GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE BILL 945
     

 
Short Title:	Transportation Funding Equity Commission.	()	
Sponsors:	Representatives Barnhart;  Morris and McMahan.	
Referred to:	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.	
April 2, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO establish a transportation funding equity study commission.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.	Commission Established. – There is established a Transportation Funding Equity Study Commission.
SECTION 2.  Membership. – The Commission shall be composed of 15 members as follows:
(1)	Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Four members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	Three members of the public appointed by the Governor, none of whom shall be State officials, and two of whom shall have expertise in transportation matters.
(4)	Two members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be an elected municipal official, and one of whom shall have experience in business and transportation matters.
(5)	Two members of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be an elected county official, and one of whom shall have experience in business and transportation matters.
Any persons appointed pursuant to Section 27.2 of S.L. 99‑237 shall continue as members of this Study Commission.
SECTION 3.  Secretary of Transportation. – The Commission shall invite the Secretary of Transportation to attend each meeting of the Commission and encourage his participation in the Commission's deliberations.
SECTION 4.  Duties of Commission. – The Commission   shall study the following matters   related   to transportation funding:
(1)	The Highway Trust Fund Act of 1989. – The Commission shall review the current law, specifically the existing equity formula and mandated percentages in the spending formula and recommend any revisions to the funding formula that may be necessary, based on the 10‑year history of the fund and the current transportation needs of the State.
(2)	Current planning and funding procedures. – The Commission shall review all current planning and funding procedures, including the Transportation Improvement Program, that impact the funding of State transportation programs and recommend changes, additions, or deletions based on projected needs for the next 25 years. The Commission shall specifically consider measures to allow for acceleration of projects while maintaining geographical equity in funding new road construction.
(3)	Transportation system maintenance. – The Commission shall review current funding of transportation system maintenance and recommend changes to accommodate the equitable maintenance of new construction and increased traffic volume.
(4)	Public transportation. – The Commission shall evaluate the funding of public transportation with dedicated sources of funds. The Commission's recommendation shall include specific sources and amounts of any dedicated funds, if recommended.
(5)	Highway Fund transfers. – Transfers from the Highway Fund to other State agencies, including how they impact the equitable funding of transportation projects and whether or not those funds would more appropriately come from the General Fund.
(6)	Transportation spending. – Proposals for (i) separate funding allocations for roads that impact large‑scale economic development projects, including projects that would create new industries, (ii) separate funding allocations for major highways that impact no fewer than two funding regions, and (iii) methods to accommodate these spending proposals in the existing or some other equity formula.
(7)	Other transportation funding issues. – The Commission may study any other transportation finance‑related issue approved by the cochairs or recommended by the Secretary of Transportation and approved by the cochairs.
SECTION 5.  Vacancies. – Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the appointing authority.
SECTION 6.  Cochairs. – Cochairs of the Commission shall be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from among their respective appointees. The Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairs.  A quorum of the Commission shall be eight members.
SECTION 7.  Expenses of Members. – 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.  Staff. – Adequate staff shall be provided to the Commission by the Legislative Services Office.
SECTION 9.  Consultants. – The Commission may hire consultants to assist with the study.  Before expending any funds for a consultant, the Commission shall report to the Joint Legislative   Commission on Governmental Operations on the consultant  selected, the work products to  be  provided  by  the consultant, and the cost  of  the  contract,  including an itemization of the cost components.
SECTION 10.  Meetings During Legislative Session. – The Commission may meet during a regular or extra session of the General Assembly, subject to approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
SECTION 11.  Meeting Location. – The Commission shall meet at various locations around the State in order to promote greater public participation in its deliberations.  The Legislative Services Commission shall grant adequate meeting space to the Commission in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
SECTION 12.  Report. – The Commission shall submit an interim report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee on or before March 1, 2002.   The Commission shall submit a final report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee by December 1, 2002.   Upon the filing of its final report, the Commission shall terminate.
SECTION 13.  This act is effective when it becomes law.