A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing a joint legislative study commission on early childhood programs and appropriating funds for that purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Legislative Study Commission on Early Childhood Programs ("Commission").  The Commission shall consist of 12 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Six members appointed by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Four members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Two members of the general public.
(2)	Six members appointed by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Four members of the Senate.
b.	Two members of the general public.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall:
(1)	Assess the feasibility and desirability of consolidating the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and the "More At Four" program.
(2)	Consider any needed adjustments and the necessary reprioritization of funds to realize the maximum benefit to the State's children and families.
(3)	Review any other matters the Commission deems relevant to its charge.
SECTION 1.(c)  The Commission shall report to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly. The report shall include findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals. The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each appoint a cochair for the Commission. The Commission may contract for consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist in the work of the Commission. Clerical staff shall be furnished to the Commission through the offices of the House of Representatives and the Senate Directors of Legislative Assistants. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission. Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances at the rate established in G.S. 120‑3.1. The appointing authority shall fill vacancies. The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19 through G.S. 120‑19.4, including the power to request all officers, agents, agencies, and departments of the State to provide any information, data, or documents within their possession, ascertainable from their records, or otherwise available to them and the power to subpoena witnesses.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year to fund the work of the Commission created by this act.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.