A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ESTABLISH THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMIttee ON Public building security.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Public Building Security. The Committee shall consist of 14 members. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint six members, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint six members, and the Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety shall appoint two members.
The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint a cochair, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a cochair for the Committee. The Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority as made the initial appointment.
The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical support staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Committee shall study issues related to security in public buildings, review best practices around the nation, examine existing technologies that the State could use to secure public buildings and protect their occupants, and make recommendations on how the State can better protect the lives of State employees and other citizens.
SECTION 1.(c)  The Committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly.  The Committee shall terminate upon filing its report.
SECTION 1.(d)  Of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the expenses of the Committee established by this section.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.