A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to support the work of trauma centers across the state through an increase in the fee charged for restoring drivers licenses revoked for alcohol‑related offenses; and to create the statewide trauma system study commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 20‑16.5(j) reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑16.5.  Immediate civil license revocation for certain persons charged with implied‑consent offenses.
(a)	Definitions. – As used in this section the following words and phrases have the following meanings:
…
(j)	Costs. – Unless the magistrate or judge orders the revocation rescinded, a person whose license is revoked under this section must pay a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) as costs for the action before the person's license may be returned under subsection (h). Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the costs collected under this section shall be credited to the General Fund. Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of each fee collected shall be used to fund a statewide chemical alcohol testing program administered by the Injury Control Section of the Department of Health and Human Services. One hundred dollars ($100.00) of each fee collected shall be credited to a nonreverting account within the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the Division of Facility Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to be used for the development and operation of the statewide trauma system established pursuant to G.S. 131E-162."
SECTION 1.(b)  Funds credited to the nonreverting account established in G.S. 20‑16.5(j), as amended by this act, for the development and operation of the statewide trauma system shall not be used for any other purpose and shall not be expended until the Statewide Trauma System Study Commission, enacted in this act, has recommended to the General Assembly the most effective method for the regional distribution of those funds, and the General Assembly has appropriated the funds from the nonreverting account.
SECTION 2.(a)  Commission established. – There is established the Statewide Trauma System Study Commission.
SECTION 2.(b)  Membership. – The Commission membership shall be representative of the different geographical regions of the State and shall include members from rural areas of the State to the extent practicable.  The Commission shall consist of 21 members, as follows:
(1)	The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint eight members: two members of the Senate, one practicing paramedic, one trauma center surgeon, one State trauma system regional advisory committee coordinator, one volunteer fire or rescue worker, one air medical rescue worker, and one former trauma patient.
(2)	The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint eight members: two members of the House of Representatives, one trauma center nurse, one representative of the North Carolina Medical Care Commission, one career firefighter, one representative of the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma, one 911 or other dispatch worker, and one emergency room department director.
(3)	The Governor shall appoint five members: one representative of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, one trauma center finance or operations director, one representative of a law enforcement agency that is also an EMS first responder, one representative of the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, and one EMS administrator or educator.
SECTION 2.(c)  Duties. – The Commission shall study the delivery of emergency medical services in this State and shall do all of the following:
(1)	Determine the most effective method for the regional distribution of funds provided to the Office of Emergency Medical Services through license restoration fees collected under G.S. 20‑16.5(j), and report to the Joint Legislative Health Care Oversight Committee annually on the uses of the funding.
(2)	Analyze impediments to the seamless delivery of care to trauma victims, including legal, administrative, logistical, and other barriers, and determine means of streamlining the delivery of improved and more efficient care.
(3)	Examine ways of improving the quality and delivery of care to trauma and emergency victims in terms of transportation, equipment, education, and personnel needs, as well as the need for additional trauma centers and improved coordination of existing centers.
(4)	Examine methods of improving North Carolina's readiness to handle trauma resulting from massive disasters.
(5)	Study any other matters related to the delivery of emergency medical services.
SECTION 2.(d)  Reports. – The Commission shall submit a final written report of its findings and recommendations to the 2005 General Assembly upon its convening. The Commission may submit progress reports to the 2003 General Assembly, Regular Session 2004.  The Commission may include in its progress reports or in its final report recommendations for the best use of funds provided to the Office of Emergency Medical Services through license restoration fees collected under G.S. 20‑16.5(j), as well as any recommendations for further streamlining the delivery of care through regional trauma systems. The reports shall also include legislative proposals necessary to implement the Commission's recommendations and an analysis of the fiscal impact of each recommendation.  The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of its final report.
SECTION 2.(e)  Expenses of members. – Members of the Commission shall be paid per diem, subsistence, and travel expenses, as follows:
(1)	Commission members who are members of the General Assembly shall be paid in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1.
(2)	Commission members who are officials or employees of the State or local government agencies shall be paid in accordance with G.S. 138‑6.
(3)	All other Commission members shall be paid in accordance with G.S. 138‑5.
SECTION 2.(f)  Cochairs; meetings. – Cochairs of the Commission shall be designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among their respective appointees.  The Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairs.  A majority of the Commission members shall constitute a quorum.  The Commission may meet during a regular or special session of the General Assembly, subject to the approval of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The Legislative Services Commission may provide meeting space to the Commission in the State Legislative Building or in the Legislative Office Building.
SECTION 2.(g)  Staff. – With the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist in the work of the Commission.
SECTION 2.(h)  Cooperation by government agencies. – The Commission may call upon any department, agency, institution, or officer of the State or any political subdivision of the State for facilities, data, or other assistance. All State departments and agencies, local governments, and their subdivisions shall cooperate with the Commission and, upon request, shall furnish the Commission and its staff any information in their possession or available to them.
SECTION 3.  From funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Office shall allocate funds for the expenses of the Commission.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003.  Section 1 of this act applies to fees collected on and after that date.