A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to iNITIATE a study of a comprehensive transportation infrastructure plan involving air cargo, rail, and sea to be called the north carolina global economic initiative.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Legislative Study Commission on the North Carolina Global Economic Initiative. The purpose of the Commission is to ensure that the Global TransPark, the North Carolina Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City, and the North Carolina Railroad become a major economic engine for North Carolina by initiating a comprehensive transportation and distribution infrastructure plan involving air cargo, rail, and sea transportation.  In conducting the study, the Commission shall study the following:
(1)	Combining the operations and governing authority of the Global TransPark Authority, the North Carolina State Ports Authority, and the North Carolina Railroad to create one entity and one governing board to oversee the combined infrastructure of air cargo, rail, and sea transportation.
(2)	Establishing service of a Class I Rail Service by more than one railroad to both the Global TransPark and the State Ports.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall consist of 13 members as follows:
(1)	Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Three members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Two members of the general public, including one with expertise on the Global TransPark Authority, and one with expertise on the North Carolina State Ports Authority.
(2)	Five members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Three members of the Senate.
b.	Two members of the general public, including one with expertise on the North Carolina Railroad, and one with expertise on Class I Rail Service.
(3)	The Secretary of Commerce.
(4)	The Dean of the College of Business of East Carolina University.
(5)	The Dean of the Cameron School of Business of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
SECTION 1.(c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.
SECTION 1.(d) 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 anytime upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
With approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. If the Commission hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services. Of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the expenses of the Committee established by this section.
All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
SECTION 1.(e)  The Commission shall submit its final report by the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly and may make interim reports it deems necessary. The Commission's final report shall include the results of the Commission's review and specific legislative recommendations. The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report, or upon the convening of the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.