A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to extend to May 1, 2005, the blue ribbon commission to study North carolina's urban mobility needs.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 5 of S. L. 2003‑383 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 5.(a)  Commission Established. – There is established in the General Assembly a Blue Ribbon Commission to study the unique mobility needs of urban areas in North Carolina.
SECTION 5.(b)  Membership. – The Commission shall be composed of 27 members as follows:
(1)	Fifteen members of the public appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall represent the Regional Transportation Alliance, one of whom shall represent the environmental community, two of whom shall represent the Business Coalition for Regional TransportationSolutions, two of whom shall represent the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, two of whom shall represent the transportation industry, and four of whom shall be mayors from among the 10 most populous municipalities in the State.
(2)	Six members of the House of Representatives, representing the diverse geographic regions of the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3)	Six members of the Senate, representing the diverse geographic regions of the State, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
SECTION 5.(c)  Secretary of Transportation. – The Commission shall invite the Secretary of Transportation to attend each meeting of the Commission and encourage his participation in the Commission's deliberations.
SECTION 5.(d)  Duties of Commission. – The Commission shall study the following matters related to North Carolina's urban needs:
(1)	Innovative financing approaches to mitigate urban congestion.
(2)	Local revenue options which would give urban areas more control over their regional mobility future.
(3)	Any other urban transportation issues if approved by the cochairs or recommended by the Secretary of Transportation and approved by the cochairs.
SECTION 5.(e)  Vacancies. – Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the appointing authority.
SECTION 5.(f)  Cochairs. – Cochairs of the Commission shall be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from among their respective appointees.  The Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairs.  A quorum of the Commission shall be 11 members.
SECTION 5.(g)  Expenses of Members. – Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 5.(h)  Staff. – Adequate staff shall be provided to the Commission by the Legislative Services Office.
SECTION 5.(i)  Consultants. – The Commission may hire consultants to assist with the study.  Before expending any funds for a consultant, the Commission shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on the consultant selected, the work products to be provided by the consultant, and the cost of the contract, including an itemization of the cost components.
SECTION 5.(j)  Cooperation. – The Commission may call upon any department, agency, institution, or officer of the State or any political subdivision thereof for facilities, data, or other assistance.
SECTION 5.(k)  Meetings During Legislative Session. – The Commission may meet during a regular or extra session of the General Assembly, subject to approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
SECTION 5.(l)  Meeting Location. – The Commission shall meet at various locations around the State in order to promote greater public participation in its deliberations.  The Legislative Services Commission shall grant adequate meeting space to the Commission in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
SECTION 5.(m)  Report. – The Commission shall make an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the 2004 Regular Session of the 2003 General Assembly and shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 2005 General Assembly on May 1, 2005. The terms of the initial appointees to this Commission shall continue until May 1, 2005. The Committee shall submit copies of the reports to the Governor and the Secretary of Transportation.  Upon the filing of its final report, the Commission shall terminate. 
SECTION 5.(n)  Funding. – The Commission may apply for, receive, and accept grants of non‑State funds or other contributions as appropriate to assist in the performance of its duties.
SECTION 5.(o)  Appropriation. – Of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate sufficient funds for the expenses of the Commission.
SECTION 5.(p)  This section is effective when it becomes law." 
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.