A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the zoning modernization Legislative task force.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Establishment. – The North Carolina Zoning Modernization Legislative Task Force is established.
SECTION 1.(b)  Membership. – The Task Force shall be composed of 18 members as follows:
(1)	Nine members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
a.	Three persons who are members of the House of Representatives at the time of appointment, at least one of whom represents the minority party. The Speaker shall designate one of the members as cochair.
b.	A member of the Zoning, Planning, & Land Use Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
c.	A representative of the North Carolina Home Builders Association.
d.	A person employed in the field of zoning administration or zoning enforcement recommended by the North Carolina Association of Zoning Officials.
e.	A representative from the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
f.	A realtor recommended by the North Carolina Association of Realtors.
g.	A representative of NAIOP North Carolina.
(2)	Nine members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:
a.	Three persons who are members of the Senate at the time of appointment, at least one of whom represents the minority party. The President Pro Tempore shall designate one of the members as cochair.
b.	A certified professional planner recommended by the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association.
c.	A representative from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
d.	A Board Certified Professional Engineer recommended by the North Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
e.	A licensed architect recommended by the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
f.	A faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of Government.
g.	A representative of the North Carolina Farm Bureau.
Appointments shall be made by September 1, 2015, and the first meeting shall be held on or before October 1, 2015. The Task Force shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority. A quorum of the Task Force shall be a majority of the members.
SECTION 1.(c)  Duties. – The Task Force shall make recommendations on whether to consolidate and modernize Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes and Article 18 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes. Specifically, the Task Force shall study and examine the provisions of House Bill 548 from the 2015 Regular Session of the 2015 General Assembly.
SECTION 1.(d)  Compensation; Administration. – Members of the Task Force shall receive subsistence and travel allowances at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate. The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist in the work of the Task Force. The Task Force may hold its meetings in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Task Force, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4, including the power to request all officers, agents, agencies, and departments of the State to provide any information, data, or documents within their possession, ascertainable from their records or otherwise available to them, and the power to subpoena witnesses.
SECTION 1.(e)  Report. – The Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the 2016 Regular Session of the 2015 General Assembly upon its convening. The Task Force shall terminate on May 1, 2016, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.