A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to study means to increase north carolina's global engagement.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Committee established. – There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Global Engagement.  The Committee shall consist of 14 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Seven members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
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 Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority making the initial appointment.
The Committee, 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 Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The House of Representatives and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 2.  Duties. – The Committee shall continue the work of the Joint Select Committee on Global Engagement created pursuant to G.S. 120‑19.6(a1), Rule 31 of the Rules of the Senate of the 2009 General Assembly, and Rule 26(a) of the House of Representatives of the 2009 General Assembly by continuing to work toward promoting economic growth and stimulating job creation in the global economy.  To that end, the Committee may work in conjunction with the Center for International Understanding to develop a Statewide Strategic Plan for Global Engagement.  The Committee may study the following:
(1)	North Carolina's current international activity in the business, State government, and education sectors.
(2)	Barriers to international trade that may be addressed by legislation.
(3)	Ways to increase coordination, synchronization, and intercommunication between State and local governmental entities.
(4)	Data collection and analysis of global business trends.
(5)	Representation options for North Carolina responsible for soliciting, targeting, educating, and recruiting international businesses to North Carolina.
(6)	Incentives designed to encourage small businesses to export goods and service solutions.
(7)	Methods for positioning North Carolina as a portal to North America for international trade.
(8)	Means to increase foreign direct investment in North Carolina.
SECTION 3.  Report. – The Committee may make a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the 2012 Session of the 2011 General Assembly upon its convening.  The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report or upon the convening of the 2012 Session of the 2011 General Assembly, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.