A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMITTEE on legislative term limits.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Creation. – There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Legislative Term Limits (Committee). The Committee shall consist of 10 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
a.	Two members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Three members of the public.
(2)	Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:
a.	Two members of the Senate.
b.	Three members of the public.
SECTION 2.  Study. – The Committee shall study all of the following:
(1)	Whether to increase the length of legislative terms.
(2)	Whether to limit the number of terms or number of years a person may serve as a legislator.
(3)	Public opinion regarding term limits for legislators.
(4)	The impact in other states that have term limits on the effectiveness of legislators and legislation, cost effectiveness, and any impacts on revenue.
SECTION 3.  Cochairs; Vacancies. – The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one representative to serve as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one senator to serve as cochair. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority making the initial appointment.
SECTION 4.  Powers. – 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 meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or in the Legislative Office Building.
SECTION 5.  Staffing. – The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The Directors of Legislative Assistants of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. 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 6.  Report. – The Committee shall submit a report to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than 30 business days following the adjournment sine die of the 2017 General Assembly. The report shall include recommendations regarding further action on this subject. The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report or 30 business days following the adjournment sine die of the 2017 General Assembly, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.