GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 635

Short Title:  Examine and Streamline DEHNR.	(Public)

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Hayes; Aldridge, Baker, Berry, Bowie, Crawford, Dockham, Edwards, Hill, Linney, McMahan, K. Miller, Morgan, Nichols, Owens, Preston, Rayfield, Reynolds, Russell, Thompson, Wainwright, Warner, C. Wilson, and G. Wilson.

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

─────────────────────────────────────── 

March 30, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE A COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO RECOMMEND CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a) The Commission to Review the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, hereinafter "Review Commission", is created.  The Review Commission shall consist of eight members, four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and four members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.  Of those appointments, each appointing authority shall appoint two members who served formerly on the Wildlife Resources Commission and two members who served formerly on the Marine Fisheries Commission.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member as cochair and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint one member as cochair.  When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Review Commission, the vacancy shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the initial appointment.
(b) Appointments of the members of the Review Commission shall be completed by the appointing authorities as soon as practicable and not later than 15 days after the ratification of this act.  The cochairs shall call the initial meeting of the Review Commission not more than 10 days after the appointment of the last member of the Review Commission, and subsequent meetings shall be at the call of the cochairs.
Sec. 2. (a) The Review Commission shall examine the mission, authority, powers, duties, structure, functions, and administration of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, hereinafter "Department", excluding the Department's Health Division.  As part of its examination, the Review Commission shall identify methods to:
(1)	Promote economy and efficiency within the Department;
(2)	Increase fairness and flexibility in the Department's regulation of local governments and private business; and
(3)	Reorder priorities within the Department to place greater emphasis on reasonableness and efficiency in the area of environmental regulation.
The Review Commission shall recommend changes in the Department to the General Assembly. The Review Commission shall also consider the impact the changes it is considering will have on the mission, administration, and functions of the Department and may make recommendations as to restructuring the Department.
(b) The Review Commission shall make a preliminary report to the General Assembly prior to May 15, 1995, and a final report prior to March 1, 1996, on the results of its examination of the Department.  The report shall include any proposed legislation necessary to implement the Review Commission's recommendations.  Upon making its final report to the General Assembly, the Review Commission shall terminate.
Sec. 3.  Members of the Review Commission shall serve without compensation; however, they may be reimbursed by the Department, pursuant to G.S. 138-6, for travel and lodging expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the Review Commission, to the extent that funds are available.
Sec. 4.  The Review Commission shall consult with the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, hereinafter "Secretary", as the Review Commission carries out its duties under this act.  The Department, through the Secretary, shall furnish the Commission with all information in its possession or available to it that is necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.  The Secretary shall provide reasonable office space and support services to the Review Commission, at the request of the chair of the Review Commission.
Sec. 5.  The Director of the Budget shall authorize the expenditure from existing funds of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources by the Review Commission to assist the Review Commission in carrying out its duties under this act, including contracting with outside consultants.  The Office of State Budget and Management, the State Auditor, and other appropriate State agencies shall also provide consultation as requested by the cochairs of the Review Commission as needed to carry out the purposes of this act.
Sec. 6.  This act is effective upon ratification.