GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1048

Short Title:  Study Local Government Services.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator McDaniel.

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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May 4, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT CREATING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND REGIONAL PLANNING STUDY COMMISSION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a) The Local Government Services and Regional Planning Study Commission is created.  The Commission shall consist of 14 members: seven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Of those appointments, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair.  When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Commission, the vacancy shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the initial appointment.
(b) Appointments of the members of the Commission shall be completed by the appointing officers as soon as practicable, but not more than 30 days after the adjournment of the 1995 Session of the General Assembly.  The cochairs shall call the initial meeting of the Commission not more than 15 days after the appointment of the last member of the Commission.  Subsequent meetings may be held upon the joint call of the cochairs.
Sec. 2.  (a) The Commission shall:
(1)	Study the consolidation of city and county services in North Carolina.
(2)	Evaluate the status, efficiency, costs, and benefits of the North Carolina Regional Planning Commissions and the North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commissions.
(3)	Evaluate the status, efficiency, costs, and benefits of North Carolina Lead Regional Organizations and the 18 planning regions established pursuant to G.S. 153A-391 and G.S. 160A-470.
(b) The Commission may review and evaluate any other matters pertaining to regional planning and economic development,  the structure of local government, and the delivery of local government services in North Carolina.
Sec. 3.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 1996 Regular Session of the 1995 General Assembly 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 for under the provisions of G.S. 120-19, and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.  The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Sec. 5. Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances as follows:
(1)	Commission members who are also members of the General Assembly, at the rate established in G.S. 120-3.1.
(2)	Commission members who are officials or employees of a State or local government agency, at the rate established in G.S. 138-6.
(3)	All other Commission members, at the rate established in G.S. 138-5.
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 Supervisor of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission or committee, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
Sec. 7. All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
Sec. 8. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 1995-96 fiscal year for the expenses of the Commission.
Sec. 9.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.