GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 669

Short Title:  Future of Economic Development Comm.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Soles.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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April 2, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE BLUE RIBBON STUDY COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Blue Ribbon Study Commission on the Future of Economic Development (Commission) is created in the General Assembly.  The Commission may:
(1)	Analyze the current status of economic development efforts in the State, including the roles, responsibilities, strategies, goals, and development plans of (i) programs and organizations that, for State budget purposes, identify economic development as one of their goals, (ii) local economic development departments and regional economic development organizations, (iii) the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, (iv) the Economic Development Board of the Department of Commerce established pursuant to G.S. 143B-434, (v) the Governor's Commission on Workforce Preparedness, (vi) the Rural Economic Development Center, and (vii) any other organizations and agencies that have developed strategic plans related to economic development.
(2)	Review reports that propose future strategies, goals, or recommendations relating to economic development for North Carolina, and determine the status of the proposed strategies, goals, and recommendations.
(3)	Consider issues regarding planned community acts and partnerships for quality growth.
(4)	Evaluate and assess (i) the various strengths and weaknesses of the State and its component regions, subregions, and, in some cases, individual counties, to determine the development capability of the regions in terms of their environmental, fiscal, and administrative capacity, (ii) the relative status and performance of rural business development as opposed to that in urban areas, and (iii) the status of minority-owned businesses throughout the State.
(5)	Study the efforts of other states, especially surrounding states, to promote economic development and compare the State's economic performance with that of other states.
(6)	Select a set of priority development objectives that recognizes the increasingly competitive economic environment and addresses the changing needs of the State in a more comprehensive manner.
(7)	Recommend ways to encourage agencies, organizations, and the leaders in government, industry, education, and cultural affairs to work together for the benefit of the State and for the development of strong economic and cultural relationships with foreign governments, economies, and cultures.
(8)	Make recommendations and provide guidance to the Secretary of Commerce, the General Assembly, and the Governor on (i) economic development policy issues, including the use of tax incentives and other incentives to motivate economic development, (ii) the types of activities and programs that should be considered economic development activities and programs for the purpose of receiving State appropriations, (iii) the use of local expenditures for economic development and economic incentives, (iv) the role of institutions of higher education in economic development, and (v) the proper use of State funds to leverage private nonprofit economic development initiatives.
(9)	Develop objectives and performance indicators to assess the State's economic development progress.
(10)	Develop a strategic business plan for quality growth that sets out goals and policies of the State with regard to economic development and a series of strategies and initiatives to be taken by the State in economic development.  The goals of the business plan shall be to increase and maintain the economic vitality of North Carolina through efforts (i) to retain industry and business in the State, (ii) to recruit and develop new industry and business into the State, (iii) to provide small business assistance, job training, and workforce preparedness programs, and (iv) to invest in infrastructure, both physical (including roads and utilities) and technological (fiber-optics networks and other information system links).
Section 2.  The Blue Ribbon Study Commission on the Future of Economic Development shall consist of 26 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Three Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2)	Three Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3)	One representative of a nonprofit organization involved in economic development, appointed by the Governor.
(4)	Two representatives from the private sector in the area of manufacturing industries, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(5)	Two representatives from the private sector in the area of finance, one appointed by the Governor and one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(6)	Two representatives from the private sector in the area of energy and communication utilities, one appointed by the Governor and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(7)	Two representatives from the private sector in the area of business services, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(8)	Two representatives from the private sector in the area of agriculture, one appointed by the Governor and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(9)	Two representatives from the private sector in the area of travel and tourism, one appointed by the Governor and one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(10)	Two representatives of county economic development, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(11)	The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee, ex officio.
(12)	The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee, ex officio.
(13)	The Commissioner of Agriculture, or the Commissioner's designee, ex offico.
(14)	The President of The University of North Carolina, or the President's designee, ex officio.
(15)	The President of the North Carolina System of Community Colleges, or the President's designee, ex officio.
The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives each shall select a Cochair.  A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 3.  Members appointed to the Commission shall serve until the Commission makes its final report.  Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing officer who made the original appointments.  The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of its final report.
Section 4.  The Commission may contract for consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02.  The Commission may obtain assistance from The University of North Carolina and the Economic Development Board of the Department of Commerce.  Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Administrative Officer shall assign professional staff from the General Research Division of the General Assembly and clerical staff to assist in the work of the Commission.  Clerical staff shall be furnished to the Commission through the offices of House and Senate supervisors of clerks.  The expenses of employment of the clerical staff shall be borne by the Commission.  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 its official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under G.S. 120-19 through G.S. 120-19.4.
Section 5.  Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances as follows:
(1)	Commission members who are also General Assembly members, at the rate established in G.S. 120-3.1.
(2)	Commission members who are officials or employees of the State or local government agencies, at the rate established in G.S. 138-6.
(3)	All other Commission members, at the rate established in G.S. 138-5.
Section 6.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 1999 General Assembly by filing the report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 1999 General Assembly.  The final report shall contain the findings, recommendations, and any legislative proposals of the Commission. If at any time during its deliberations the Commission identifies a recommendation that can be implemented through the Administrative Procedures Act, Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Commission shall forward that recommendation with the proposed rule change to the responsible State agency for immediate consideration.
Section 7.  From funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission may allocate funds for the expenses of the Commission under this act.
Section 8.  This act is effective when it becomes law.