A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO create An interagency Commission on ACTIVE LIVING COMMUNITIES for the development of active, livable school and community environments, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE north carolina TASK FORCE ON PREVENTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 36. Interagency Commission on Active Living Communities.
"§ 143B‑216.80.  Interagency Commission on Active Living Communities.
(a)	Creation. – There is created within the Department of Health and Human Services the Interagency Commission on Active Living Communities.
(b)	Membership. – The Commission shall consist of 19 members, appointed as follows:
(1)	The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary's designee.
(2)	The Secretary of the Department of Transportation, or the Secretary's designee.
(3)	The Chairperson of the Board of Transportation, or the Chairperson's designee.
(4)	The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or the Superintendent's designee.
(5)	The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, or the Secretary's designee.
(6)	The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee.
(7)	The Chairperson of the State Board of Education, or the Chairperson's designee.
(8)	Three representatives of the League of Municipalities, appointed by the Governor.
(9)	Two representatives of the County Commissioners Association, appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(10)	Two representatives of the Association of Local Health Management, appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(11)	Two representatives of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(12)	Two representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(13)	One member appointed by the Governor.
Members shall serve for two‑year terms commencing on October 1, 2009, and may serve one additional consecutive term. One member, to be designated by the Governor, shall serve as chairperson.
(c)	Vacancies. – Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and have been qualified. Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that a vacancy in an appointment made by the General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120‑122. A vacancy in the membership of the Commission other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
(d)	Purpose and Duties. – The purpose of the Commission shall be to develop interagency plans to reduce traffic around school facilities, encourage greater physical activity in school and community environments, and promote children's health and mobility. The Commission shall have the following duties:
(1)	Examine current policies and develop strategies and policy initiatives with respect to all of the following:
a.	Leveraging federal resources to develop and implement a Safe Routes to Schools program or other similar initiative to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists along heavily traveled routes to school.
b.	Expansion of available funds for the creation and maintenance of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, parks, and other green spaces.
c.	Securing adequate liability protection for shared use of schools and for endorsement of walkable routes to and from schools.
d.	Promoting the siting and development of new schools in areas that are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.
(2)	Make findings about the impact of the strategies and policy initiatives recommended pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection on school transportation costs, economic development, potential savings, and any other relevant factors identified by the Commission.
(e)	Meetings. – Meetings of the Commission shall be called by the chairperson or by any two members of the Commission, and meetings shall be held at least quarterly. Any three voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the Commission at any meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission present at a meeting at which a quorum exists.
(f)	Compensation. – None of the members of the Commission shall receive compensation for serving on the Commission. However, members of the Commission may be reimbursed for their expenses in accordance with Chapter 138 of the General Statutes.
(g)	Reporting. – No later than October 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall prepare and submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Joint Committee on Governmental Operations on any interagency plans developed or recommended by the Commission to reduce traffic around school facilities, encourage greater physical activity in school and community environments, and promote children's health and mobility. The report shall specifically address each of the duties set forth in subdivisions (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section."
SECTION 2. The appointing authorities shall make their appointments to the Commission by September 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.