GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1181

Short Title:  Uninsured Motorist Study.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Gardner; and Bowman.
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Referred to:  Rules, Appointments and Calendar.
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May 8, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE UNINSURED MOTORIST STUDY COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Uninsured Motorist Study Commission is created.
Sec. 2.  The Commission shall study:
(1)	Uninsured motorist insurance coverage;
(2)	Underinsured motorist insurance coverage;
(3)	The impact of these forms of insurance on other liability insurance mandated for motor vehicle owners and operators in this State;
(4)	The insurance coverage required for persons convicted of driving while impaired and the provision of that insurance;
(5)	Methods for reducing the number of uninsured and underinsured motorists operating vehicles in this State; and
(6)	Any other subjects relating to uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage.
Sec. 3.  The Commission shall consist of 12 members:
(1)	The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint six members, at least three of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives.
(2)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint six members, at least three of whom shall be members of the Senate.
Vacancies in the membership appointed under this subsection shall be filled by the official who made the initial appointment using the same criteria as provided in this section.
	All initial appointments shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act.
Sec. 4.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair.
Sec. 5.  In addition to its regular meetings, the Commission shall hold three public hearings across the State, to solicit input about the extent of the problem of the uninsured and underinsured motorists and potential solutions to ensure that all citizens have the required motor vehicle liability insurance coverage before operating motor vehicles in this State.
Sec. 6.  The Commission shall submit an interim report on or before the first day of the 1991 General Assembly, Regular Session 1992, by filing the report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 7.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 1993 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. 8.  Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as applicable.
Sec. 9.  The Commission may contract for clerical or professional staff or for any other services it may require in the course of its ongoing study.  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 the Legislative Services Commission deems appropriate.  The Commission may, with the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Sec. 10.  The Commission may accept gifts, grants, donations, or contributions from any source.  These funds shall be held in a separate account and used solely in furtherance of the study.
Sec. 11. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly for fiscal year 1991-92 the sum of $100,000 and for fiscal year 1992-93 the sum of $100,000 for the expenses of the Commission.
Sec. 12.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.