A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish a jobs commission.
Whereas, the Innovative Education Act became law in 2003; and
Whereas, as a result of said act, 52 Early/Middle College programs have been developed as a collaboration between the public schools, the community colleges, and private business; and
Whereas, these schools have generally evidenced a decrease in the dropout rate and, as a result, have won national awards; and
Whereas, North Carolina has seven identified economic development regions, each with its own challenges during changing economic times; and
Whereas, to be efficient with the taxpayers dollars and to continue to reduce the dropout rate and to prepare our students for twenty-first century jobs, it would be beneficial to develop future Early/Middle College programs and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) school programs that have curriculums that prepare students to meet the particular need of the respective economic development regions.  In addition, it would be beneficial to develop curriculums in some of these schools that address career areas that are present in each region and that would address statewide needs; and
Whereas, 16 career clusters ranging from Vocational‑Technical Programs such as Manufacturing to Health Science, to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math have been identified by the United States Department of Education; and
Whereas, it would be beneficial to create a commission to review the vision plans of each region and the overall needs of each region and the overall need of the State to better position each region, and to position the State, to compete in the regional, national, and global economy; and
Whereas, the Commission should be charged to develop incrementally, standard curriculums for these career paths in accordance with the Early/Middle College and STEM models and should be charged with monitoring the implementation of pilot programs in these respective regions that will best suit the potential of the region and better prepare students for the increased academic demands of a global economy; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is established in the General Assembly a JOBS (Joining Our Businesses and Schools) Commission.
SECTION 2.  The Commission shall consist of the following members:
(1)	The Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve as chair;
(2)	The chair of the State Board of Education or a designee;
(3)	The Secretary of the Department of Commerce or a designee;
(4)	The President of the North Carolina Community College System;
(5)	Three members appointed by the Governor;
(6)	Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and
(7)	Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SECTION 3.  The purpose of the Commission is to (i) develop incrementally, in conjunction with the Department of Public Instruction, standard curriculums for career clusters and their corresponding career paths in accordance with the Early/Middle College model and (ii) monitor the implementation of pilot programs in the seven economic development regions of the State that will best suit the needs of the regions and prepare students for the increased academic demands of a global economy.
The Commission shall meet at least once in each economic development region within the first eight months of its creation. In the course of the study, the Commission shall consider the needs of the State as a whole and shall review the economic vision plans for each region and other information it deems necessary and consider the growing need for technicians, teachers, practitioners of allied health, including, but not limited to, nurses and doctors, and the need for scientists and engineers and other critical areas.  It shall also consider the technical and vocational needs of each region.
The Commission shall report its recommendations to the State Board of Education. In its report, it shall recommend at least four of the 16 career clusters identified by the United States Department of Education that will best and most broadly serve the immediate needs of the State and the respective regions.  Thereafter, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction, shall develop the curriculum for the career clusters so recommended.  The State Board of Education shall thereafter, for the school year 2010‑2011, implement at least one JOBS Early/Middle College in each of the economic development regions as recommended by the commission.
The Commission shall also continue to work on prioritizing and customizing the remaining career clusters and identifying additional career paths following the report date and shall subsequently report to the State Board of Education and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by May 1, 2010.
The Commission shall work closely with the business community across the State and shall encourage businesses and business leaders to partner with the Commission on the work of the Commission and to establish public‑private partnerships with the pilot schools.
The Commission may accept gifts and grant funds. Said gifts and grants may be received for the purpose of defraying the expense of travel on a learning tour of innovative schools both inside and out of the State.
SECTION 4.  The chair may appoint an advisory commitee in each economic region to assist it in its work.
SECTION 5.  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 call of the chair. The Commission 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 Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants 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.
SECTION 6.  The Commission shall report the results of its study and its recommendations to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly no later than February 1, 2010.
SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.