A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT relating to regional economic development commissions.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 2 of Chapter 158 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new sections to read:
"§ 158‑8.5.  Annual reporting requirement.
By February 15 of each year, the commissions created pursuant to G.S. 158‑8.1, 158‑8.2, 158‑8.3, and 158‑33 shall publish a report containing the information required by this section. As a condition on the receipt of State funds, the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc., the Piedmont Triad Regional Partnership, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership shall, by February 15 of each year, publish a report containing the information required by this section.  The commissions and partnerships shall also submit a copy of the report to the Department of Commerce, the Office of State Budget and Management, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Joint Legislative Economic Development Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly. The report shall include all of the following:
(1)	A summary of the preceding year's program activities, objectives, and accomplishments.
(2)	The preceding fiscal year's itemized expenditures of State funds.
(3)	A demonstration of how the commission's or partnership's regional economic development and marketing strategy aligns with the State's overall economic development and marketing strategies.
(4)	A demonstration of how the commission's or partnership's involvement in promotion activities has generated leads.
(5)	The most recent audited annual financial statement regarding State funds.
"§ 158‑8.6.  Uniform standards.
The Department of Commerce, in consultation with the commissions created pursuant to G.S. 158‑8.1, 158‑8.2, 158‑8.3, and 158‑33, the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc., the Piedmont Triad Partnership, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, shall develop uniform standards for the use of State funds related to accounting procedures, personnel practices, and purchasing and contracts procedures. The commissions created pursuant to G.S. 158‑8.1, 158‑8.2, 158‑8.3, and 158‑33 shall follow these standards. As a condition on the receipt of State funds, the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc., the Piedmont Triad Partnership, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership shall follow these standards.
"§ 158‑8.7.  Use of State funds.
The commissions created pursuant to G.S. 158‑8.1, 158‑8.2, 158‑8.3, and 158‑33, the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc., the Piedmont Triad Partnership, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, are subject to all of the provisions of G.S. 143‑6.2.
"§ 158‑8.8.  Orientation for board members.
The commissions created pursuant to G.S. 158‑8.1, 158‑8.2, 158‑8.3, and 158‑33 shall hold an orientation session for all newly appointed commission members. The orientation shall provide information on the duties and responsibilities of commission members and shall include information on the commission's policies and State law regarding conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, and ethical behavior. At least once a year, each of these commissions shall distribute to all commission members information on the commission's policies and State law regarding conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, and ethical behavior."
SECTION 2.  The Department of Commerce may hire a consultant to assist in the development of the uniform standards required by G.S. 158‑8.6, as enacted by Section 1 of this act.  As a condition on the receipt of State funds, the commissions created pursuant to G.S. 158‑8.1, 158‑8.2, 158‑8.3, and 158‑33, the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc., the Piedmont Triad Partnership, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, shall pay the costs of developing the uniform standards required by G.S. 158‑8.6, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, in equal shares up to a maximum aggregate amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).  The Department of Commerce shall pay from funds available in its 2006‑2007 budget any costs for developing the uniform standards in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective October 1, 2006.  The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 2006.