A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for STUDIES by the legislative research commission, statutory oversight committees and commissions, and other agencies, committees, and commissions.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
PART I. TITLE

SECTION 1.  This act shall be known as "The Studies Act of 2007."

PART II. LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION

SECTION 2.1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study any of the topics listed below. When applicable, the bill or resolution that originally proposed the issue or study and the name of the sponsor is listed. The Commission may consider the original bill or resolution in determining the nature, scope, and aspects of the study. The following groupings are for reference only:
(1)	Government Regulatory Issues.
(2)	Transportation Issues.
(3)	Consumer Issues.
(4)	Insurance Issues.
(5)	Criminal Law Issues.
(6)	State/Local Government Employee Issues.
(7)	Labor, Employment, and Economic Development Issues.
(8)	Other.
SECTION 2.2.  For each Legislative Research Commission committee created during the 2007‑2008 fiscal year, the cochairs of the Legislative Research Commission shall appoint the committee membership.
SECTION 2.3.  For each of the topics the Legislative Research Commission decides to study under this part or pursuant to G.S. 120‑30.17(1), the Commission may report its findings, together with any recommended legislation, to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly and shall make a final report to the 2009 General Assembly upon its convening.
SECTION 2.4.  From the funds available to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission may allocate additional monies to fund the work of the Legislative Research Commission.

PART III. STATUTORY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS

SECTION 3.1.  The various statutory oversight committees and commissions may study a range of topics and report their findings, together with any recommended legislation, to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly upon its convening.
SECTION 3.2.  From funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the purpose of conducting the studies provided for in this part.

PART IV. OTHER AGENCIES, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS

SECTION 4.1.  Members of the commissions authorized by this part shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate. The Legislative Services Office shall provide adequate staff for the commissions. The commissions may hire consultants to assist with the study as provided in G.S. 120‑32.02(b). The commissions, while in the discharge of their official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 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. The commissions 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 4.2.  From funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the purpose of conducting the studies provided for in this part.

PART V. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICABILITY

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.