A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for four‑year terms for the members of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑295.1(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The Commission shall consist of the following 16 members:
(1)	The Governor shall appoint four teachers from a list of names, including the State Teacher of the Year, submitted by the State Board of Education; one principal; one superintendent; and two representatives of schools of education, one of which is in a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina and one of which is in a private college or university.
(2)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint three teachers who have different areas of expertise or who teach at different grade levels; and one at‑large member.
(3)	The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three teachers who have different areas of expertise or who teach at different grade levels; and one at‑large member.
In making appointments, the appointing authorities are encouraged to select qualified citizens who are committed to improving the teaching profession and student achievement and who represent the racial, geographic, and gender diversity of the State. Before their appointment to this Commission, with the exception of the at‑large members, the members must have been actively engaged in the profession of teaching, in the education of students in teacher education programs, or in the practice of public school administration for at least three years, at least two of which occurred in this State. The members shall serve for four‑year staggered terms. Terms shall begin on September 1. Vacancies in the membership shall be filled by the original appointing authority using the same criteria as provided in this subsection."
SECTION 2.  In order to provide for four‑year staggered terms for members of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission, the Governor shall designate two of his appointees whose terms shall expire August 31, 2008, two whose terms shall expire August 31, 2009, two whose terms shall expire August 31, 2010, and two whose terms shall expire August 31, 2011; the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one of his appointees whose term shall expire August 31, 2008, one whose term shall expire August 31, 2009, one whose term shall expire August 31, 2010, one whose term shall expire August 31, 2011; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of his appointees whose term shall expire August 31, 2008, one whose term shall expire August 31, 2009, one whose term shall expire August 31, 2010, and one whose term shall expire August 31, 2011.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.