GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1453

Short Title:  Consumer Protection Study Comm.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Easterling; and Luebke.
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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
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May 17, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN ONGOING CONSUMER PROTECTION STUDY COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 120 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"ARTICLE 12I.
"Consumer Protection Study Commission.
"§ 120-70.85.  Consumer Protection Study Commission created; membership.
The Consumer Protection Study Commission is created.  The Commission shall consist of 14 members as follows:
(1)	Seven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least five of whom shall be members of the Senate; and
(2)	Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least five of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives.
Terms on the Commission shall be for two years and begin on the convening of the General Assembly in each odd-numbered year, except the terms of the initial members, which shall begin on appointment and end on the day of the convening of the 1995 General Assembly.  Members may complete a term of service on the Commission even if they do not seek reelection or are not reelected to the General Assembly, but resignation or removal from service in the General Assembly constitutes resignation or removal from service on the Commission.
A member continues to serve until the successor is appointed.  A vacancy shall be filled within 30 days by the officer who made the original appointment.
"§ 120-70.86.  Purpose and powers of Commission.
(a)	The Consumer Protection Study Commission shall examine, on a continuing basis, consumer protection issues in North Carolina, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve the protection of consumers and the consumer protection laws of this State.  The Commission may consider the consumer protection laws of other states.
(b)	The Commission may make interim reports to the General Assembly on matters for which it may report to a regular session of the General Assembly.  A report to the General Assembly may contain any legislation needed to implement a recommendation of the Commission.
"§ 120-70.87.  Organization of Commission.
(a)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Consumer Protection Study Commission.  The Commission shall meet at least once a quarter and may meet at other times upon the joint call of the cochairs.
(b)	A quorum of the Commission is eight members.  No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present.  While in the discharge of its official duties, the Commission has the powers provided under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.
(c)	Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120-3.1.  The Commission may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120-32.02.  The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Administrative Services Commission, through the Legislative Administrative Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work.  Upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission, the Supervisors of Clerks of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Commission.  The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year for the expenses of the Commission.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.