GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1426*

Short Title:  Students Placed at Risk/Study.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Michaux; Bowman, Diamont, and H. Hunter.
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Referred to:  Rules, Appointments and Calendar.
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June 1, 1992

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON STUDENTS PLACED AT RISK OF FAILURE AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Legislative Study Commission on Students Placed at Risk of Failure; establishment; purpose. – There is established the Legislative Study Commission on North Carolina Students Placed at Risk of Failure.  The purpose of the Commission shall be to (i) identify those areas in which the delivery of educational services from preschool through twelfth grade fail to address the needs of students placed at risk of academic, social, and economic failure, (ii) use the information obtained to develop means for improving the delivery of educational services to students placed at risk, and (iii) recommend to the General Assembly the human and economic resources necessary to guarantee each and every student a meaningful opportunity to reach his or her optimal potential.
Sec. 2.   Membership; cochair. – (a)	The Commission shall consist of 16 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Four members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(2)	Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(3)	Four members of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(4)	Four members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
The members shall be appointed no later than September 1, 1993.
(b) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as chair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as chair.
Sec. 3.  Powers and duties. – The Commission shall study:
(1)	What is needed in order for the educational process to work for all students in North Carolina's public schools.  The Commission shall examine the entire public education process from preschool through twelfth grade and shall, in particular, focus on the needs of students who have been placed at risk of failure.
(2)	The causes leading to students being placed at risk of failure and methods for alleviating the impact of those causes.
(3)	The impact of education reform in North Carolina on students who have been placed at risk of failure.
(4)	How to obtain the optimum level of coordination between federal efforts and State efforts in addressing issues related to students who have been placed at risk of failure.
(5)	Which factors should be incorporated into the public education process to ensure that all students' needs are met and how best to incorporate those factors into the public education process.
(6)	The extent of North Carolina's legal, ethical, economic, political, and civic responsibility to provide and to maximize access to educational opportunity for students who are placed at risk of failure.
(7)	The development of a comprehensive plan for implementing, monitoring, and improving the delivery of educational and related services for students who have been placed at risk of failure.
(8)	The processes and information needed to properly evaluate the extent of success of any attempts to improve the delivery of educational and related services to students placed at risk of failure.  Study of this issue shall focus on outcome-oriented measures rather than process-oriented measures.
(9)	Any other issues the Commission finds necessary to carry out its purpose.
Sec. 4.  Reporting requirements. – The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 15, 1993, 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.  Powers; meeting times and places. – 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.  Subsistence and travel expenses. – Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120-3.1.
Sec. 7.  Staff. – 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, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
Sec. 8.  Vacancies. – 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.  Cooperation of other governmental entities. – 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.  Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1992-93 fiscal year for the expenses of the Commission.
Sec. 11.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1992.