GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE DRS25209-LG-42A  (02/19)

Short Title:        Urban/Rural Growth & Development Task Force.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators McKissick and Brown (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish the growth and development task force and to appropriate funds for that purpose.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Findings. – The General Assembly makes the following findings:

(1)        North Carolina is a unique and beautiful State. For many, it is the ideal place to live and is second to none for providing a preferred quality of life. However, in order to improve or even maintain the quality of life in this State, the legislature finds that planning the overall goals of the State is important to our future success.

(2)        Currently being the ninth‑largest state in the nation, there are also many real, serious, and immediate challenges that North Carolina faces on an annual basis. While it is State government's responsibility to resolve many such issues, it is also the State government's responsibility to plan for the future and guide our State in the right direction for succeeding generations.

(3)        The time has come to review how the State can grow and develop that which makes our State great and improve that which needs improvement. To grow and develop, North Carolina must have strong businesses, high‑quality jobs and professional opportunities, a quality educational system, leadership in innovation, and a healthy environment.

(4)        A growth and development plan for North Carolina should envision and guide State planning for the next few generations in the areas of economic development, the environment, education, employment, health, housing, human services, agriculture, conservation lands, energy, historic and cultural preservation, natural resources, recreation, tourism, and transportation, in order to aid in the success for the future long‑term, comprehensive development of the State.

SECTION 2.(a)  North Carolina Urban and Rural Growth and Development Task Force; Membership. – The North Carolina Growth and Development Task Force is established. The Task Force shall consist of 25 members as follows:

(1)        Three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(2)        Three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3)        Three representatives of the Governor, to be appointed by the Governor.

(4)        The State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's designee.

(5)        The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources or the Secretary's designee.

(6)        The Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary's designee.

(7)        The Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary's designee.

(8)        The Commissioner of Agriculture or the Commissioner's designee.

(9)        The Chair of the State Board of Education or the Chairman's designee.

(10)      The President of The University of North Carolina or the President's designee.

(11)      The President of the Community College System or the President's designee.

(12)      The Director of State Budget, Office of State Budget and Management, or the Director's designee.

(13)      The Chair of the Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or the Chair's designee.

(14)      The School Director of the School of Architecture in the College of Design, North Carolina State University, or the School Director's designee.

(15)      The Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, or the Dean's designee.

(16)      The Executive Director of the North Carolina League of Municipalities or the Executive Director's designee.

(17)      The Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners or the Executive Director's designee.

(18)      A representative of the housing industry upon the recommendation of the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

(19)      A representative of the agriculture industry upon the recommendation of the North Carolina Farm Bureau.

SECTION 2.(b)  Cochairs. – The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate one member of the Task Force to serve as cochairs.

SECTION 2.(c)  Vacancies. – Any vacancy that occurs on the Task Force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

SECTION 2.(d)  Quorum. – A quorum of the Task Force shall consist of 13 members.

SECTION 3.(a)  Duties. – The Task Force shall study how North Carolina can grow and develop with a balanced growth between urban and rural areas. The Task Force shall consider what it means for the State to grow and develop focusing on the following areas: economic development, including transportation and water and sewer infrastructure; the State's natural resources, including its land, water, air, local food supply, and energy supplies; and quality of life issues, including health and education. The Task Force shall consider State government's responsibility to plan for the future and to guide our State in the right direction for succeeding generations. The Task Force also may consider any of the following issues:

(1)        What goals, objectives, policies, and priorities are needed for the State to grow and develop.

(2)        What criteria should be the basis for determining the State priorities and for allocating limited resources, such as public funds, services, human resources, land, energy, water, and any other resources.

(3)        How to improve the coordination of federal, State, and county plans, policies, programs, projects, and regulatory activities as they relate to population growth, economic development, and natural resources.

(4)        What constitutes North Carolina's inherent economic assets and how best to utilize those assets to define North Carolina's future role in the global economy.

(5)        How to forecast vocational needs within the State and direct the education and training of North Carolina's workforce to ensure that the State's residents learn marketable skills in secondary school, university, and adult training programs.

(6)        How to ensure that traffic congestion, pollution, and other adverse effects caused by population and economic growth are mitigated.

(7)        How to engage local governments and citizens in a public discussion to achieve a consensus on the State's preferred future and how to coordinate the actions needed for a growing and vibrant economy, while maintaining a high quality of life for all citizens and visitors.

(8)        What the respective roles of business, State government, and local governments are relative to attain economic growth and development in the future.

(9)        What policies may develop relating to the siting of State facilities.

(10)      What intermediate plans and benchmarks for the year 2017 and the year 2021 must the State have to assist the State in fulfilling its goals for growth and development through the year 2025.

(11)      Any other issues the Task Force deems pertinent to its charge.

SECTION 3.(b)  Additional Duties. – The Task Force shall solicit input on and develop a Plan to serve as a guide for the future long‑term, integrated development of the State. The Plan shall define State goals, objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for the State and local governments. The Plan shall include intermediate plans and benchmarks for the year 2017 and the year 2021 that the State should have in place to assist the State in fulfilling its goals for growth and development through the year 2025.

SECTION 4.  Expenses of Members. – Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.

SECTION 5.  Staff. – Upon the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to the Task Force to aid in its work.

SECTION 6.  Consultants. – The Task Force may hire consultants to assist with the study as provided in G.S. 120‑32.02(b).

SECTION 7.  Meetings. – The Task Force may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.

SECTION 8.  Report. – The Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations, including a Plan as required under subsection (b) of Section 3 of this act, and any legislative proposals to the General Assembly, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, and the Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Natural and Economic Resources on or before the convening of the 2017 General Assembly, at which time the Task Force shall terminate.

SECTION 9.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.