The Assistant Attorney General, the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Director of the Institute, and the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics are authorized to select, appoint, employ, and fix compensation of such officers and employees as shall be necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, respectively, under this chapter.

The Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are authorized, on a reimbursable basis when appropriate, to use the available services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of Federal, State, and local agencies to the extent deemed appropriate after giving due consideration to the effectiveness of such existing services, equipment, personnel, and facilities.

The Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics may arrange with and reimburse the heads of other Federal departments and agencies for the performance of any of the functions under this chapter.

The Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, relating to appointments in the Federal service, at rates of compensation for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the rate of pay payable from time to time for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5.

The Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are authorized to appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, advisory committees to advise them with respect to the administration of this chapter as they deem necessary. Such committees shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Members of such committees not otherwise in the employ of the United States, while engaged in advising or attending meetings of such committees, shall be compensated at rates to be fixed by the Office but not to exceed the daily equivalent of the rate of pay payable from time to time for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, and while away from home or regular place of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as authorized by section 5703 of such title 5 for persons in the Government service employed intermittently.

Payments under this chapter may be made in installments, and in advance or by way of reimbursement, as may be determined by the Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, or the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and may be used to pay the transportation and subsistence expenses of persons attending conferences or other assemblages notwithstanding section 1345 of title 31.

The Office, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics are authorized to accept and employ, in carrying out the provisions of this chapter, voluntary and uncompensated services notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31. Such individuals shall not be considered Federal employees except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5 with respect to job-incurred disability and title 28 with respect to tort claims.

(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 807, as added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 609B(g), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2094.)