GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

EXTRA SESSION 1994

S	1 

SENATE BILL 76

Short Title:  Corrections Oversight Committee.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Simpson; Hartsell, Smith, Kincaid, Codington, Blackmon, Carpenter, Shaw, and Cochrane.
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Referred to:  Courts.
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February 11, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE CORRECTIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
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 12J.
"Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee.
"§ 120-70.93.  Creation and membership of Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee.
The Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee is established.  The Committee consists of 16 members as follows:
(1)	Eight members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least two of whom are members of the minority party; and
(2)	Eight members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least three of whom are members of the minority party.
Terms on the Committee are 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 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 Committee 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 Committee.
A member continues to serve until his successor is appointed.  A vacancy shall be filled within 30 days by the officer who made the original appointment.
"§ 120-70.94.  Purpose and powers of Committee.
(a)	The Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee shall examine, on a continuing basis, the correctional system in North Carolina, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve the correctional system and to assist that system in realizing its objectives of protecting the public and of punishing and rehabilitating offenders.  In this examination, the Committee shall:
(1)	Study the budget, programs, and policies of the Department of Correction, to determine ways in which the General Assembly may improve the effectiveness of that Department;
(2)	Examine the effectiveness of the Department of Correction in implementing the public policy stated in G.S. 148-26 of providing work assignments and employment for inmates as a means of reducing the cost of maintaining the inmate population while enabling inmates to acquire or retain skills and work habits needed to secure honest employment after their release; and
(3)	Study any other corrections matters that the Committee considers necessary.
(b)	The Committee 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 Committee.
"§ 120-70.95.  Organization of Committee.
(a)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee.  The Committee 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 Committee is nine 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 Committee has the powers of a joint committee under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.
(c)	Members of the Committee receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120-3.1.  The Committee may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120-32.02.  The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Administrative Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee 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 Committee.  The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to fund the Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee established in this act.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.