GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1290*

Short Title:  Study Commission/Homeless Persons.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Martin of Guilford; Allran, Ballance, Barker, Basnight, Block, Bryan, Carpenter, Conder, Daniel, Daughtry, Ezzell, Harris, Hunt of Durham, Hunt of Moore, Johnson of Cabarrus, Kaplan, Martin of Pitt, Marvin, Murphy, Odom, Parnell, Plyler, Richardson, Sands, Sherron, Soles, Speed, Staton, Swain, Taft, Tally, Walker, Ward, and Winner.
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Referred to:  Rules and Operation of the Senate.
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May 11, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE SITUATION OF HOMELESS PERSONS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN COOPERATING WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES IN ADDRESSING THE SITUATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is created the Study Commission on Homeless Persons, an independent commission, to study the situation of homeless persons in North Carolina and to make recommendations on what the State and non-State entities can do to meet the needs and reduce the number of persons who are homeless. The Commission shall consist of 12 members:  three Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, three Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and six members appointed by the Governor.  Of the Governor's appointees, one shall be a health care professional licensed by the State, one shall represent the administrative staff or board of directors of a homeless shelter in the State, one shall be a professional educator employed in a public school or post-secondary institution in the State, one shall be an elected representative of local government, one shall represent the United Way of North Carolina, and one shall be a former homeless shelter client. Initial appointments shall be made within 30 days following the adjournment of the 1989 Session of the General Assembly.
Sec. 2.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochairman and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochairman. 
Sec. 3.  The Commission shall obtain, study, and make recommendations based on such information as:
(1)	The sociological characteristics of the State's homeless population, such as age, race, and sex, and economic, health, occupational, and family status;
(2)	The estimated number of homeless persons in the State, identification of the areas of the State in which there are the greatest and least concentrations of homeless persons, and possible reasons for such concentrations;
(3)	The relationship between homelessness and such factors as hunger, literacy, education, job training, mental and physical health, alcoholism and substance abuse, municipal zoning and economic development, crime, and the delivery or nondelivery of public services;
(4)	Services to homeless persons currently provided by State, non-State, and local agencies, institutions, and other nonprofit organizations, and whether and how such entities cooperate with one another in providing the services;
(5)	Services for the homeless that are not currently provided and which are critical to meeting the needs of homeless persons, and recommendations on how State and non-State entities could cooperate to provide such services;
(6)	Whether services being provided or planned include or should include the following:
a.	Referrals of homeless persons to other human services offered by State and non-State entities;
b.	Case management efforts which help keep track of homeless persons and their needs;
c.	Job training and referral;
d.	Efforts to ensure that the children of homeless families are enrolled in and regularly attend public schools.
(7)	The overall impact of homelessness on the State, its municipalities, and its citizens.
Sec. 4.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 1991 Session of the General Assembly by filing the report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Upon filing its final report, the Commission shall terminate.
Sec. 5.  The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided for under the provisions of G.S. 120-19, and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.  The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairmen.  The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Sec. 6. Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120-3.1, G.S. 138-5, and G.S. 138-6, as applicable.
Sec. 7. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02.  The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Administrative Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist in the work of the Commission. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisor of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission or committee, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
Sec. 8. When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Commission the vacancy shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the initial appointment.
Sec. 9. All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
Sec. 10. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of $25,000 for the 1989-90 fiscal year, and the sum of $25,000 for the 1990-91 fiscal year, for the expenses of the Commission.
Sec. 11.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.