2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 24 - The Legislative Study Commission on Children and Youth.

Article 24.

The Legislative Study Commission on Children and Youth.

§ 120‑215.  Commission created; purpose.

There is created the Legislative Study Commission on Children and Youth. The purpose of the Commission is to study and evaluate the system of delivery of services to children and youth and to make recommendations to improve service delivery to meet present and future needs of the children and youth of this State. This study shall be a continuing one and the evaluation ongoing. (1997‑390, s. 11.)

 

§ 120‑216.  Commission duties.

The Commission shall have the following duties:

(1)       Study the needs of children and youth. This study shall include, but is not limited to:

a.         Determining the adequacy and appropriateness of services:

1.         To children and youth receiving child welfare services;

2.         To children and youth in the juvenile court system; and

3.         Provided by the Division of Social Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

b.         Developing methods for identifying and providing services to children and youth not receiving but in need of child welfare services, children and youth at risk of entering the juvenile court system, and children and youth exposed to domestic violence situations.

c.         Developing strategies for addressing the issues of school dropout, teen suicide, and adolescent pregnancy.

d.         Identifying and evaluating the impact on children and youth of other economic and environmental issues.

e.         Identifying obstacles to ensuring that children who are in secure or nonsecure custody are placed in safe and permanent homes within a reasonable period of time and recommending strategies for overcoming those obstacles. The Commission shall consider what, if anything, can be done to expedite the adjudication and appeal of abuse and neglect charges against parents so that decisions may be made about the safe and permanent placement of their children as quickly as possible.

(2)       Evaluate problems associated with juveniles who are beyond the disciplinary control of their parents, including juveniles who are runaways, and develop solutions for addressing the problems of those juveniles.

(3)       Identify strategies for the development and funding of a comprehensive statewide database relating to children and youth to facilitate State agency planning for delivery of services to children and youth.

(4)       Conduct any other studies, evaluations, or assessments necessary for the Commission to carry out its purpose. (1997‑390, s. 11; 1997‑443, s. 11A.118(b); 1999‑423, s. 5; 2000‑137, s. 4(u).)

 

§ 120‑217.  Commission membership; terms; compensation.

(a)       The Commission shall consist of 25 members, as follows:

(1)       Eleven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, among them:

a.         Four shall be members of the House of Representatives at the time of their appointment,

b.         One shall be the director of a local health department,

c.         One shall be the director of a county department of social services,

d.         One shall be a representative of the general public who has knowledge of issues relating to children and youth,

e.         One shall be a licensed physician who is knowledgeable about the health needs of children and youth, and

f.          One shall be a chief district court judge recommended by the Council of Chief District Judges.

g.         One shall be a representative from the Covenant with North Carolina Children.

(2)       Eleven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as follows:

a.         Four shall be members of the Senate at the time of their appointment,

b.         One shall be the director of a mental health area authority,

c.         One shall be a representative of the Association of County Commissioners,

d.         One shall be a representative of the general public who has knowledge of issues relating to children and youth,

e.         One shall be a licensed attorney whose practice includes the representation of parents accused of criminal or civil abuse or neglect, and

f.          One shall be a chief district court judge recommended by the Council of Chief District Judges.

g.         One shall be a representative from the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute.

h.         One shall be a representative from the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force.

(3)       The following shall serve ex officio as nonvoting members of the Commission:

a.         The Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary's designee,

b.         The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, or the Superintendent's designee,

c.         The Secretary of Administration, or the Secretary's designee, and

d.         The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, or the Director's designee.

(b)       Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority who made the initial appointment and by a person having the same qualification. Members' terms shall last for two years. Members may be reappointed for two consecutive terms and may be appointed again after having been off the Commission for two years.

(c)       Commission members shall receive no salary as a result of serving on the Commission but shall receive necessary subsistence and travel expenses in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, and 138‑6, as applicable. (1997‑390, s. 11; 1997‑443, s. 11A.122; 1997‑483, s. 3.1.)

 

§ 120‑218.  Commission meetings; public hearings; staff.

(a)       The Commission shall hold its initial meeting at the call of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Subsequent meetings shall be held upon the call of the Commission cochairs. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint a cochair each from the membership of the Commission.

(b)       The Commission may hold public hearings across the State to solicit public input with respect to issues relating to children and youth.

(c)       The Commission may contract for clerical or professional staff or for any other services it may require in the course of its ongoing study. At the request of the Commission, the Legislative Services Commission may supply members of the staff of the Legislative Services Office and clerical assistance to the Commission as the Legislative Services Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may, with the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. (1997‑390, s. 11.)

 

§ 120‑219.  Commission reports.

The Commission shall report to the General Assembly and to the Governor the results of its study and recommendations. A written report shall be submitted to each biennial session of the General Assembly at its convening. (1997‑390, s. 11.)

 

§ 120‑220.  Commission authority.

The Commission has the authority to obtain information and data from all State officers, agents, agencies, and departments, while in discharge of its duties, pursuant to G.S. 120‑19, as if it were a committee of the General Assembly. (1997‑390, s. 11.)

 

§§ 120‑221 through 120‑224.  Reserved for future codification purposes.