A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO establish AN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT GOAL FOR THE STATE.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina is one of nine states in the country that does not have a shared postsecondary attainment goal and has less than half the 25‑ to 44‑year‑old workforce with a postsecondary degree or certificate; and
Whereas, the myFutureNC Commission, a statewide group of business, education, and government leaders, recently studied North Carolina's evolving workforce needs and the alignment between future demands and trends in educational attainment; and
Whereas, based on that study, the myFutureNC Commission developed an educational attainment goal that will ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future; and
Whereas, to make progress towards that goal, the North Carolina higher education community must improve student outcomes, reduce the time to graduation, and create opportunities that meet the needs of today's students; and
Whereas, increasing on‑time graduation rates at institutions of higher education and expanding access to high‑quality workforce training places more graduates into the workforce more quickly, reduces student debt, and increases the supply of skilled workers in North Carolina, making the State more attractive to businesses to start, expand, or relocate; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 116C‑1 through G.S. 116C‑5 are designated as Article 1 of Chapter 116C of the General Statutes, which is entitled "Education Cabinet."
SECTION 1.(b)  Chapter 116C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 2.
"North Carolina Postsecondary Attainment Goal.
"§ 116C‑10.  North Carolina postsecondary attainment goal.
(a)	Findings. – The General Assembly finds it necessary to a set a goal for postsecondary attainment for North Carolina residents to ensure that the State remains economically competitive now and into the future.
(b)	Postsecondary Attainment Goal. – The State shall make significant efforts to increase access to learning and improve the education of more North Carolinians so that, by the year 2030, at least 2,000,000 residents between the ages of 25 and 44 will have completed a high‑quality credential or postsecondary degree.
(c)	Rights Not Created. – The attainment goal established in this section is not to the exclusion of any other goals and does not confer a right or create a claim for any person."
SECTION 1.(c)  Beginning September 1, 2020, and every September 1 thereafter, the myFutureNC Commission, which is a statewide commission focusing on postsecondary educational attainment in North Carolina, shall report to the General Assembly, as provided by G.S. 120‑29.5, on the progress of the State reaching the postsecondary attainment goal set forth in G.S. 116C‑10, as enacted by this act, and activities by the Commission to further North Carolina towards the postsecondary attainment goal.
SECTION 2.(a)  There is created the Joint Legislative Task Force on Postsecondary Attainment (Task Force).
SECTION 2.(b)  The Task Force shall consist of three members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and three public members appointed by the Governor. These appointments shall be made no later than September 1, 2019. The members of the Task Force shall elect a chair and a cochair from among its membership.
SECTION 2.(c)  In consultation with the Department of Public Instruction, the Community Colleges System Office, The University of North Carolina System Office, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, the Task Force shall create an inventory of existing education programs and policies to assess the effectiveness of those programs and policies in order to determine how to facilitate the progress of the State in reaching the postsecondary attainment goal set forth in G.S. 116C‑10. As a part of this study, the Task Force shall consider the work and recommendations of the myFutureNC Commission and the Postsecondary Education Credentials Commission and any other issues the Task Force considers relevant.
SECTION 2.(d)  The Task Force shall meet upon the call of its chair. A quorum of the Task Force is a majority of its members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Task Force, 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 Task Force may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services, as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. If the Task Force hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services. Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1. The expenses of the Task Force shall be considered expenses incurred for the joint operation of the General Assembly.
SECTION 2.(e)  The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist the Task Force in its work. The Director of Legislative Assistants of the House of Representatives and the Director of Legislative Assistants of the Senate shall assign clerical support to the Task Force.
SECTION 2.(f)  Meetings of the Task Force shall begin no later than October 1, 2019. The Task Force shall submit an interim report by March 1, 2020, and a final report by January 1, 2021, on the results of its study, including proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. The Task Force shall terminate on March 1, 2021, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever comes first.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.