GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1716*

Short Title:  Funds/Osteoporosis Task Force.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Boyd-McIntyre; Russell (Cosponsors), Adams, Aldridge, Alexander, Blue, Bonner, Bowie, Capps, Clary, Cole, Creech, Davis, Dedmon, Earle, Easterling, Gamble, Goodwin, Grady, Gray, Hackney, Hall, Hardaway, Hightower, R. Hunter, Hurley, Insko, Jarrell, Jeffus, Luebke, McAllister, McMahan, Michaux, Mosley, Oldham, Preston, Saunders, Sexton, Sherrill, Sutton, Tolson, Wainwright, Warner, Watson, C. Wilson, Womble, and Wright.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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June 1, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUING WORK OF THE OSTEOPOROSIS TASK FORCE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Section 15.32 of S.L. 1997-443 reads as rewritten:
"Section 15.32.  (a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Community Health, the sum of two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for allocation to the Osteoporosis Task Force.
(b)	The North Carolina Osteoporosis Prevention Task Force 
	the Task Force.  The Director of the Division of Health Promotion in the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Community Health, Department of Health and Human Services, the Director of the Division of Medical Assistance in the Department of Human Resources, Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Division of Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services, or their designees, shall be members of the Task Force.  Appointments to the Task Force shall be made as follows:
(1)	By the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as follows:
a.	Two members of the Senate;
b.	A representative of a women's health organization;
c.	A local health director;
d.	A certified health educator;
e.	A representative of the North Carolina Association of Area Agencies on Aging; and
f.	A person with osteoporosis.
(2)	By the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as follows:
a.	Two members of the House of Representatives;
b.	A county commissioner;
c.	A licensed dietitian/nutritionist;
d.	A pharmacist;
e.	A registered nurse; and
f.	A person with osteoporosis.
(3)	By the Governor, as follows:
a.	A practicing family physician, rheumatologist, or endocrinologist;
b.	A president or chief executive officer of a business upon recommendation of a North Carolina wellness council which is a member of the Wellness Councils of America;
c.	A news director of a newspaper or television or radio station;
d.	A representative of a North Carolina affiliate of the National Osteoporosis Foundation;
e.	A representative from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service;
f.	A representative of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health; and
g.	Two members at large.
(d)	Each appointing authority shall assure insofar as possible that its appointees to the Task Force reflect the composition of the North Carolina population with regard to ethnic, racial, age, gender, and religious composition.
(e)	The General Assembly and the Governor shall make their appointments to the Task Force not later than 30 days after the adjournment of the 1997 General Assembly, Regular Session 1998.  A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled by the original appointing authority, using the criteria set out in this section for the original appointment.
(f)	The Task Force shall meet at least quarterly or more frequently at the call of the Chair.
(g)	The Task Force Chair may establish committees for the purpose of making special studies pursuant to its duties and may appoint non-Task Force members to serve on each committee as resource persons.  Resource persons shall be voting members of the committees and shall receive subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6.  Committees may meet with the frequency needed to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(h)	Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as applicable.
(i)	A majority of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its business.
(j)	The Task Force may use funds allocated to it to establish one and one-half full-time positions and for other expenditures needed to assist the Task Force in carrying out its duties.
(k)	The Osteoporosis Prevention Task Force has the following duties:
							(1a)	To educate physicians and health and aging professionals on osteoporosis epidemiology, pathotenesis, prevention and treatment; on sources of information and assistance; on screening and diagnosis; and on the psychological and sociological impact of osteoporosis on families, communities, and the State.
(2a)	To provide a multistrategy consumer education program including workshops to inform, stimulate, and enable all age groups to take action against osteoporosis.
(3a)	To raise public awareness, knowledge, and understanding across the State about osteoporosis risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and disease management.
(4a)	To develop a statewide media campaign and education program that can be delivered through local health departments.
(5a)	To facilitate coordination of and communication among State and local agencies and organizations regarding current or future involvement in achieving the aims of the Osteoporosis Prevention Plan.
(6a)	To receive and consider reports and testimony from individuals, local health departments, community-based organizations, voluntary health organizations, and other public and private organizations statewide, to learn more about their contributions to osteoporosis diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, and their ideas for improving osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in North Carolina.
(l)	The Task Force shall submit a progress report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Governor, and the Fiscal Research Division not later than April 1, 1999. The progress report shall address:
(1)	Progress being made in fulfilling the duties of the Task Force, and
	(3)	Recommended strategies or actions to reduce the occurrence of and burdens suffered from osteoporosis by citizens of this State.
The Task Force shall submit its final report to the 1999 General Assembly, the Governor, and the Fiscal Research Division not later than October 1, 1999.
(m)	Upon submission of its final report to the Governor and the 1999 General Assembly, the Task Force shall expire."
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.