GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1139
Committee Substitute Favorable 8/21/97

Short Title:  Rural Infrastructure Needs Study/Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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April 21, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE STUDY COMMISSION ON RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
Whereas, most rural areas of North Carolina lack the water, wastewater, and natural gas infrastructure necessary to attract industry and foster economic development; and
Whereas, the lack of this basic infrastructure places rural areas at a distinct disadvantage in their efforts to attract new business and industry and to support expansions of existing business and industry; and
Whereas, of the 56 water and wastewater systems on moratorium and not permitting new connections, 45 of those systems are located in rural counties; and
Whereas, while recent legislation will likely result in the extension of natural gas service to most counties in North Carolina within a few years, many areas, particularly those rural counties in the far western and eastern sections of the State are not expected to benefit from natural gas extension for several years; and
Whereas, ongoing studies regarding water and wastewater infrastructure indicate that significant investments are needed in the rural counties to provide those services to areas yet unserved and to upgrade existing, failing water and wastewater systems; and
Whereas, the Highway Trust Fund will provide multilane highways to many rural areas in the next several years; and
Whereas, even the most sweeping improvements in education and workforce training cannot bring prosperity to rural areas without sufficient economic development to provide jobs for the rural workforce; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Requested by: Representatives R. Hunter, Russell, Owens, Carpenter, Ramsey
STUDY COMMISSION ON RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
Section 1.  The Study Commission on Rural Infrastructure Needs is created.  The Commission shall be a bipartisan body composed of 21 members, with seven members each appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:
(1)	Two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party in the Senate;
(2)	Two members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party in the House;
(3)	Five members of the House to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least two of whom shall be members of the minority party in the House;
(4)	Five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least two of whom shall be members of the minority party in the Senate;
(5)	Seven members of the public, two to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, two to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and three to be appointed by the Governor.
In appointing the members of the Commission, each appointing authority shall consider the needs of all rural regions of the State and shall attempt to represent all those regions with their appointments.  In addition, each appointing authority shall appoint at least one member residing in an urban area of the State.
All initial appointments shall be made within 45 days of the effective date of this act, and the Commission shall have its initial meeting no later than October 15, 1997.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a cochair from the General Assembly membership serving on the Commission.  The Commission shall meet upon the call of the cochairs.  A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 2.  The Commission shall:
(1)	Identify and quantify the water and sewer and natural gas needs that the rural areas of North Carolina must meet in order to be competitive participants in the kind of economic development necessary for the balanced growth of the State; and
(2)	Recommend both short-term and long-term funding solutions for ensuring that these needs are met.
In conducting its study, the Commission shall seek input from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and other associations, agencies, and departments involved in rural economic development.
Section 3.  The Commission may contract for consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02.  Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist in the work of the Commission.  Clerical staff shall be furnished to the Commission through the offices of the House and Senate Supervisors of Clerks.  The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.  The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under the provisions of G.S. 120-19 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.
Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances as follows:
(1)	Commission members who are members of the General Assembly at the rate established in G.S. 120-3.1;
(2)	Commission members who are officials or employees of the State or of local government agencies at the rate established in G.S. 138-6; and
(3)	All other Commission members at the rate established in G.S. 138-5.
Section 4.  The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 1998 Regular Session of the 1997 General Assembly.  In the event that the Commission needs more time to make final recommendations, it may make its final report to the 1999 General Assembly.  The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of its final report.
Section 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year to fund the Study Commission on Rural Infrastructure Needs.
Section 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.