Establishment of Commission

(a) Establishment There is established the Children’s Commission. (b) Membership (1) Number and appointment The Commission shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Comptroller General, in consultation with the Board on Children, Youth, and Families at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2) Qualifications (A) In general The membership of the Commission shall include— (i) individuals with national recognition for their scholarship and expertise in issues of importance to children and marginalized youth; (ii) individuals who work for nonprofit organizations that advocate for children, including organizations that protect children’s civil rights; (iii) individuals who work with marginalized youth; (iv) pediatricians, child psychologists, developmental psychologists, and childhood trauma experts; (v) educators; (vi) other experts who serve children or administer State, Tribal, or local children’s programs; (vii) childcare providers; and (viii) young people with relevant lived experiences. (B) Varied backgrounds and experiences The membership of the Commission shall include— (i) a mix of different professions, broad geographic representation, a balance between urban and rural representation, and a mix of different racial and ethnic representatives, to reflect the demographic makeup of children and youth of the United States; and (ii) individuals and service providers with specific expertise or significant experience in delivering culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and responsive services for children and youth. (C) Majority nonproviders The Comptroller General shall ensure individuals who are directly involved in the provision or management of the delivery of services to children shall not constitute a majority of the membership of the Commission. (D) Ethical disclosure (i) In general The Comptroller General shall establish a system for public disclosure by members of the Commission of financial and other potential conflicts of interest related to those members. (ii) Financial disclosure requirements A member of the Commission shall be deemed to be an individual described in section 13103(f) of title 5, United States Code, and shall be subject to the requirements of subchapter I of chapter 131 of such title. (E) Recommendations Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall establish a process for recommending qualified and interested individuals for the Commission in order to set up an ongoing pool of qualified individuals for nomination to the Commission. (3) Date of appointment The Comptroller General shall appoint members of the Commission not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act and immediately notify the Committee of Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee of Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives of the appointments. (4) Chair and vice chair The Commission shall designate by majority vote a Chair and Vice Chair from among the members of the Commission, each of whom shall serve in such positions of Chair and Vice Chair for a period of 1 year. (c) Terms; vacancies (1) Terms The terms of the members of the Commission shall be 3 years, except that the Comptroller General shall designate staggered terms for the members first appointed. (2) Vacancies (A) In general A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made, as described in subsection (b), and shall be subject to any conditions that applied with respect to the original appointment. (B) Filling unexpired term An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced, including an individual chosen to fill a vacancy in the position of Chair or Vice Chair. (d) Meetings (1) Initial meeting Not later than 60 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the first meeting of the Commission. (2) Frequency The Commission shall meet at the call of the Children’s Commissioner not less frequently than 4 times per year, with not fewer than 1 meeting focusing on children’s voices. (3) Children’s perspectives The Commission should seek to incorporate children’s perspectives in each meeting of the Commission. (4) Quorum A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (e) Children’s commissioner (1) In general (A) In general The Commission shall employ and fix the compensation of a Children’s Commissioner, who shall serve as executive director of the Commission, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. (B) Restrictions on employment An individual may only be employed as the Children’s Commissioner if the individual— (i) was not employed by, and did not receive compensation from, a for-profit entity during the 2-year period preceding the appointment; and (ii) is an individual described in any of clauses (i) through (viii) of subsection (b)(2)(A). (C) Duties The Children's Commissioner shall carry out the following duties: (i) Solicit applications to fill a vacancy or prospective vacancy in the membership of the Commission with sufficient time for qualified individuals to apply. (ii) Consult with organizations that have a special interest in the functions of the Commission. (D) Ethical disclosure (i) In general The Comptroller General shall establish a system for public disclosure by the Children's Commissioner of financial and other potential conflicts of interest related to the Children's Commissioner. (ii) Financial disclosure requirements The Children's Commissioner shall be deemed to be an individual described in section 13103(f) of title 5, United States Code, and shall be subject to the requirements of subchapter I of chapter 131 of such title. (2) Term (A) In general The term of the Children’s Commissioner shall be 5 years, beginning on the date on which the Commission employs the Children’s Commissioner. (B) Subsequent terms Each subsequent term of a Children's Commissioner shall begin on the day after the date on which the previous term expires or the date on which the Commission employs the Commissioner, whichever is later. (C) Limitation An individual may not serve more than 2 terms as the Children’s Commissioner. (3) Experts and consultants Subject to such review as the Comptroller General determines necessary to ensure the efficient administration of the Commission, the Children’s Commissioner may— (A) seek such assistance and support as may be required in the performance of its duties from appropriate Federal and State departments and agencies; (B) enter into contracts or make other arrangements, as may be necessary for the conduct of the work of the Commission, without regard to section 6101 of title 41, United States Code; (C) make advance, progress, and other payments which relate to the work of the Commission; (D) provide transportation and subsistence for persons serving without compensation; (E) prescribe such rules and regulations as the Children's Commissioner determines necessary with respect to the internal organization and operation of the Commission; (F) reach out directly to children and child advocates to understand their concerns and needs; and (G) speak out on matters of importance to children and marginalized youth and help facilitate their voice in policy discussions at the Federal and State levels involving their concerns, needs, and future.