A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the legislative task force on childhood obesity.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity.
SECTION 2.  The Task Force shall consist of 12 members as follows:
(1)	Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Six members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
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. A quorum of the Task Force shall be a majority of its members.
SECTION 4.  The Task Force shall include, but should not be limited to, study of issues relating to childhood obesity. In the course of the study, the Task Force shall consider and recommend to the General Assembly strategies for addressing the problem of childhood obesity and encouraging healthy eating and increased physical activity among children through the following:
(1)	Early childhood intervention.
(2)	Childcare facilities.
(3)	Before‑ and after‑school programs.
(4)	Physical education and physical activity in schools.
(5)	Higher nutrition standards in schools.
(6)	Comprehensive nutrition education in schools.
(7)	Increased access to recreational activities for children.
(8)	Community initiatives and public awareness.
(9)	Other means.
SECTION 5.  The Task Force shall encourage input from public nonprofit organizations promoting healthy lifestyles for children, addressing the problems related to childhood obesity, encouraging healthy eating, and increasing physical activity among children.
SECTION 6.  Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate. 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.
SECTION 7.  The Task Force shall submit an interim report to the 2012 Regular Session of the 2011 General Assembly and submit a final report of the results of its study and its recommendations to the 2013 General Assembly. The Task Force shall terminate on February 1, 2013, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 8.  This act is effective when it becomes law.