GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 887

Short Title:  Working Poor LRC Study.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Martin of Guilford; Albertson, Ballance, Cooper, Dannelly, Gulley, Hoyle, Jordan, Kinnaird, Lee, Martin of Pitt, Miller, Perdue, Phillips, Plyler, Rand, Warren, and Winner.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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April 16, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION STUDY TO STUDY THE WORKING POOR.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study issues relating to the working poor, including the following:
(1)	The extent to which current labor market participation enables individuals and families to earn the amount of income necessary to meet their basic needs;
(2)	How many persons in the State work and earn wages below one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty guideline and trends in the size and demographic profiles of this group;
(3)	Examine job market factors that contribute to any changes in the composition and numbers of the working poor, including shifts from manufacturing to services, from full-time to part-time work, and from permanent work to temporary or other contingent work;
(4)	The respective responsibilities of the public and private sectors in ensuring that working families and individuals have income adequate to meet their basic needs;
(5)	Evaluate the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system in meeting the needs of low-wage workers when they become unemployed;
(6)	Examine the efficacy of a State-earned income tax credit that would enable working families to meet the requirements of the basic needs budget;
(7)	Examine the wages, benefits, and protections available to part-time and temporary workers, leased employees, independent contractors, and other contingent workers as compared to regular full-time workers; and
(8)	Examine the impact, both positive and negative, of the Work First Program on families in the job market and the ability of those families in the Program and working to meet their needs.
Section 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may report the results of its study, along with any legislative proposals and cost analyses, to the 1998 General Assembly.
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.