duties and responsibilities. 104 STAT. 301 “(4) Source of administrative support.—Financial and administrative support services (including those related to budget and accounting, financial reporting, payroll, and personnel) shall be provided to the Commission by the General Services Administration (or other appropriate organization) for which payment shall be made in advance, or by reimbursement, from funds of the Commission, in such amounts as may be agreed by the Chairperson of the Commission and the Administrator of General Services. “(5) Authority to hire experts and consultants.—The Commission is authorized to procure temporary and intermittent services of experts and consultants as are necessary to the extent authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the rate specified at the time of such service for grade GS–18. Experts and consultants may be employed without compensation if they agree to do so in advance. “(6) Authority for detail of employees.—Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to detail on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this section.”.