GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 173

Short Title:  Social Services Study Commission.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Easterling, Colton, Gray; and Cunningham.
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Referred to:  Rules, Appointments and Calendar.
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February 27, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REESTABLISH AND CONTINUE THE STUDY COMMISSION ON SOCIAL SERVICES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is reestablished and continued the Social Services Study Commission, an independent commission, to study public social services and public assistance in North Carolina and to recommend improvements that will assure that North Carolina has cost-effective, consistently administered public social services and public assistance programs.
Sec. 2. The Commission shall consist of 17 voting and four nonvoting members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint seven voting members, five of whom shall be House members, one of whom shall be a county commissioner, and one of whom shall be a low-income recipient of social services or public assistance benefits. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint seven voting members, five of whom shall be Senators, one of whom shall be a county social services director, and one of whom shall be an advocate for low-income people who is familiar with social services and public assistance programs. The Governor shall appoint three voting members, one of whom shall be the Secretary of Human Resources or a designee, one of whom shall be an officer or director of a private social services agency, and one of whom shall be a business representative who is involved in a local Private Industry Council. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each appoint two nonvoting members who shall be involved in the administration or funding of social services and public assistance programs. Initial appointments shall be made within 30 days following adjournment of the 1991 Session of the General Assembly. Vacancies shall be filled by the official who made the initial appointment using the same criteria as provided by this section.
Sec. 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint a cochair of the Commission from their appointees. The cochairs shall call the first meeting and preside at alternate meetings.
Sec. 4. The Social Services Study Commission shall continue to examine the need for improvements in the State's social services system and develop legislation to address those needs. The Commission shall also provide oversight and review the further development and implementation of the Social Services Plan. The Commission shall also monitor and review efforts within the Department of Human Resources to plan for the efficient and timely implementation of federal welfare reform provisions.
Sec. 5. The Commission members shall receive no salary for their services but shall receive subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as applicable.
Sec. 6. The Commission may solicit, employ, or contract for professional, technical, or clerical assistance, and may purchase or contract for the materials or services it needs. Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the professional and clerical staff of the Legislative Services Office shall be available to the Commission, and the Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. With the consent of the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, staff employed by the Department or any of the divisions may be assigned permanently or temporarily to assist the Commission or its staff.
Sec. 7. Upon request of the Commission or its staff, all State departments and agencies and all local governmental agencies shall furnish the Commission or its staff with any information in their possession or available to them.
Sec. 8. The Commission shall submit a final written report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate before or upon the convening of the 1993 Session of the General Assembly. The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of the report.
Sec. 9. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of $25,000 for the 1991-92 fiscal year and the sum of $20,000 for the 1992-93 fiscal year to implement the provisions of this act.
Sec. 10. This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.