A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to create a rail and infrastructure study COMMITTEE, as RECOMMENDED by the joint legislative TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Committee Established. – There is established in the General Assembly a Joint Legislative Committee on Rail and Infrastructure.  The Committee shall be composed of eight members as follows:
(1)	Four members of the House of Representatives from the western part of the State appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Four members of the Senate from the western part of the State appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
SECTION 2.  Duties of Committee. – The Committee shall study infrastructure needs necessary to support establishment of an inland port in the State, including the connection between major rail lines in the State and how they can be expanded or altered to accommodate the needs of the inland port. The Committee shall focus its study on the Clinchcross crossing of the Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads near Marion.
Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by the appointing authority. Cochairs of the Committee 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 Committee shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. A quorum of the Committee shall be nine members.
SECTION 3.  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, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 4.  Staff. – Adequate staff shall be provided to the Committee by the Legislative Services Office.
SECTION 5.  Consultants. – The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
SECTION 6.  Cooperation. – The Committee may call upon any department, agency, institution, or officer of the State or any political subdivision thereof for facilities, data, or other assistance.
SECTION 7.  Meetings During Legislative Session. – The Committee 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 8.  Meeting Location. – The Committee 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 Committee in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
SECTION 9.  Report. – The Committee may make an interim report to the 2009 Session of the 2008 General Assembly. The Committee shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 2011 General Assembly. The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report or upon the convening of the 2011 General Assembly, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 10.  From the funds available to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission may allocate monies to fund the work of the Committee.
SECTION 11. This act is effective when it becomes law.