GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1261

Short Title:  Mountain Area Study.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives N.J. Crawford, Greenwood, Colton, Nesbitt, Diamont, Ramsey, Jack Hunt, Judy Hunt, R. Hunter, Justus, Buchanan, Ethridge, Flaherty, Fletcher, Lutz, Robinson, Wilmoth, Withrow, Hackney; Albertson, Anderson, Barbee, Barnes, Barnhill, Beard, Black, Bowen, Bowie, Bowman, Brawley, Brubaker, Chapin, Church, J.W. Crawford, Creech, Culp, Cunningham, Dawkins, Dial, Dickson, Dockham, Easterling, Esposito, Fitch, Foster, Fussell, Gamble, Gardner, Gist, Gottovi, Grady, Gray, Green, Grimmer, Hasty, Hensley, Hightower, Holt, Howard, Huffman, H. Hunter, James, Jarrell, Jeffus, Jeralds, Jones, Jordan, Kahl, Kennedy, Kerr, Lewis, Ligon, Lilley, Loflin, Luebke, McAllister, McGee, McLaughlin, McLawhorn, Mavretic, Mercer, Michaux, Miller, Morgan, Nye, Oldham, Payne, Pope, Redwine, Rhodes, Rhyne, Rogers, Russell, Stamey, Stewart, Tallent, Thompson, Wainwright, Warner, Wicker, Wilson, Wood, and Woodard. 
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Referred to:  Rules, Appointments, & Calendar.
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May 10, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT STUDY COMMISSION TO STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND LAND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE MOUNTAIN AREAS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Mountain Area Study Commission is created.  The Commission shall consist of 15 members: four Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, four Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three members representing local government and the public sector appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, three members representing local government and the public sector appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member to be chosen by the other 14 members of the Commission.
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:
(1)	Determine specific future consequences of present land use practices;
(2)	Determine whether increased management of land resources is necessary and helpful to citizens, whether such management should be implemented in mountain areas in the State, and if so, how responsibility for such management should be allocated among various levels of government;
(3)	Determine whether it is appropriate to create a series of special incentives for individuals and local governments to encourage the management of land resources described herein, and if so, what types of incentives are appropriate;
(4)	Make efforts to meet with citizens in mountain areas and to receive their comments regarding the subjects to be evaluated by the Commission; and
(5)	Evaluate programs in other states that are designed to coordinate provision of infrastructure, protection of the environment and natural resources, and efforts to accommodate growth.
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 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. 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.
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 Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, 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, or entity which, made the initial appointment.
Sec. 9. All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission and its staff with any information in their possession or available to them.
Sec. 10. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly for fiscal year 1991-92 the sum of $30,000 and for fiscal year 1992-93 the sum of $30,000 for the expenses of the Commission.
Sec. 11.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.