A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to study the use of american indian mascots at public schools.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Legislative Study Committee on the Use of American Indian Mascots at Public Schools.  The Committee shall consist of 12 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	The chair of the State Board of Education or a designee.
(4)	Two members of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs appointed by the chair of the Commission.
(5)	Two tribal members appointed by the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs.
(6)	The chief executive officer of the North Carolina Indian Economic Development Initiative, Inc.
SECTION 2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a cochair. The Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs.  A quorum of the Committee shall be a majority of its members.
Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
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 Director of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical support staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee.
In addition, the Department of Public Instruction shall cooperate in providing information and additional staff resources as needed to accomplish the work of the Committee.
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 contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
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 3.  The Committee shall study the impact of American Indian sports mascots and logos at the public schools and review current policies and procedures on their use.
SECTION 4.  The Committee shall report to the 2011 General Assembly, Regular Session 2012, on or before May 1, 2012.  The report shall include the Committee's findings and recommendations under this study, including any legislative or administrative proposals.  The Committee shall terminate upon the earlier of the filing of its final report or May 1, 2012.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.