GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE BILL 812
     

 
Short Title:	Study Tuition Status/Certain Immigrant Students.	()	
Sponsors:	Senators Martin of Guilford;  Albertson, Dalton, Garrou, Gulley, Kinnaird, Lee, Lucas, and Wellons.	
Referred to:	Rules and Operations of the Senate.	
April 3, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON TUITION RATES FOR CERTAIN NONCITIZEN IMMIGRANT STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES SYSTEM.     

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a) There is created the Legislative Study Commission on Tuition Rates for Certain Noncitizen Immigrant Students Enrolled in the State University System or the Community Colleges System.  The purpose of the Commission is to review State law pertaining to tuition rates for noncitizen immigrant students and to consider the feasibility of extending in‑State tuition status to those students.
SECTION 1.(b) The Commission shall consist of 14 members, seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least four of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, and seven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least four of whom shall be members of the Senate.  The public members appointed by the Speaker and the President Pro Tempore shall be such persons as have experience with the State University System, the Community Colleges System, or noncitizen immigrant students and the issues critical to those students.  The Speaker shall designate one Representative as cochair and the President Pro Tempore shall designate one Senator as cochair.  Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority as made the initial appointment.  The Commission shall expire upon delivering its final report.
	The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for 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. 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 Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 1.(c) In conducting the study, the Commission shall consider the following:
(1)	Whether it is feasible to grant in‑State tuition status to noncitizen immigrant students who graduated from high school in North Carolina and who attended school in this State at least two consecutive academic years.
(2)	If feasible, the conditions under which in‑State tuition status should be granted.
(3)	Relevant State and federal laws and State and federal constitutional provisions that may affect this goal.
SECTION 2.  The Legislative Study Commission on Tuition Rates for Certain Noncitizen Immigrant Students Enrolled in the State University System or the Community Colleges System may make an interim report to the 2001 General Assembly not later than the convening of the 2001 General Assembly, 2002 Regular Session, and shall make its final report to the 2003 General Assembly upon its convening.
SECTION 3.  The constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, the community colleges in the Community Colleges System, and the Department of Public Instruction shall cooperate with the Commission in its study.
SECTION 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the 2001‑2002 fiscal year and the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the 2002‑2003 fiscal year to carry out the purposes of this act.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2001.