A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT creating a permanent statewide poverty task force and funding its operations; establishing a governor's executive advisor on economic PROSPERITY and poverty reduction; and appropriating funds for those purposes.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 80.
"Statewide Poverty Task Force.
"§ 143‑750.  Statewide Poverty Task Force.
(a)	The General Assembly finds that poverty in this State is widespread, especially among minorities and in rural areas and other parts of the State that have lost significant numbers of jobs. Further, the General Assembly finds that a statewide coordinated effort is required to maximize the State's resources to reduce and potentially eradicate poverty among citizens able and willing to work. To that end, there is created the North Carolina Statewide Poverty Task Force. The Task Force shall be located within the Department of Health and Human Services, which shall provide staff services and space for Task Force meetings.
(b)	The Task Force shall consist of 30 voting members appointed as follows:
(1)	Ten members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include the following:
a.	Five members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Five members of the general public, including persons with expertise in the fields of (i) business and economic development, (ii) job training and adult education, (iii) public health, (iv) affordable housing, and (v) faith‑based initiatives.
(2)	Ten members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include the following:
a.	Five members of the Senate.
b.	Five members of the general public, including persons with expertise in the fields of (i) early childhood education, (ii) public safety, (iii) health disparities, (iv) child welfare, and (v) higher education.
(3)	Ten members appointed by the Governor, to include the following:
a.	Eight members of the general public.
b.	One member appointed upon the recommendation of the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
c.	One member appointed upon the recommendation of the North Carolina Latino Coalition.
(c)	The Task Force shall consist of the following nonvoting, ex officio members:
(1)	The Commissioner of Labor, or that officer's designee.
(2)	The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or that officer's designee.
(3)	The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or that officer's designee.
(4)	The Secretary of the Department of Transportation, or that officer's designee.
(5)	The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety.
(6)	The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or that officer's designee.
(7)	The Chairman of the Employment Security Commission, or that officer's designee.
(8)	The Governor's Executive Advisor on Poverty Reduction and Economic Prosperity.
(d)	The Task Force shall:
(1)	Identify long‑ and short‑range goals for eliminating poverty in North Carolina.
(2)	Develop a coordinated, integrated, ongoing approach to poverty reduction in the State by establishing poverty reduction targets.
(e)	The Governor's Executive Advisor on Poverty Reduction and Economic Prosperity shall chair the Task Force. The Task Force will meet at least quarterly and may contract for consultant services. The appointing authority shall fill vacancies on the Task Force.
(f)	By March 1 of each year, the Task Force shall submit an annual report to the Governor and to the General Assembly on its poverty reduction and economic recovery recommendations.
"§ 143‑751.  Member expenses and travel reimbursements.
Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but may receive travel and subsistence as follows:
(1)	Members who are officials or employees of a State agency or unit of local government, in accordance with G.S. 138‑6.
(2)	Members who serve in the General Assembly, in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1.
(3)	All other members at the rate established in G.S. 138‑5."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 2016‑2017 fiscal year to fund the work of the Task Force pursuant to this act and to fund the salary and support costs associated with one new personnel position in that Department to staff the Task Force.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of the Governor the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2016‑2017 fiscal year to fund the salary and support costs associated with one new personnel position in that office to be known as the Governor's Executive Advisor on Poverty Reduction and Economic Prosperity. The position shall be dedicated to implementing interdepartmental collaboration among State agencies, departments, and institutions to advance poverty reduction and economic prosperity in the State.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.