A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the blue ribbon committee on transportation infrastructure funding, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND LONG TERM FUNDING SOLUTIONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Establishment. – There is established a Blue Ribbon Committee on Transportation Infrastructure Funding.
SECTION 2.  Membership. – The Committee shall be composed of 20 members, as follows:
(1)	Ten members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as follows:
a.	Six members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Two members representing the public.
c.	One member representing small business in the State.
d.	One member representing large business in the State.
(2)	Ten members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as follows:
a.	Six members of the Senate.
b.	Two members representing the public.
c.	One member representing small business in the State.
d.	One member representing large business in the State.
SECTION 3.  Finding and Purpose. – The General Assembly finds that the State has significant transportation infrastructure needs and insufficient revenue to meet those needs. Therefore, the Committee shall study all options available, including debt instruments, revenue changes, local government participation, and tolling, to increase funding for the transportation infrastructure needs of the State, and any other matters the Committee deems relevant to accomplishing the purpose set forth in this section.
SECTION 4.  Officers; Vacancies. – 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. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by the appointing authority.
SECTION 5.  Compensation; Powers; Meeting. – Members of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate. The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.4. The Committee shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. A quorum of the Committee shall be 10 members. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. With approval of the Legislative Services Commission, 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.
SECTION 6.  Report; Termination. – The Committee may make an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the 2018 Regular Session of the 2017 General Assembly and shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 2019 General Assembly prior to its convening. The Committee shall terminate on the convening of the 2019 General Assembly, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 7.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.