A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the Legislative commission on global climate change AND to direct the commission to study issues related to global warming and the emerging carbon economy, TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE AND DESIRABLE FOR THE sTATE TO ESTABLISH A GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTANT REDUCTION GOAL AND, IF THE COMMISSION DETERMINES THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOAL IS APPROPRIATE and desirable, TO DEVELOP A RECOMMENDED GOAL.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Commission Established; Membership. – The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change is hereby established:  The Commission shall consist of 29 members as follows:
(1)	Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2)	Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3)	Three members of the public at large appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(4)	Three members of the public at large appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(5)	The President of Duke Power or the President's designee.
(6)	The President of Progress Energy or the President's designee.
(7)	The President of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry or the President's designee.
(8)	The President of the Manufacturers and Chemical Industry Council of North Carolina or the President's designee.
(9)	The President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation or the President's designee.
(10)	The President of the North Carolina Forestry Association or the President's designee.
(11)	The Southeast Regional Director of the North Carolina Environmental Defense or the Regional Director's designee.
(12)	The Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy or the Executive Director's designee.
(13)	The Executive Director of the North Carolina Coastal Federation or the Executive Director's designee.
(14)	The Executive Director of the North Carolina Conservation Council or the Executive Director's designee.
(15)	The Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, or the Dean's designee.
(16)	The Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, or the Dean's designee.
(17)	The Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University or the Dean's designee.
SECTION 2.  Cochairs. – The Commission shall have two Cochairs, one designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among their respective appointees. The Commission shall meet upon the call of the Cochairs.
SECTION 3.  Quorum. – A quorum of the Commission shall consist of 15 members.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. – Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled as provided in Section 1 of this act or by the original appointing authority as appropriate.
SECTION 5. Purpose and Duties. – The Commission shall have the following purposes and duties:
(1)	The Commission shall conduct an in-depth examination of issues related to global climate change. This examination shall include all of the following:
a.	A review of current scientific literature on the possible natural and anthropogenic causes of global climate change.
b.	A review of actions taken by the federal government and by other states to address global warming.
c.	An examination of the emissions of greenhouse gases from within the State and the extent to which reductions in the emissions of these gases in the State, region, nation, and worldwide could be expected to affect global climate change.
d.	An evaluation of the economic opportunities for the State that may result from international, national, and State action to address global climate change and the emerging carbon market.
e.	The potential impacts of global climate change on the citizens, natural resources, and economy of the State, including agriculture, travel and tourism, recreation, coastal real estate, insurance, and other economic sectors.
f.	The costs of any action taken by the State to address global climate change on individuals, individual households, local governments, businesses, educational institutions, agricultural operations, the State government, and other institutions and economic sectors.
g.	The benefits of any action taken by or within the State or other states and at the national or international levels to address global climate change on individuals, individual households, local governments, businesses, educational institutions, agricultural operations, the State government, and other institutions and economic sectors.
(2)	If, in the course of its examination, the Commission determines that it would be appropriate and desirable for the State to establish a global warming pollutant reduction goal, the Commission may develop a recommended global warming pollutant reduction goal for the State.
(3)	In conducting its examination of global climate change, the Commission shall consider and integrate the findings and recommendations of the study of issues related to the development and implementation of standards and plans to control emissions of carbon dioxide required by Section 13 of S.L. 2002‑4.
(4)	Based on its examination of global climate change, the Commission shall develop findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals it determines to be appropriate, for consideration by the General Assembly.
SECTION 6.  Additional Duties. – The Commission may work cooperatively with other state and national governments to organize a forum on global climate change, including its causes, impacts, challenges, and opportunities in the southeastern United States.
SECTION 7.  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 8.  Staff. – Upon the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to the Commission to aid in its work.
SECTION 9.  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 10.  Report. – The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Environmental Review Commission on or before 1 November 2006, at which time the Commission shall terminate.
SECTION 11.  Funding. – From funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the purpose of conducting the study provided for in this act.
SECTION 12.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.