A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish a legislative study commission to recommend changes to the state personnel act and appropriating funds for that purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is hereby established the Legislative Study Commission on the State Personnel Act (Study Commission). The Study Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of the State Personnel Act that governs the human resource system for approximately 89,000 employees in State departments, agencies, and institutions, including The University of North Carolina, and approximately 30,000 local government employees.  The Study Commission may consider and recommend changes to the State Personnel Act, including recommendations to rewrite the State Personnel Act in an effort to develop a contemporary human resource system that is more effective, cost-efficient, and beneficial to employees and taxpayers. The Study Commission may consider recommendations from the State Personnel Act Task Force.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Study Commission shall consist of 12 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Six members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. At least three appointees shall be members of the Senate. Two members shall be stakeholders in the State human resource system. One member shall be a human resources professional from the private sector.
(2)	Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. At least three appointees shall be members of the House of Representatives. Two members shall be stakeholders in the State human resource system. One member shall be a human resources professional from local government.
SECTION 1.(c)  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Study Commission from their appointees. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing officer.
SECTION 1.(d)  With the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist in the work of the Legislative Study Commission on the State Personnel Act.  With the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Study Commission may hold its meetings in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
SECTION 1.(e)  The Study Commission shall submit a final written report of its findings and recommendations on or before the convening of the 2005 Regular Session of the 2005 General Assembly.  All reports shall be filed with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Librarian.  Upon filing its final report, the Study Commission shall terminate.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to fund the Legislative Study Commission on the State Personnel System.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.