GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	2
SENATE BILL 1080*
Commerce Committee Substitute Adopted 4/26/01

Short Title:	Progress Board.	()	
Sponsors:	     	
Referred to:	     	
April 5, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS RELATING TO THE NORTH CAROLINA PROGRESS BOARD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE BOARD. 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143B‑372.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑372.1.  North Carolina Progress Board.
(a)	The North Carolina Progress Board is established. The Board shall be located administratively in the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and may be located at any constituent institution within The University of North Carolina, or at any institution to which it is invited formally, but shall exercise all its prescribed statutory powers independently of the Board of Governors or the institution at which it resides.
(b)	The North Carolina Progress Board shall consist of  24 members of statewide prominence as follows:
(1)	The Governor, ex officio;
(2)	Eight persons appointed by the Governor, none of whom shall be State employees or officers;
(3)	Five persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives;
(4)	Five persons appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, two of whom shall be members of the Senate; and
(5)	Five persons appointed by the North Carolina Progress Board.
(c)	The Governor shall be chair of the North Carolina Progress Board. The Governor shall appoint a vice‑chair from among the membership of the North Carolina Progress Board to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The North Carolina Progress Board may elect such other officers as it sees fit.
(d)	The North Carolina Progress Board shall meet at least twice annually on the call of the chair or as additionally provided by the North Carolina Progress Board. A quorum is  12 members of the Board. Members may not send designees to board meetings, nor may they vote by proxy.
(e)	Board appointments shall be for terms to begin July 1, 1999, with subsequent appointments to be made as terms expire or resignations occur. Of the Governor's appointments, two shall be for one‑year terms, two shall be for two‑year terms, two shall be for three‑year terms, and two shall be for four‑year terms. Of the appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the North Carolina Progress Board, one member appointed by each shall be appointed for a one‑year term, one member appointed by each shall be appointed for a two‑year term, one member appointed by each shall be appointed for a three‑year term, and two members appointed by each shall be appointed for a four‑year term. As terms expire, successors shall be appointed for four‑year terms.
(f)	No member may be appointed to more than two consecutive terms. A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House vacates membership on the North Carolina Progress Board when that person is no longer a member of the House of Representatives, except that if that person is in office at the expiration of the term of office in the House of Representatives but has not been elected to the next term, that person shall continue to serve until the convening of the regular session. A member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate vacates membership on the North Carolina Progress Board when that person is no longer a member of the Senate, except that if that person is in office at the expiration of the term of office in the Senate but has not been elected to the next term, that person shall continue to serve until the convening of the regular session."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 143B‑372.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑372.2.  Responsibilities.
(a)	The General Assembly notes that the Commission for a Competitive North Carolina developed goals in the following categories:
(1)	Healthy Children and Families;
(2)	Quality Education for All;
(3)	A High Performance Workforce;
(4)	A Prosperous Economy;
(5)	A Sustainable Environment;
(6)	Technology and Infrastructure Development;
(7)	Safe and Vibrant Communities; and
(8)	Active Citizenship/Accountable Government.
The Commission for a Competitive North Carolina adopted a report which established major goals and ways to measure progress toward these goals.
(a1)	The General Assembly finds that the North Carolina Progress Board developed a report that focused on four of the Commission's recommended topics and issued 16 major targets for 2010. The objectives of the targets are to drive the State toward (i) a more expansive vision of education and environmental protection, (ii) strengthening families, and (iii) bringing more people into the economic mainstream.
(b)	The General Assembly finds the following:
(1)	The North Carolina economy of the future can provide unparalleled opportunity while maintaining North Carolina's traditional values, if the State pursues the future with clarity of purpose and perseverance.
(2)	The North Carolina economy is in the midst of a massive transition created by technological changes, global competition, and new production practices.
(3)	In order to maintain employment opportunities, increase income levels, reduce poverty, and generate the public revenues necessary to provide public services, North Carolina must increasingly rely on an economy which adds value to its natural and human resources and provides a diverse mix of products.
(4)	Regional Progress Boards, modeled after the North Carolina Progress Board, should be encouraged, and to the extent practicable, funded from local sources, public and private, to ensure that the several regions of North Carolina describe a clear regional vision, with measures, targets, and methods for keeping track of progress toward that regional vision, and each forming a strategic alliance with the North Carolina Progress Board.
(c)	The North Carolina Progress Board shall:
(1)	Encourage a discussion toward understanding the critical global, national, statewide, regional, and local demographic, social, economic, and environmental trends and conditions that exist or are emerging in North Carolina today, and how those issues will impact living in North Carolina in 10 to 20 years.(2)	Examine the report of the Commission for a Competitive North Carolina and the 1997 and February 2000 reports of the North Carolina Progress Board to the General Assembly.
(3)	Track the eight issue areas set out in subsection (a) of this section and the objectives set out in subsection (a1) of this section and other issues identified by the Progress Board. The Progress Board may, upon vote of the Board, add to those issues identified by its predecessor Commission and Board.
(4)	Hold public hearings and other methods of public participation, including educational and outreach programs, to secure the views of citizens on priority goals for North Carolina and to disseminate findings and recommendations to policymakers.
(5)	Formulate and submit to North Carolinians a report every five years, beginning 2001, that updates the 10- to 20-year vision for North Carolina and that describes and explains a vision for North Carolina's progress over the next 10 to 20 years.
(6)	Submit a report to the General Assembly prior to its convening the regular session every odd‑numbered year, which reports on demographic, social, economic, or environmental trends and recommends specific targets and milestones to accomplish its mission.
(7)	Recommend, by reporting special legislative provisions, in draft form only, how  targets and milestones can be applied to increase  accountability of government to the people of this State.
(8)	Report periodically to the people of North Carolina on progress toward meeting goals, targets, and milestones, together with an assessment of the failure to meet the same, and, where possible, an estimate of the potential costs associated with failure to act.
(9)	Undertake new and ongoing policy research and benchmarking studies.
(10)	Publish and distribute periodic reports on policies, performance improvement, and best practices for achieving the long-term, strategic goals for the State.
(11)	May apply for and accept gifts or grants, or engage in consulting activities, or other contractual assignments, consistent with its mission, for which applicable staff or Board members may expect to receive reasonable fees and expenses in exchange for specific work products.
(d)	Any Regular Session of the General Assembly shall further define the mission of the North Carolina Progress Board in continuing its work, and may from time to time, and to the extent practicable, request staff assistance from the Board to standing, select, or independent legislative study committees or commissions.
(e)	The General Assembly, after adopting the initial set of goals and measures as proposed or amended, may alter the goals and measures."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 143B‑372.3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑372.3.  Staff.
(a)	Upon the recommendation of the Board, the Governor shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and the Governor, but, for administrative purposes, shall report to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina. The Executive Director shall report to the North Carolina Progress Board and the Governor. The Executive Director shall hire or contract with support staff, who shall work at the pleasure of the Executive Director.
(b)	The Office of State Budget, Planning, and Management shall also provide support, information, reports, and other assistance to the North Carolina Progress Board as requested.
(c)	Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑237, s. 10.12(a), effective June 30, 1999."
SECTION 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina for the North Carolina Progress Board the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2001‑2002 fiscal year and the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2002‑2003 fiscal year for general operating expenses of the North Carolina Progress Board.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2001.