A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT creating the poverty reduction and economic recovery legislative study commission and appropriating funds for that purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The General Assembly finds that poverty in this State is widespread, especially in rural areas and other areas that have lost significant numbers of agricultural and manufacturing jobs. Further, the General Assembly finds that an understanding of the causes and effects of poverty are critical in the reduction of poverty and the economic recovery of low‑wealth areas. To that end, there is created the Poverty Reduction and Economic Recovery Legislative Study Commission (Commission). 
SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall consist of 21 voting members appointed as follows:
(1)	Ten members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Seven members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Three members of the general public, including persons with expertise in the fields of business and economic development, public health, and affordable housing.
(2)	Ten members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Seven members of the Senate.
b.	Three members of the general public, including persons with expertise in the fields of education, public safety, and child welfare.
(3)	One member elected by the voting membership of the Commission at its initial meeting.
SECTION 1.(c)  The Commission shall consist of the following nonvoting, ex‑officio members:
(1)	The Commissioner of Labor, or that officer's designee.
(2)	The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or that officer's designee.
(3)	The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or that officer's designee.
(4)	The Secretary of the Department of Transportation, or that officer's designee.
(5)	The Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, or that officer's designee.
(6)	The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or that officer's designee.
(7)	The Chairman of the Employment Security Commission, or that officer's designee.
SECTION 1.(d)  The Commission shall:
(1)	Study and develop a coordinated, integrated approach to poverty reduction and economic recovery across the State.
(2)	Examine poverty in each region of the State with an emphasis on the following counties: Alleghany, Avery, Bladen, Columbus, Edgecombe, Graham, Halifax, Hoke, Northampton, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Warren, Watauga, and Yancey.
(3)	Examine other states' evidenced‑based intervention methods and overall best practices in poverty reduction and economic recovery.
(4)	Study any other matter pertinent to poverty reduction and economic recovery in North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  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 3.  The Commission shall submit its final report by the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly and may make interim reports it deems necessary. The Commission's final report shall include the results of the Commission's review and specific legislative recommendations. The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 4.  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 Commission.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.