A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT establishing the legislative study commission on state civil rights enforcement.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Legislative Study Commission on State Civil Rights Enforcement ("Commission").  The Commission shall consist of the Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings or the Director's designee and the Secretary of the Department of Administration or the Secretary's designee, both serving as ex officio, nonvoting members, and 15 voting members, appointed as follows:
(1)	Five members appointed by the Governor, to include:
a.	One person who represents an organization whose primary purpose is to work against discrimination in housing.
b.	Three representatives of organizations whose objectives include the elimination of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, ethnic origin, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected category.
c.	One person knowledgeable of State and federal labor law.
(2)	Five members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Three members of the Senate.
b.	One person who is an active State employee.
c.	One person from a private business or firm employing fewer than 200 employees in this State.
(3)	Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Three members of the House of Representatives.
b.	One person who is a retired State employee.
c.	One person from a private business or firm employing 200 or more employees in this State.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall study the following issues relating to civil rights in this State:
(1)	Current levels of funding provided to civil rights agencies.
(2)	Mission statements of existing civil rights agencies.
(3)	Current practices and structures of civil rights agencies in other states.
(4)	Gaps in current service levels (such as the provision of public accommodations and the enforcement of hate crimes).
(5)	Feasibility of creating a single State agency, division, or commission for civil rights investigations and enforcement.
(6)	Analysis and recommendation of the appropriate level within State government to locate a civil rights agency.
(7)	A recommended structure of a civil rights agency, including the appointment of a principal position.
(8)	A recommended scope of application for a civil rights agency employment law function (i.e., apply only to public employment discrimination or to both public and private employment discrimination).
(9)	Recommendation of whether or not a hate crimes unit should be established.
(10)	Any other issue deemed relevant and necessary by the cochairs of the Commission.
The Commission may conduct public hearings around the State to solicit firsthand testimony regarding civil rights enforcement issues in North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 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.
The State Personnel Commission, in conjunction with the Director of the Office of State Personnel, shall designate appropriate staff to serve as liaison to the Commission.
The Office of State Personnel shall complete an analysis of the issues identified for study in Section 1(b) of this act and submit that analysis, including any findings and recommendations, to the Commission by May 1, 2008, for the Commission's consideration.
SECTION 3.  The Commission's interim and final reports shall include the results of the Commission's study as well as recommendations, legislative and otherwise. The Commission shall submit an interim report to the 2008 Regular Session of the 2007 General Assembly. The Commission shall make a final report to the 2009 General Assembly and shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to fund the work of the Study Commission created in Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2007.