GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1222

Short Title:  Study Commission on At-Risk Youth.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Warwick, Yongue, McCrary; Black, Blue, Bonner, Braswell, Davis, Dedmon, Earle, Hightower, R. Hunter, Jeffus, Kinney, Moore, Mosley, Nesbitt, Nye, Saunders, Sexton, Sutton, Warner, and Wright.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House.

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May 5, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SCHOOLS CREATE MORE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS BY ESTABLISHING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON AT-RISK YOUTH.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Study Commission on At-Risk Youth is established. The Study Commission on At-Risk Youth shall:
(1)	Identify the needs of youth who are at risk of school failure, delinquency, and undisciplined behavior in urban and rural areas of all geographical areas of the State.
(2)	Assess the effectiveness of current State and local resources and services that are designed to respond to the needs of youth who live in rural and urban conditions that place them at risk of school failure, delinquency, and undisciplined behavior.
(3)	Determine the needs of local law enforcement agencies for technology, personnel, and training to assist other State and local agencies in enforcement and follow-up of juveniles who (i) have been adjudicated delinquent or undisciplined; (ii) are alleged to be delinquent or undisciplined; (iii) have dropped out of school; or (iv) are at risk of school failure or of dropping out of school.
(4)	Make recommendations regarding model programs and the collaboration of State and local agencies, organizations, and programs to provide services that meet the physical, emotional, and educational needs of youth who are at risk of becoming juvenile offenders or of school failure and to address the needs of individual communities in all urban and rural areas of the State.
(5)	Make recommendations and legislative proposals for model programs and ways to improve the dispositional alternatives for juveniles who are adjudicated delinquent or undisciplined by establishing programs that are designed (i) to compensate victims, (ii) to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, in part by providing job opportunities, and (iii) to provide services to the community in which the juvenile resides.
Section 2.  The Commission shall consist of nine appointed members and four ex officio members as follows:
(1)	Three members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party of the Senate.
(2)	Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party of the House of Representatives.
(3)	Three members of the public appointed by the Governor.
(4)	The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, or the Director's designee, ex officio.
(5)	The Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, or the Secretary's designee, ex officio.
(6)	The Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction, or the Secretary's designee, ex officio.
(7)	The Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, or the Secretary's designee, ex officio.
The public members shall be persons who have experience working with at-risk youth, such as district court judges, intake counselors, social services workers, school personnel, and teen court volunteers.
Section 3.  Members of the Commission shall select cochairs from its membership, one Senator as cochair and one Representative as a cochair.
Section 4.  The Commission shall meet at least monthly and may meet at other times upon the joint call of the cochairs. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at meetings of the Commission shall be necessary for action to be taken by the Commission.
Section 5.  The Commission may make an interim report to the 1998 Regular Session of the 1997 General Assembly.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 1999 Session of the General Assembly by filing its final report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Upon filing its final report, the Commission shall terminate.
Section 6.  The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all the powers provided for under G.S. 120-19, and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.  The Commission may meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Section 7.  Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, or 138-6, as appropriate.
Section 8.  The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Administrative Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist  in the work of the Commission.  The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
Section 9.  When a vacancy occurs in the appointed membership of the Commission the vacancy shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the initial appointment.
Section 10.  All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall, upon request, furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
Section 11.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for the expenses of the Study Commission on At-Risk Youth.
Section 12.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.