A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT establishing a joint legislative study committee on early childhood programs.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Early Childhood Programs (Committee).  The Committee shall consist of 12 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Six members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as follows:
a.	Four members of the Senate.
b.	Two members of the general public.
(2)	Six members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
a.	Four members of the House of Representatives.
b.	Two members of the general public.
SECTION 1.(b)  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority who made the initial appointment.
SECTION 1.(c)  The Committee, 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.(d)  The Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
SECTION 1.(e)  The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The Senate's and House of Representatives' Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. Members of the Committee 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 Committee shall conduct a study to include the following:
(1)	Assessing the feasibility and desirability of consolidating the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and the "More At Four" program.
(2)	Considering any needed adjustments and the necessary reprioritization of funds to realize the maximum benefit to the State's children and families.
(3)	Reviewing any other matters the Committee deems relevant to the study.
SECTION 3.  The Committee shall report to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly. The report shall include findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals. The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.