A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT REQUIRing the JOINT legislative OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES to study oversight of the state's social services system, any potential conflicts of interest within the system, and how those matters may be addressed, as recommended by the lrc committee on omnibus foster care and dependency.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  A subcommittee of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services shall be created to study oversight of the State's social services system, any potential conflicts of interest within the system, and how those matters may be addressed. The Chair of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services shall appoint members of the subcommittee and may appoint members of the public to the subcommittee in addition to any members of the General Assembly.
SECTION 2.  In conducting the study, the subcommittee shall consider the following:
(1)	The State's oversight of county departments of social services, specifically regarding the delivery of services and the level of consistency in the delivery of services as between counties.
(2)	Whether the State's current system of oversight regarding county departments of social services should be revised.
(3)	What authority the State has to enact laws or adopt rules regarding the foster care system so as not to conflict with federal laws.
(4)	The current law, rules, or policies in place regarding a director or an employee of a county department of social services serving in the role of foster parent.
(5)	Whether a director or an employee of a county department of social services should be allowed to serve as a foster parent.
(6)	Any changes deemed necessary to current law, rules, or policies to avoid conflicts of interest if a director or an employee of a county department of social services serves as a foster parent.
(7)	Any other issues specific to this matter the subcommittee deems appropriate.
SECTION 3.  The subcommittee of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 1, 2014. The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 2015 General Assembly, prior to its convening, by filing the report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.