A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT creating the joint legislative study committee on small business incentives for job PRESERVATION and growth.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Small Business Incentives for Job Preservation and Growth.  The Committee shall consist of 15 members, appointed as follows:
(1)	Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Six members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	One member appointed by the Director of the Rural Economic Development Center, Inc.
(4)	One member appointed by the Director of the N.C. Institute for Minority Economic Development, Inc. 
(5)	One member appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
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 Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.  The Committee shall meet on the call of its House and Senate cochairs.  A quorum of the Committee shall be a majority of its members.
SECTION 2.  The Committee shall examine the following issues:
(1)	The feasibility of programs for small businesses with annual gross receipts of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) or more and less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) that would provide low-interest loans for any of the following purposes:
a.	Purchasing real or business property used to maintain or expand workforce.
b.	Improving real property, whether owned or leased, to make it more energy efficient.
c.	Acquiring broadband connectivity and technology to improve efficiency of business operations.
(2)	The feasibility of programs for small business with annual gross receipts of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or more and less than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) that would provide funds for any of the following purposes:
a.	Providing working capital grants.
b.	Providing low‑interest construction loans for the purchase of real or business property used to maintain or expand the workforce.
c.	Improving real property, whether owned or leased, to make it more energy efficient.
d.	Acquiring broadband connectivity and technology to improve the efficiency of business operations.
e.	Any other legitimate business purpose designed to improve business efficiency.
(3)	The feasibility of microloans and microgrants to small businesses with annual gross receipts of less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for any legitimate business purpose.
(4)	Any other issue the Committee deems relevant.
SECTION 3.  While in the discharge of its official duties, the Committee may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. Members of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate. With the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist the Committee in its work. The House of Representatives' and Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Committee. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or Legislative Office Building and may meet at various locations around the State in order to promote greater public participation in its deliberations.
SECTION 4.  The Committee shall submit a final report to the 2011 General Assembly and may submit interim reports as it deems necessary. The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report or upon the convening of the 2011 General Assembly, whichever comes first.
SECTION 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year to conduct the study required by this act.
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.