Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 2.djvu/791

 PUBLIC LAW 103-296—AUG. 15, 1994 108 STAT. 1507 (iv) the administration of disability programs; and (v) social insurance (including health insurance); and (C) other fields of expertise that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (2) Members shall be appointed by January 1, 1995, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments to competitive service. (3) Members appointed under this subsection shall serve for a term equivalent to the duration of the Commission. (4) The Secretary shall designate a member of the Commission to serve as Chair of the Commission for a term equivalent to the duration of the Commission. (c) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. — (1) Service as a member of the Commission by an individual who is not otherwise a Federal employee shall not be considered service in an appointive or elective position in the Federal Government for the purposes of title 5, United States Code. (2) Each member of the Commission who is not a full-time Federal employee shall be paid compensation at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the rate of basic pay in effect for Level IV of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel time) the member attends meetings or otherwise performs the duties of the Commission. (3) While away from their homes or regular places of business on the business of the Commission, each member who is not a full-time Federal employee 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 employed intermittently in the Crovernment service. (d) ASSISTANCE TO COMMISSION.— The Commission may engage individuals skilled in medical and other aspects of childhood disability to provide such technical assistance as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Commission. The Secretary shall make available to the Commission such secretarial, clerical, and other assistance as the Commission may require to carry out the functions of the Commission, (e) STUDY BY THE COMMISSION. — (1) The Commission shall conduct a study, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, of the effects of the definition of "disability" under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382 et seq.) in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, as such definition applies to determining whether a child under the age of 18 is eligible to receive benefits under such title, the appropriateness of such definition, and the advantages and disadvantages of using any alternative definition of disability in determining whether a child under age 18 is eligible to receive benefits under such title. (2) The study described in paragraph (1) shall include issues of— (A) whether the need by families for assistance in meeting high costs of medical care for children with serious physical or mental impairments, whether or not they are eligible for disability benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act, might appropriately be met through expansion of Federal health assistance programs; (B) the feasibility of providing benefits to children through noncash means, including but not limited to vouchers, debit cards, and electronic benefit transfer systems;

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