GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 753*

Short Title:  Domestic Violence Study.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Lucas; Allran, Ballance, Ballantine, Carpenter, Carrington, Clark, Dalton, Dannelly, Foxx, Jenkins, Kinnaird, Lee, McDaniel, Phillips, Rucho, Shaw of Cumberland, Shaw of Guilford, Warren, Weinstein, and Wellons.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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April 7, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STUDY COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. (a) There is established the Domestic Violence Study Commission. The Commission shall consist of 23 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Eleven members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, six of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives.  Of the remaining five members:
a.	One shall be a representative of a domestic violence program serving a rural community;
b.	One shall be a representative from a police department in a municipality with a population of 50,000 or greater;
c.	One shall be a district court judge;
d.	One shall be a victim of domestic violence; and
e.	One shall be a representative of the North Carolina Council for Women;
(2)	Eleven members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, six of whom shall be members of the Senate.  Of the remaining five members:
a.	One shall be a representative of a domestic violence program serving an urban community;
b.	One shall be a representative from a police department in a municipality with a population of less than 50,000;
c.	One shall be a district attorney;
d.	One shall be a victim of domestic violence; and
e.	One shall be a member of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and
(3)	One member appointed by the Governor representing Covenant with North Carolina's Children.
All appointments shall be made not later than September 1, 1997.  Vacancies shall be filled by the person making the initial appointment.
(b)	The Commission shall conduct a study of domestic violence.  The study shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1)	The level of effectiveness of current laws and services in preventing and addressing domestic violence, and ways in which data collection and analysis can be improved to enhance effectiveness;
(2)	The most efficient and effective uses of funding for domestic violence programs and services;
(3)	Whether there should be uniformity across the State for effective handling of domestic violence situations by local law enforcement and judicial officials;
(4)	Strategies for involving the private sector in domestic violence prevention and intervention activities; and
(5)	Other matters the Commission deems appropriate to study.
(c)	The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a cochair of the Commission.  The Commission shall meet upon the call of the cochairs.  A quorum of the Commission is 12 members.  While in the discharge of its official duties, the Commission has the powers of a joint committee under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1.
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.
The Legislative Administrative Officer shall assign as staff to the Commission professional employees of the General Assembly.  Clerical staff shall be assigned to the Commission through the Offices of the Supervisor of Clerks of the Senate and Supervisor of Clerks of the House of Representatives.
(d)	The Commission may report to the 1997 General Assembly, Regular Session 1998, and shall submit a final report, including recommendations, to the 1999 General Assembly upon its convening.  A report to the General Assembly shall be submitted to the Legislative Library.  The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report.
Section 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly, Legislative Services Office, the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to carry out the study established in this act.
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.