GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 194*

Short Title:  Permanent Fiscal Trends Commission.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Perdue.
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Referred to:  Rules and Operation of the Senate.
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February 17, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO MAKE THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE FISCAL TRENDS AND REFORM STUDY COMMISSION A STATUTORY STUDY COMMISSION, TO ESTABLISH A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FISCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND TO APPROPRIATE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE COMMISSION FOR THE 1993-95 BIENNIUM.
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 13C.
"Joint Legislative Fiscal Trends and Reform Commission.
"§ 120-84.13.  Purpose.
The Joint Legislative Fiscal Trends and Reform Commission is established.  The Commission shall identify trends affecting the fiscal resources of the State and its local governments.  It shall also review the expenditures of the State and identify trends that will impact upon these expenditures.
"§ 120-84.14.  Membership.
The Commission shall consist of 22 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Eight members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated cochair.
(2)	Three public members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	Eight members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated cochair.
(4)	Three public members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In making the appointments, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall attempt to select members who are representative of all North Carolinians, including representatives of business and industry, professionals, local governments, major political parties, educators, ethnic groups, environmental advocates, low-income citizens, and consumers.
Members shall serve for two-year terms beginning on the convening of the General Assembly in each odd-numbered year; provided, however, the terms of initial members shall begin on appointment and end on the day of the convening of the 1995 General Assembly.  Members shall not be disqualified from completing a term of service on the Commission because they fail to run or are defeated for reelection.  Resignation or removal from the General Assembly shall constitute resignation or removal from membership on the Commission.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the original appointments.
"§ 120-84.15.  Powers and duties.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)	To review long-term fiscal trends and to analyze the impact of these trends on the State budget.
(2)	To identify the factors that have contributed to the financial problems of the State and recommend measures to avoid a recurrence of those problems to the extent they are within the control of the State of North Carolina.  
(3)	To monitor the State budget reform measures.
(4)	To analyze options to address the effect on the State budget of federal legislative and judicial mandates.
(5)	To exercise all the powers provided under the provisions of G.S. 120-19 through G.S. 120-19.4.
"§ 120-84.16.  Local government subcommittee.
The Commission shall establish a subcommittee to study the fiscal relationship between the State and local governments.  The subcommittee has the following powers and duties:
(1)	To examine in detail the trends affecting local revenue sources, including intergovernmental revenue, and local expenditure demands.
(2)	To examine State and local government revenue sources and the allocation of responsibility among the State and its local governments for financing and performing government services.
"§ 120-84.17.  Reports to the General Assembly.
The Commission shall report as needed to the General Assembly.  A report must contain findings, recommendations, and policy alternatives which may be beneficial to State and local governments.
"§ 120-84.18.  Compensation and expenses of Commission members.
Members of the Commission shall serve without pay but shall receive per diem and subsistence in accordance with G.S. 138-5, 138-6, or 120-3.1, as appropriate.  Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the facilities of the State Legislative Building and any other State office building used by the General Assembly shall be available to the Commission for its use.
"§ 120-84.19.  Commission staffing.
Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Commission may use professional and clerical staff of the General Assembly.  The expenses of employment of the clerical staff shall be borne by the Commission.  Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Commission may contract for consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02."
Sec. 2.  There is allocated from the funds appropriated to the General Assembly for the Joint Legislative Fiscal Trends and Reform Commission 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.
Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.