GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE DRH70248-LB-143B*  (2/20)

Short Title:        Study Retirement and Health Benefits.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representative Crawford.
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish a special commission to study retirement and health benefits for teachers and state employees.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. There is established the Special Commission to Study Retirement and Health Benefits for Teachers and State Employees.

SECTION 2.(a)  The Commission shall be composed of 14 members as follows:

(1)        The State Treasurer or her designee.

(2)        The Executive Administrator of the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.

(3)        Four members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(4)        Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(5)        Four members appointed by the Governor.

Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the appointing authority. The Commission shall choose from among its membership a chair and two vice‑chairs. A quorum of the Commission shall be nine members.

The Commission, 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.

The Commission may meet at any time upon call of the chairs. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Commission 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 Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. Members of the Commission 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.(b)  The initial meeting of the Commission shall be called by the State Treasurer or her designee.

SECTION 3.  The Commission shall study retirement and health benefits for teachers and state employees. As a part of its study, the Commission may examine issues related to:

(1)        Whether the changing demographics among State employees require changes to the current defined benefit plan and the health plan.

(2)        Whether there is a need to establish a normal retirement age when retirement and health benefits are to begin.

(3)        Whether the retirement plan should have a defined contribution component.

(4)        Whether the current benefits plan serves the need to recruit and retain the best teachers and State employees.

(5)        Any other issues the committee deems relevant to improvement of the retirement systems and the State Health Plan.

(6)        The relationship between the State Health Plan, the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, and the Disability Income Plan.

SECTION 4. The Commission shall make an interim report to the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly prior to its reconvening in 2010 and shall make a final report to the 2011 Regular Session of the General Assembly prior to its convening. The report shall include any proposed legislation. The Commission shall terminate upon filing its final report or upon the convening of the 2011 General Assembly, whichever is earlier.

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.