A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ESTABLISH the joint legislative study Commission on youth gun violence.
Whereas, gun violence is a leading cause of death in the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
Whereas, over 1,000 individuals lose their lives to gun violence each year in North Carolina, and an estimated 3,000 additional individuals are injured every year by a firearm; and
Whereas, polls show that a majority of North Carolinans want to prevent gun violence through effective policies and laws; and
Whereas, federally led efforts to address gun crime are underway through Project Safe Neighborhoods, as managed by US Attorney's Offices; and
Whereas, 26,000 children and teens have been killed in gun violence since 1999, and the number of children killed by guns each year increased 30% between 2013 and 2016; and
Whereas, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that teens age 13 to 17 account for nearly 85% of child firearm fatalities; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is established the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Youth Gun Violence (Commission) to study and make recommendations on the following:
(1)	The availability of guns to juveniles.
(2)	The incidence of gun violence among juveniles in North Carolina.
(3)	Programs in other states that have shown successful outcomes in educating juveniles about the dangers of guns, and the feasibility of implementing those programs in North Carolina.
(4)	Handgun buyback programs in other states, and the possibility of implementing a gun buyback program in North Carolina.
(5)	The possibility of implementing youth mentoring programs that aim to reduce the gun violence among juveniles.
SECTION 2.  The Commission shall consist of 12 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Two Representatives and one public member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Two Senators and one public member appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	The leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives, or the leader's designee, and one public member appointed by the minority party leader.
(4)	The leader of the minority party in the Senate, or the leader's designee, and one public member appointed by the minority party leader.
(5)	Two members of the public appointed by the Governor.
SECTION 3.  The Commission shall have two cochairs from among its membership, one designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Commission shall meet upon the joint call of the cochairs, and the cochairs shall convene the first meeting as soon as practicable after appointments have been made.
SECTION 4.  The Legislative Services Commission (LSC) shall grant adequate meeting space to the Commission in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The LSC shall allocate from a portion of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly sufficient funds for the operation of the Commission. The LSC, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The Directors of Legislative Assistants for the House of Representatives and the Senate shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates provided in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 5.  The Commission shall submit a final report on the results of its study, including any proposed legislation, to the General Assembly on or before May 1, 2020, by filing a copy of the report with the Offices of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Commission shall terminate on May 1, 2020, or upon the filing of the final report, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.