A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing the joint legislative CoMMIttee on local government TO study the PROCEDURE FOR INCORPORATING MUNICIPALITIES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government (hereinafter "Committee") may study the procedure for incorporating municipalities, including the adequacy of the current procedure as provided in Part 2 of Article 20 of Chapter 120 of the General Statutes. The Committee may, as authorized in G.S. 120‑19.7, designate the Municipal Incorporations Subcommittee of the Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government to conduct the study authorized in this act.
SECTION 2.  The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. 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.
The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The House of Representatives and the Senate 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.
SECTION 3.  The Committee may make an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the 2016 Regular Session of the General Assembly, and shall submit a final report to the 2017 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.