GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 123*

Short Title:  Family Study Commission.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Marvin; Taft and Sands.
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Referred to:  Rules.
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February 6, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE STUDY COMMISSION ON THE FAMILY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is created the Commission on the Family.
Sec. 2.  It is the expressed intent of this act to make a study of issues impacting upon the family a priority of this State and to establish the Commission on the Family as a means to this end.
Sec. 3.  The Commission shall study State government policy and programs affecting the family, specifically addressing family issues from the point of existing laws, governmental programs needed or already functioning, and current family life issues.  The Commission shall work in close collaboration with various agencies and programs dealing with the family.  Among the issues the Commission should consider studying are the following: 
(1)	The feasibility of establishing model projects  that would be located primarily in low-income, high drop-out rate communities in North Carolina: (i) to teach parents to read; and (ii) to provide after school care for school-aged children; using volunteers who could be retirees in the provision of services;
(2)	The fiscal impact of a cash stipend created by a tax deduction or by industry dollars to promote literacy or the obtainment of a General Education Development Degree for persons who are presently illiterate or outside the school system;
(3)	The needs for day care for children and senior citizens, an increase in Aid to Families with Dependent Children payments and eligibility requirements, coordination of State law with federal welfare reform programs, in-home services for the elderly, additional funding for adult day care, and incentives for industries to develop day care programs; and
(4)	The relationship between the decline of real income and the tax structure, college tax credits, the minimum wage, and welfare support systems.
Sec. 4.  The Commission shall consists of 12 members, as follows:
(1)	The Secretary of Human Resources or his designee;
(2)	The Superintendent of Public Instruction or his designee;
(3)	Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(4)	Two members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(5)	Two members at large appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(6)	Two members at large appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and
(7)	Two members at large appointed by the Governor.
Sec. 5.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointments.  All initial appointments shall be made within one calendar month from the effective date of this act.
Sec. 6.  The Commission shall have its initial meeting no later than October 1, 1989, at the call of the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.  The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore shall each appoint a cochairman from the membership of the Commission.  The membership shall meet upon the call of the cochairmen.
Sec. 7.  The Commission members shall receive no salary for serving but shall receive necessary subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 120-3.1, 138.5, and 138-6 as applicable.
Sec. 8.  The Commission may hold public meetings across the State to solicit public input with respect to the issues of the family.
Sec. 9.  The Commission shall have authority to obtain information and data from all State officers, agents, agencies, and departments while in the discharge of its duties, pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 120-19 as if it were a committee of the General Assembly.  The Commission shall have the authority to call witnesses, compel testimony relevant to any matter properly before the Commission, and subpoena relevant records and documents.  The provisions of G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4 shall apply to the proceedings of the Commission as if it were a joint committee of the General Assembly.  In addition to the other signatures required for the issuance of a subpoena under this section, the subpoena shall also be signed by the cochairmen of the Commission.  Any cost of providing information to the Commission not covered by G.S. 120-19.3 may be reimbursed by the Commission from funds appropriated by this act for the Commission's study.
Sec. 10.  The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
Sec. 11.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Legislative Services Commission the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1989-1990 fiscal year to fund the study authorized by this Part.
Sec. 12.  At the request of the Commission the Legislative Services Commission may supply members of the staff of the Legislative Services Office and clerical assistance to the Commission as it deems appropriate.
Sec. 13.  The Commission may, with the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Sec. 14.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.