A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the Joint legislative Elections oversight committee and to establish that committee.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 120 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new article to read:
"Article 12P.
"Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee.
"§ 120‑70.140.  Creation and membership of Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee.
The Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee is established. The Committee consists of 18 members as follows:
(1)	Nine members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least two of whom are members of the minority party; and
(2)	Nine members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least three of whom are members of the minority party.
Terms on the Committee are for two years and begin on January 15 of each odd‑numbered year, except the terms of the initial members, which begin on appointment. Members may complete a term of service on the Committee even if they do not seek reelection or are not reelected to the General Assembly, but resignation or removal from service in the General Assembly constitutes resignation or removal from service on the Committee.
A member continues to serve until his successor is appointed. A vacancy shall be filled within 30 days by the officer who made the original appointment.
"§ 120‑70.141.  Purpose and powers of Committee.
(a)	The Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee shall examine, on a continuing basis, election administration and campaign finance regulation in North Carolina, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve elections administration and campaign finance regulation. In this examination, the Committee shall do the following:
(1)	Study the budgets, programs, and policies of the State Board of Elections and the county boards of elections to determine ways in which the General Assembly may improve election administration and campaign finance regulation.
(2)	Examine election statutes and court decisions to determine any legislative changes that are needed to improve election administration and campaign finance regulation.
(3)	Study other states' initiatives in election administration and campaign finance regulation to provide an ongoing commentary to the General Assembly on these initiatives and to make recommendations for implementing similar initiatives in North Carolina; and
(4)	Study any other election matters that the Committee considers necessary to fulfill its mandate.
(b)	The Committee may make interim reports to the General Assembly on matters for which it may report to a regular session of the General Assembly. A report to the General Assembly may contain any legislation needed to implement a recommendation of the Committee.
"§ 120‑70.142.  Organization of Committee.
(a)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee. The Committee shall meet at least once a quarter and may meet at other times upon the joint call of the cochairs.
(b)	A quorum of the Committee is 10 members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present. While in the discharge of its official duties, the Committee has the powers of a joint committee under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4.
(c)	Members of the Committee receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1. The Committee may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120‑32.02. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. Upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission, the Supervisors of Clerks of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Committee. The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee.
"§ 120‑70.143.  Additional powers.
The Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee, while in discharge of official duties, shall have access to any paper or document, and may compel the attendance of any State official or employee before the Committee or secure any evidence under G.S. 120.19. In addition, G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4 shall apply to the proceedings of the Committee as if it were a joint committee of the General Assembly."
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 for the implementation of this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.