A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the Legislative study commission on compensation for county election directors and to establish that commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Legislative Study Commission on Compensation for County Election Directors (Commission).  The Commission shall consist of 10 voting members appointed as follows:
(1)	Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Three members of the House of Representatives.
b.	One county election director.
c.	One county commissioner.
(2)	Five members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Three members of the Senate.
b.	At least one county election board member.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall include nonvoting, ex officio members as follows:
(1)	The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections, or the Executive Director's designee.
(2)	The Chair of the State Board of Elections, or the Chair's designee.
SECTION 1.(c)  The Commission shall:
(1)	Review and assess current system and level of compensation for county election directors.
(2)	Review the systems and levels of compensation for local election officials in other states.
(3)	Study any other matter the Commission deems relevant.
(4)	Make a final report to the 2009 General Assembly that includes findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals relating to compensation for county election directors.
SECTION 1.(d)  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 1.(e)  The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to fund the work of the Legislative Study Commission on Compensation for County Election Directors created by this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.