GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 432

Short Title:  Storm Hazard Mitigation Study.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Odom and Horton.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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March 19, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON STORM HAZARD MITIGATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is established the Legislative Study Commission on Storm Hazard Mitigation.  The Commission shall consist of 16 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Four Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	Two persons with a background in environmental protection or conservation, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(4)	Two persons representing the business community, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(5)	Four representatives of local governments on the barrier islands of North Carolina, two appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
Section 2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as a cochair and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as a cochair.
Section 3.  The Legislative Study Commission on Storm Hazard Mitigation shall study the following:
(1)	The need for and feasibility of requiring full disclosure of natural hazards to persons acquiring property on barrier islands.
(2)	The need for and feasibility of restricting future State subsidies and support of development in designated high hazard areas on the barrier islands.  The Commission shall specifically consider State expenditures to construct and maintain infrastructure, such as roads and bridges; the availability of State grants and loans for development; and repeated claims for disaster relief in high hazard areas.
(3)	The need for and feasibility of establishing a program for acquisition of lands in high hazard areas.
(4)	Any other issues relevant to these topics.
Section 4.  The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all of the powers under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.  The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs.  The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Section 5.  Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120-3.1 or G.S. 138-5 as appropriate.
Section 6.  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 Supervisor of Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Supervisor of Clerks of the Senate shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, upon direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
Section 7.  When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Commission, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.
Section 8.  The Commission shall make its recommendations and final report to the 1997 General Assembly, Regular Session 1998.  Upon filing its report, the Commission shall terminate.
Section 9.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.