A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the joint Study committee on military and veterans affairs and to direct the committee to study issues relating to military and veterans affairs.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Committee created. – There is created the Joint Study Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
SECTION 1.(b)  Membership. – The Committee shall be comprised of nine members as follows:
(1)	Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Four members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	The Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs, Department of Administration.
	Members of the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate cochairs for the Committee from among their respective appointees.
SECTION 1.(c)  Duties of the Committee. – The Committee shall study or examine the following issues:
(1)	Taxes on disability car grants for wounded veterans.
(2)	How many people must apply for a particular license plate before it is made, as this issue affects veterans seeking special license plates.
(3)	How the term "veteran" is defined.
(4)	School eligibility of children of members of the military.
(5)	Child custody issues faced by military personnel.
(6)	Compatible development issues facing North Carolina's military installations.
(7)	Any other issues or matters affecting North Carolina's veterans, military retirees, military bases, or military population.
SECTION 1.(d)  Vacancies. – Any vacancy shall be filled by the original appointing authority. 
SECTION 1.(e)  Quorum. – A quorum of the Committee shall be a majority of its members.
SECTION 1.(f)  Meetings. – The Committee shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. 
SECTION 1.(g)  Expenses of members. – Members of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 2.  Report. – The Committee is authorized to submit an interim report of the results of its study, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly, and shall submit a final report of the results of its study, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2009 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly, no later than January 1, 2009.
SECTION 3.  Expiration of Committee. – The Committee shall terminate on January 1, 2009, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first. 
SECTION 4.  Of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds to implement the provisions of this act. 
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.