GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 301

Short Title:  NC Future Strategies Commn.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Staton; Sands and Block.
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Referred to:  Rules.
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February 27, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON FUTURE STRATEGIES FOR NORTH CAROLINA.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 120 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read.
“Article 13B.
"Joint Legislative Commission on Future Strategies
for North Carolina.
"§ 120-84.6.  Purpose.
There is hereby established the Joint Legislative Commission on Future Strategies for North Carolina, hereinafter called the Commission, which shall review future trends and events to consider how they may affect North Carolina, and develop policy options for how State and local governments and the general public can be prepared to benefit from these future trends and events.
"§ 120-84.7.  Membership.
The Commission shall consist of 12 members.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint six members from the House.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint six members from the Senate.  Vacancies created by resignation or otherwise shall be filled by the original appointing authority.  Members shall serve two-year terms beginning and ending on January 15 of the odd-numbered years, except that initial appointments shall begin on July 1, 1989.  Members shall not be disqualified from completing a term of service on the Commission because they fail to run or are defeated for reelection.  Resignation or removal from the General Assembly shall constitute resignation or removal from membership on the Commission.  The terms of the initial members of the Commission shall expire January 15, 1991.  A House cochairman and a Senate co-chairman shall be elected by the Commission from among its members.
"§ 120-84.8.  Powers and duties.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)	To review reports which propose future strategies, goals, or recommendations for North Carolina, and determine the status of the proposed strategies, goals, and recommendations.
(2)	To review governmental and nongovernmental research and studies relating to current and future trends and events; and to assess the impact of these future trends and events on future governmental policy.
(3)	To review current statutes related to comprehensive planning at all levels of government and propose changes considered most consistent with state-of-the-art comprehensive growth management and development policies.
(4)	To review the history and current status of intergovernmental relationships in North Carolina.
(5)	To conduct periodic surveys to assess citizen attitudes toward current trends and determine their impact on strategic policy options.
(6)	To undertake such additional studies, surveys, or evaluations as may, from time to time, be requested by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Legislative Research Commission, or either House of the General Assembly.
(7)	To appoint advisory committees, which may include government officials and interested citizens, to examine specific issues as determined by the Commission.  A Commission member shall be appointed chairman of such advisory committees.
(8)	To conduct studies of long-range fiscal impact of proposals or policies under review by the Commission.
(9)	To develop rules regarding the selection, design, methodology, and execution of citizens attitude surveys, research and study topics for Commission approval and consideration.
(10)	To issue reports, forecasts, and recommendations to the General Assembly, from time to time, on matters relating to the powers and duties set out in this section.
"§ 120-84.9.  Reports to the General Assembly.
The Commission shall report to the General Assembly not later than December 15, 1990, and December 15 of each subsequent even-numbered year.  The report shall contain findings, recommendations, and forecasts of potential future strategies and policy alternatives which may be beneficial to State and local governments and the general public of North Carolina.
"§ 120-84.10.  Additional powers.
The Commission shall have the following additional powers:
(1)	The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, shall have access to any paper or document, and may compel the attendance of any State official or employee before the Commission or secure any evidence under the provisions of G.S. 120-19.  In addition, 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.
(2)	The Commission may receive gifts and grants from private sources to assist the Commission in fulfilling its duties, subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
(3)	The Commission may contract for services, subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
"§ 120-84.11.  Compensation and Expenses of Commission Members.
Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120-3.1 for General Assembly matters.  Advisory subcommittee members shall be reimbursed and compensated at the rates set out in G.S. 138-5 (public members) and G.S. 138-6 (State officials or employees).  The Commission shall be funded by the Legislative Services Commission from appropriations made to the General Assembly for that purpose.  The facilities of the State Legislative Building and any other State office building used by the General Assembly, shall be available to the Commission for its use.
"§ 120-84.12.  Commission Staffing.
(a)	The Commission may use available clerical employees of the General Assembly, or may employ, and may remove, such professional and clerical employees as the Commission deems proper.  The chairmen may assign and direct the activities of the employees of the Commission, subject to the advice of the Commission.
(b)	The employees of the Commission shall receive salaries that shall be fixed by the Legislative Services Commission and shall receive travel and subsistence allowances fixed by G. S. 138-6 and G.S. 138-7 when such travel is approved by either chairman, subject to the advice of the Commission.  The employees of the Commission shall not be subject to the Executive Budget Act or to the State Personnel Act.
(c)	The Commission may, with the consent of the Legislative Services Commission, use employees of the Fiscal Research, Legislative Automation, General Research, and Bill Drafting and Public Information Divisions of the Legislative Services Commission.
(d)	The Commission shall assure that sufficient funds are available within its appropriations before employing professional and clerical employees."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Legislative Services Commission the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for fiscal year 1989-90 for the Joint Legislative Commission on Future Strategies for North Carolina to implement the provisions of this act.
Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.