A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish a study commission on deconsolidating local school ADMINISTRATIVE units that have more than seventy-five thousand students.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Study Commission on Deconsolidating Local School Administrative Units that Have More than 75,000 Students. The Commission shall consist of 12 members as follows:
(1)	Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. One of these appointees shall be a school board member or county commissioner who (i) is from a county with a local school administrative unit that has more than 75,000 students and (ii) is in favor of deconsolidation; and
(2)	Six members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. One of these appointees shall be a school board member or county commissioner who (i) is from a county with a local school administrative unit that has more than 75,000 students and (ii) is in favor of deconsolidation.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint a cochair for the Commission. The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority as made the initial appointment.
SECTION 2.  The Commission shall study the need to deconsolidate local school administrative units that have more than 75,000 students.
SECTION 3.  The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical support staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 4.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2006 Regular Session of the 2005 General Assembly.
SECTION 5.  Of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the expenses of the Commission established by this act.
SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.