GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1426*
House Committee Substitute Favorable 6/18/92

Short Title:  Students at Risk/Study.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  
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June 1, 1992

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON STUDENTS 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 at Risk of Failure; establishment; purpose. – There is established the Legislative Study Commission on North Carolina Students at Risk of Failure.  The purpose of the Commission shall be to (i) identify how the delivery of educational services from preschool through twelfth grade fails to address the needs of students at risk of academic, social, and economic failure, (ii) develop proposals for improving the delivery of educational services to at risk students, and (iii) recommend the human and economic resources necessary to improve each at risk student's opportunity to reach his or her optimal potential.
Sec. 2.   Membership; co-chairs; vacancies. – 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, at least one appointee shall also be a member of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.  Of the four Senate members appointed, one shall be designated co-chair of the Commission;
(2)	Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least one appointee shall also be a member of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. Of the four House members appointed, one shall be designated co-chair of the Commission;
(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, 1992. If a vacancy occurs in the membership, the appointing authority shall appoint another member to serve for the balance of the unexpired term.
Sec. 3.  Powers and duties. – The Commission shall:
(1)	Identify the educational needs of students who are at risk of failure.
(2)	Study the causes which lead students to become at risk of failure and methods to alleviate the impact of those causes.
(3)	Study the impact of education reform in North Carolina on students at risk of failure.
(4)	Study and recommend methods to optimize coordination of federal and State efforts to address issues related to students at risk of failure.
(5)	Identify educational methods that best meet the needs of at risk students and recommend how to incorporate those methods into the public education process.
(6)	Study the extent of North Carolina's legal, ethical, economic, political, and civic responsibility to provide and maximize access to educational opportunity for students at risk of failure.
(7)	Recommend a comprehensive plan for implementing, monitoring, and improving the delivery of educational and related services for students at risk of failure.
(8)	Study the best method to evaluate services implemented to improve the delivery of educational and related services to students at risk of failure. Study of this issue shall focus on outcome measures.
(9)	Study any other issues the Commission finds necessary to carry out its purpose.
Sec. 4.  Reporting requirements. – The Commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on or before January 15, 1993, and its final report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the General Assembly on or before February 15, 1993 and shall terminate on that date.
Sec. 5.  Powers; meeting times and places. – The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided 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 cochairs.  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 in accordance with G.S. 138-5, G.S. 138-6, or G.S. 120-3.1 as appropriate. 
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.  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. 9.  This act becomes effective upon ratification but not before July 1, 1992.