A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing a joint legislative study commission on youth transitioning out of foster care.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care. The Commission shall consist of 12 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Four members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Two members of the general public, one of whom is a youth who has aged out of foster care.
(2)	Six members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Four members of the Senate.
b.	Two members of the general public, one of whom is a person who provides transitional living services to youths aging out of foster care.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each appoint a cochair for the Commission. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority who made the initial appointment. 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 consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
SECTION 1.(b)  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, including the power to request all officers, agents, agencies, and departments of the State to provide any information, data, or documents within their possession, ascertainable from their records, or otherwise available to them and the power to subpoena witnesses.
SECTION 1.(c)  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 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. 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 2.  The Commission shall study the needs of youth transitioning out of the foster care system. In conducting the study, the Commission shall consider issues related to the following:
(1)	The challenges facing youth transitioning out of foster care, particularly in the areas of education, housing, health care, and employment, as compared to youth not in foster care.
(2)	The impact on youth transitioning out of foster care when issues relating to education, housing, health care, and employment are not addressed, including incarceration, substance abuse, pregnancy, victimization, and homelessness.
(3)	Whether data or statistics are available regarding youth transitioning out of foster care in this State.
(4)	The State's current laws and policies regarding youth in foster care.
(5)	What, if any, programs exist in this State to address the issue of youth transitioning out of foster care and an assessment of the shortfalls and benefits of such programs.
(6)	Legislation adopted or programs established by other states regarding youth transitioning out of foster care.
(7)	The appropriate age to which assistance should be extended for youth transitioning out of foster care.
(8)	How foster care is currently funded and what funding sources may be available for youth transitioning out of foster care.
(9)	Any other matter the Commission deems relevant to the study.
SECTION 3.  The Commission shall report its findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly on or before June 1, 2010. The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.