A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT relating to improving services to displaced workers.
Whereas, the North Carolina General Assembly has come into extra session to consider the issue of economic development incentives designed to counter the effects of a prolonged downturn in the State's economy; and
Whereas, over 250,000 North Carolina workers remain unemployed; and
Whereas, North Carolina has lost a net total of more than 134,000 jobs since March 2001; and
Whereas, 121,000 of the lost jobs were in the manufacturing sector; and
Whereas, 71,000 unemployed North Carolinians are expected to exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits over the next six months; and
Whereas, home mortgage foreclosures more than doubled in North Carolina during the current economic downturn; and
Whereas, Congress and the President have failed to act to extend the availability of unemployment insurance benefits to workers suffering from prolonged, involuntary unemployment, and many North Carolina families now face the prospect of a complete loss of regular income and the strong likelihood of mortgage foreclosure, eviction, and loss of health insurance; and
Whereas, there is a large and unmet need for improved temporary services to meet the immediate needs of displaced workers; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina's response to the plight of displaced workers, their families, and their communities could be dramatically enhanced through  (i) the development of improved and better coordinated services to meet needs related to foreclosure and eviction prevention and preservation of affordable health insurance coverage, (ii) effective and efficient use and oversight of federal funds for unemployed workers, and (iii) the development of a statewide, interagency plan to fully coordinate workforce development efforts with economic and business development plans; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is established in the Office of the Governor the position of Director of Emergency Economic Relief and Recovery. The Director shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Director shall be charged with the following duties:
(1)	To assess the immediate needs of the State's unemployed and displaced workers as well as the State's current capacity to address those needs.
(2)	To oversee and coordinate all State efforts to deliver relief and workforce development services to involuntarily unemployed and displaced workers.
(3)	To develop a long‑term plan for improving the State's capacity to respond to the needs of unemployed and displaced workers, their families, and their communities during future economic downturns. In developing this plan, the Director should seek input from a diverse array of groups and individuals that includes State agencies, local government officials, workers, employers, trainers, nonprofit leaders, academics, and members of the general public.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.