GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    2

HOUSE BILL 379

Committee Substitute Favorable 3/28/17

Short Title:      Task Force on Regulatory Reform.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

March 16, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish the north carolina joint legislative task force on regulatory reform.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is established the North Carolina Joint Legislative Task Force on Regulatory Reform (Task Force). The purpose of the Task Force is to (i) solicit and review proposals on ways to improve the regulatory climate of North Carolina and (ii) make recommendations to implement the proposals. The Task Force shall solicit proposals from owners and managers of businesses, economic development professionals, employers, employees, independent contractors, consumers, and citizens from across the State. In conducting its review, the Task Force shall consider all of the following:

(1)        Methods to eliminate ineffective or overly burdensome regulation.

(2)        Options to streamline implementation and reduce the cost of complying with certain State regulations.

(3)        Mechanisms to quickly identify and review disproportionately misinterpreted or challenged regulations.

(4)        Other ideas for improving the regulatory climate of the State.

SECTION 2.  The Task Force shall consist of 12 members, appointed as follows:

(1)        Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be at‑large public members, and three of whom shall be appointed based upon their active participation and expertise in one of the following industries or economic sectors:

a.         Business services.

b.         Environmental services.

c.         Education and workforce development.

(2)        Six members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, two of whom shall be at‑large public members, and three of whom shall be appointed based upon their active participation and expertise in one of the following industries or economic sectors:

a.         Information technology.

b.         Health care.

c.         Construction.

SECTION 3.  The member of the House of Representatives and the member of the Senate appointed pursuant to Section 2 of this act shall serve as cochairs of the Task Force. The Task Force shall meet upon the joint call of the cochairs, and the cochairs shall convene the first meeting as soon as practicable after appointments have been made. A majority of the Task Force members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

SECTION 4.  The Task Force may meet at various locations around the State in order to promote greater public participation in its deliberations. The Legislative Services Commission shall grant adequate meeting space to the Task Force in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Legislative Services Commission shall allocate from a portion of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly sufficient funds for the operation of the Task Force. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Task Force in its work. The Directors of Legislative Assistants for the House of Representatives and the Senate shall assign clerical staff to the Task Force, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Task Force. The Task Force may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. Members of the Task Force shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates provided in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.

SECTION 5.  The Task Force shall submit a final report on the results of its study, including any proposed legislation, to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2018, by filing a copy of the report with the Offices of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Task Force shall terminate on December 31, 2018, or upon the filing of the final report, whichever occurs first.

SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.