2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 12H - Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

Article 12H.

Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

§ 120‑70.80.  Creation and membership of Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee is established. The Committee consists of 22 members as follows:

(1)       Eleven members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least two of whom are members of the minority party; and

(2)       Eleven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least three of whom are members of the minority party.

Terms on the Committee are for two years and begin on the convening of the General Assembly in each odd‑numbered year. Members may complete a term of service on the Committee even if they do not seek reelection or are not reelected to the General Assembly, but resignation or removal from service in the General Assembly constitutes resignation or removal from service on the Committee.

A member continues to serve until his successor is appointed. A vacancy shall be filled within 30 days by the officer who made the original appointment. (1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1066, s. 115; 1997‑456, s. 46(a); 1997‑495, s. 91(a); 1999‑431, s. 3.7(a); 2001‑486, s. 2.5.)

 

§ 120‑70.81.  Purpose and powers of Committee.

(a)       The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee shall examine, on a continuing basis, the several educational institutions in North Carolina, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve public education from kindergarten through higher education. In this examination, the Committee shall:

(1)       Study the budgets, programs, and policies of the Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the Community Colleges System Office, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, and the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to determine ways in which the General Assembly may encourage the improvement of all education provided to North Carolinians and may aid in the development of more integrated methods of institutional accountability;

(2)       Examine, in particular, the Basic Education Plan and the School Improvement and Accountability Act of 1989, to determine whether changes need to be built into the plans, whether implementation schedules need to be restructured, and how to manage the ongoing development of the policies underlying these legislative plans, including a determination of whether there is a need for the legislature to develop ongoing funding patterns for these plans;

(3)       Study other states' educational initiatives in public schools, community colleges, and public universities, in order to provide an ongoing commentary to the General Assembly on these initiatives and to make recommendations for implementing similar initiatives in North Carolina; and

(4)       Study any other educational matters that the Committee considers necessary to fulfill its mandate.

(b)       The Committee may make interim reports to the General Assembly on matters for which it may report to a regular session of the General Assembly. A report to the General Assembly may contain any legislation needed to implement a recommendation of the Committee. (1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1066, s. 115; 1999‑84, s. 20.)

 

§ 120‑70.82.  Organization of Committee.

(a)       The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. The Committee shall meet at least once a quarter and may meet at other times upon the joint call of the cochairs.

(b)       A quorum of the Committee is 10 members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present. While in the discharge of its official duties, the Committee has the powers of a joint committee under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4.

(c)       Members of the Committee receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1. The Committee may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120‑32.02. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. Upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission, the Supervisors of Clerks of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Committee. The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. (1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1066, s. 115; 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 8(i); 1997‑456, s. 46(b); 1997‑495, s. 91(b).)

 

§ 120‑70.83.  Additional powers.

The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, while in discharge of official duties, shall have access to any paper or document, and may compel the attendance of any State official or employee before the Committee or secure any evidence under G.S. 120.19. In addition, G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4 shall apply to the proceedings of the Committee as if it were a joint committee of the General Assembly. (1997‑18, s. 15(b).)

 

§§ 120‑70.84 through 120‑70.89.  Reserved for future codification purposes.