A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the legislative task force on sports injuries.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Legislative Task Force on Sports Injuries.
SECTION 2.  The Task Force shall consist of:
(1)	Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
a.	Three members of the House of Representatives;
b.	One educator;
c.	One doctor with expertise in the area of sports medicine;
d.	One school administrator; and
e.	One high school coach.
(2)	Seven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:
a.	Three members of the Senate;
b.	One representative of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association;
c.	One athletic trainer;
d.	One high school athletic director; and
e.	One middle school coach.
SECTION 3.  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 Task Force shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.
SECTION 4.  The Commission shall study issues relating to sports injuries for all sports at the middle school and high school levels, focusing on the prevention and treatment of injuries.
SECTION 5.  The Task Force, 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 Task Force may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Task Force may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
With approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist the Task Force in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Task Force, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Task Force. The Task Force may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. If the Task Force 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 Task Force 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 Task Force in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Task Force, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Task Force.
SECTION 6.  The Task Force shall report the results of its study and its recommendations to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly.
SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.