A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT creating the legislative study commission on urban growth and infrastructure issues.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Legislative Study Commission on Urban Growth and Infrastructure Issues.  The purpose of the Commission is to determine what measures the General Assembly may take to foster regional water resource and transportation planning, incentive‑based local land use planning, and more responsive and cost‑effective planning to accommodate rapid population growth in North Carolina's urban areas.
SECTION 2.(a)  The Commission shall consist of 14 members as follows:
(1)	Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Five members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	Four members representing North Carolina's urban areas appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, including at least one member from Wake, Durham, or Orange County, one member from Forsyth or Guilford County, and one member from Mecklenburg County.
SECTION 2.(b)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.
SECTION 3.  The Commission shall study the following issues relating to urban growth and infrastructure:
(1)	Options for fostering regional planning for water and transportation infrastructure.
(2)	Strategies (including additional local land use regulatory tools) for encouraging the use of incentive-based planning by urban area local governments.
(3)	Strategies to help urban communities maximize the benefits of growth and cope with the challenges presented by rapid growth in population, school enrollment, vehicle miles traveled on urban roads and highways, and related demands for other public services while preserving a viable economic climate and building greater regional cooperation.
(4)	Any other matters the Commission considers necessary in furtherance of the purpose for which it is established.
SECTION 4.  The Commission, 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 Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Commission 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 Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. If the Commission hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services.
All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
SECTION 5.  The Commission shall report the results of its study and its recommendations to the 2009 General Assembly upon its convening.
SECTION 6.  Of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the expenses of the Commission established by this act.
SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.