GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1177

Short Title:  Small Business Dev. Study Commission.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Shubert; Adams, Alexander, Arnold, Baddour, Baker, Beall, Berry, Black, Bonner, Boyd-McIntyre, Braswell, Brawley, Buchanan, Cansler, Capps, Church, Clary, Cole, Crawford, Creech, Culp, Culpepper, Davis, Earle, Eddins, Fox, Goodwin, Gulley, Hall, Hill, R. Hunter, Insko, Ives, Jarrell, Jeffus, Kinney, McComas, McMahan, Mercer, Morris, Mosley, Nesbitt, Nye, Oldham, Owens, Ramsey, Rayfield, Redwine, Reynolds, Rogers, Russell, Saunders, Sherrill, Starnes, Sutton, Tallent, Tolson, Wainwright, Warwick, Weatherly, Wilkins, G. Wilson, Womble, and Yongue.

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

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April 29, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Small Business Development Study Commission is established.  The purpose of the commission is to improve the coordination of services provided by State agencies to small businesses and to reduce the regulatory impact of government on small businesses.
Section 2.  Small Business Development Study Commission may:
(1)	Evaluate the services provided to small business by the various State agencies and determine ways to assure that the needs of small businesses are met in an efficient and effective manner by, in part, coordinating the efforts of the State agencies that serve small businesses.
(2)	Evaluate the impact of regulations imposed on small businesses by the State and determine ways to eliminate unnecessary regulations and to minimize the negative impact of other necessary regulations on the businesses.
(3)	Make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding legislative proposals that will facilitate the development of small businesses in the State and assure that the needs of existing businesses are met.
(4)	Conduct any other studies or evaluations the commission considers necessary to effectuate its purpose.
Section 3.  The commission shall consist of 10 appointed members and five ex officio members as follows:
(1)	Three Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2)	Two members of the public appointed by the  President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one upon the recommendation of the National Federation of Independent Business and one upon the recommendation of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.
(3)	Three Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(4)	Two members of the public appointed by the  Speaker of the House of Representatives, one upon the recommendation of the National Federation of Independent Business and one upon the recommendation of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.
(5)	The Secretary of Revenue or her designee.
(6)	The Commissioner of Insurance or his designee.
(7)	The Secretary of State or her designee.
(8)	The Chair of the Employment Security Commission or his designee.
(9)	The Secretary of Commerce or his designee.
Section 4.  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.
Section 5.  The commission shall meet at least once a quarter and may meet at other times upon the joint call of the cochairs.  A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at meetings of the commission shall be necessary for action to be taken by the commission.
Section 6.  The commission may make an interim report to the 1998 Regular Session of the 1997 General Assembly.  The commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 1999 Session of the 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.
Section 7.  The commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided for under G.S. 120-19, and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.  The commission may meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Section 8.  Members of the commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, or 138-6, as appropriate.
Section 9.  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 Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the commission, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the commission.
Section 10.  When a vacancy occurs in the appointed membership of the commission the vacancy shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the initial appointment.
Section 11.  All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall, upon request, furnish the commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
Section 12.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for the expenses of the Small Business Development Study Commission.
Section 13.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.