GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1195

Short Title:  Special Needs Commission Modified.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representative Rogers.

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Referred to:  Ways and Means.

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April 15, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE COMMISSION ON CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 12 of Chapter 120 of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"ARTICLE 12.
"Commission on Children With Disabilities.
"§ 120-58.  Creation; appointment of members.
There is created a Commission on Children with Disabilities to consist of six Senators, one parent of a child with disabilities, and one school board attorney appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and six members of the House, one parent of a child with disabilities, and one other public member appointed by the Speaker of the House.  The appointing officers shall each designate a member of the Commission to serve as cochairs.
"§ 120-59. Time of appointments; terms of office.
Appointments to the Commission shall be made within 15 days of the convening of each General Assembly. The term of office shall begin on the day of appointment, and shall end on the date when the next appointments are made. Vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the officer who made the original appointment.
"§ 120-60. Organization of Commission.
The Commission shall meet at such times and places as the cochairs shall designate. The facilities of the State Legislative Building shall be available to the Commission. The Commission is authorized to conduct hearings and to employ such clerical and other assistance, professional advice and services as may be deemed necessary in the performance of its duties, with the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
"§ 120-61. Members to serve without compensation; subsistence and travel expenses.
Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but they shall be paid such per diem and travel expenses as are provided for members of State boards and commissions generally pursuant to G.S. 138-5. The Commission shall be funded by the Legislative Services Commission from appropriations made to the General Assembly for that purpose.
"§ 120-62. Assistance to Commission.
The Commission, in the performance of its duties, may request and shall receive from every department, board, bureau, agency, commission, or institution of this State, or from any political subdivision of the State, information, cooperation, and assistance.
"§ 120-63. Duties of Commission.
The Commission is hereby authorized to:
(1)	Pursue an in-depth study of the services provided by other states for children with disabilities.
(2)	Collect and evaluate for comprehensiveness existing legislation in North Carolina which is relevant to programs for children with disabilities; as well as pertinent reports, studies and findings from other states and national bodies.
(3)	Collect and evaluate for comprehensiveness the reports and recommendations of the various agencies, councils, commissions, committees, and associations existing in North Carolina whose primary or partial duties are to make recommendations designed to affect services for children with disabilities.
(4)	Monitor on a continuing basis the progress of the State as it moves toward meeting the service requirements for children with disabilities.
(5)	Make recommendations on funding needed to provide services to children with disabilities.
(6)	Make recommendations regarding changes needed in State law regarding children with disabilities.
"§ 120-64. Reports to General Assembly.
The Commission shall make a report on the convening of each General Assembly in each odd-numbered year and may make a report to the General Assembly prior to March 15 of each even-numbered year.  
		"§ 120-65.  Assistance of Department of Health and Human Services, State Board of Education, and Department of Public Instruction.
The Department of Health and Human Services, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Public Instruction are vital departments of State government to assist especially the Commission and to furnish it with information, and to the extent permitted by the Commission, to participate actively in the work and deliberations of the Commission. 
"§§ 120-66 through 120-70:  Reserved for future codification purposes."
Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.