GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 11*

–––––––––––––––––––- 
Sponsors: Representatives Fussell, Redwine, Dickson, Gardner, Jeffus, Michaux, Oldham, Rogers; Warner, H. Hunter, Stamey, Hensley, and Bowie.

–––––––––––––––––––- 
Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

–––––––––––––––––––- 

February 1, 1993

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE COMMISSION TO IMPROVE EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
Whereas, in 1992 the Legislative Research Commission authorized the study of issues related to students at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success in order to (i) identify how the delivery of educational services from preschool through twelfth grade fails to address these students' needs, (ii) develop proposals to improve the delivery of educational services to these students, and (iii) recommend the human and economic services necessary to improve these students' individual optimal potentials; and
Whereas, the Students at Risk Study Committee was unable to complete its work due to its broad scope; and
Whereas, the Students at Risk Study Committee has identified further issues affecting these students that need to be studied in order to carry out its purpose;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  There is established the Commission to Improve Education Support Services to Children and Families to continue the work of the Study Committee on Students at Risk established in 1992 by the Legislative Research Commission, as structured by Article 6B of Chapter 120 of the General Statutes.  The study shall:
(1)	Identify the needs of students who are at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success.
(2)	Study the causes that lead students to become at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success and methods to alleviate the impact of those causes.
(3)	Study the impact of education reform in North Carolina on students at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success.
(4)	Study and recommend methods to optimize coordination between federal and State efforts to address issues related to students at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success.
(5)	Identify educational methods that best meet the needs of at-risk students and recommend how to incorporate these 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 not attaining academic, social, and economic success.
(7)	Recommend a comprehensive plan to implement, monitor, and improve the delivery of educational and related services for students at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success.
(8)	Determine the best method for evaluating delivery services designed to improve the delivery of educational and related services to students at risk of not attaining academic, social, and economic success.  Study of this issue shall focus on outcome measures.
(9)	Monitor and evaluate the implementation plan for Family Resource Centers developed by the Interagency Task Force on Family Resource Centers, if established, and recommend improvements to enable this Task Force to carry out its purpose.
(10)	Identify existing resources, including, but not limited to, funds and services currently available for dropout prevention, teen pregnancy, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention, targeted for students in grades seven through 12, and recommend methods to coordinate these resources more effectively and efficiently.
(11)	Study the fragmented service delivery systems in areas such as education, health, mental health, and social services at both the State and local levels, identify barriers to interagency collaboration, and recommend a plan that would enable agencies to collaborate more effectively on the delivery of needed services to students at risk and their families.
(12)	Study any other issues necessary to carry out the purpose of the study.
Sec. 2.  The Commission shall consist of 16 members appointed as follows:
(1)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint eight members, at least five of whom are members of the Senate.  The President Pro Tempore shall designate one cochair of the Commission.
(2)	The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint eight members, at least five of whom are members of the House of Representatives.  The Speaker shall designate one cochair of the Commission.
The members shall be appointed no later than September 1, 1993.  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.  The Commission may submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than May 15, 1994, by filing the report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than January 15, 1995, 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. 4.  The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under 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, with the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Sec. 5.  Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5, 138-6, or 120-3.1, as appropriate.
Sec. 6.  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. 7.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to fund the Commission to Improve Education Support Services to Children and Families.
Sec. 8.  This resolution becomes effective July 1, 1993.