§2704 National Indian Gaming Commission

Summary

Creates a three-person National Indian Gaming Commission inside the Department of the Interior. The President picks the Chairman with Senate approval. The Secretary of the Interior picks the two associate members. The Attorney General must do background checks on nominees. The Secretary must publish nominee info and allow at least 30 days for public comment. No more than two members can be from the same political party, and at least two members must be enrolled in an Indian tribe. Members usually serve three-year terms. For the first group, two members (including the Chairman) serve three years and one serves one year. People who have been convicted of a felony or gaming offense, or who have financial or management ties to gaming or certain gaming contracts, cannot serve. Members can only be removed early by the President, or by the Secretary for an associate, for neglect, wrongdoing, or other good cause. Vacancies are filled the same way as the original appointments, and members may stay until a replacement is chosen. Two members make a quorum, but at least one must be the Chairman or Vice Chairman. The Commission picks a Vice Chairman by majority vote; the Vice Chairman leads meetings if the Chairman is absent. The Commission meets when called by the Chairman or by a majority, and it must meet at least once every four months. The Chairman is paid at Level IV of the Executive Schedule and each associate at Level V. Members are reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses under federal rules.