GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1995 SESSION

CHAPTER 117
HOUSE BILL 456

AN ACT TO CREATE THE NORTH CAROLINA PROGRESS BOARD.

Whereas, the Commission for a Competitive North Carolina was created in 1993 by executive order of Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.; and
Whereas, there are 55 members of the Commission, representing business, education, nonprofits, and elected leadership, including eight legislators; and
Whereas, cabinet secretaries and heads of major boards and commissions served as ex officio members; and
Whereas, the Commission was charged by the Governor with creating a vision for the State of North Carolina 20 years hence; setting clear goals to achieve that vision; and identifying ways to measure progress toward those goals; and
Whereas, the intent is to develop clear targets and milestones to measure progress toward these goals; and
Whereas, the Governor charged the Commission with proposing a process to hold government and other institutions accountable for progress toward those major goals; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Article 9 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 2A.  North Carolina Progress Board.
"§ 143B-372.1.  North Carolina Progress Board.
(a)	There is established within the Department of Administration the North Carolina Progress Board.  The Board shall be located administratively in the Department of Administration but shall exercise all its prescribed statutory powers independently of the Department of Administration.
(b)	The North Carolina Progress Board shall consist of 14 members as follows:
(1)	The Governor, ex officio;
(2)	Seven persons appointed by the Governor, none of whom shall be State employees or officers;
(3)	Three persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(4)	Three persons appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(c)	The Governor shall be chair of the North Carolina Progress Board.  The Governor shall appoint a vice-chair from among the membership of the North Carolina Progress Board to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  The North Carolina Progress Board may elect such other officers as it sees fit.
(d)	The North Carolina Progress Board shall meet at least twice annually on the call of the chair or as additionally provided by the North Carolina Progress Board.  A quorum is eight members of the Board.  Members may not send designees to board meetings, nor may they vote by proxy.
(e)	Initial appointments shall be for terms to begin July 1, 1995.  Of the Governor's appointments, four shall be for two-year terms and three shall be for four-year terms.  Of the appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one shall be for a two-year term and two shall be for a four-year term.  As terms expire, successors shall be appointed for four-year terms.
(f)	No member may be appointed to more than two consecutive terms.  A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House vacates membership on the North Carolina Progress Board when that person is no longer a member of the House of Representatives, except that if that person is in office at the expiration of the term of office in the House of Representatives but has not been elected to the next term, that person shall continue to serve until the convening of the regular session.  A member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate vacates membership on the North Carolina Progress Board when that person is no longer a member of the Senate, except that if that person is in office at the expiration of the term of office in the Senate but has not been elected to the next term, that person shall continue to serve until the convening of the regular session.
"§ 143B-372.2.  Responsibilities. 
(a)	The General Assembly notes that the Commission for a Competitive North Carolina developed goals in the following categories:
(1)	Healthy Children and Families;
(2)	Quality Education for All;
(3)	A High Performance Workforce;
(4)	A Prosperous Economy;
(5)	A Sustainable Environment;
(6)	Technology and Infrastructure Development;
(7)	Safe and Vibrant Communities; and
(8)	Active Citizenship/Accountable Government.
The Commission for a Competitive North Carolina adopted a report which established major goals and ways to measure progress toward these goals.
(b)	The General Assembly finds that:
(1)	The North Carolina economy of the future can provide unparalleled opportunity while maintaining North Carolina's traditional values, if the State pursues the future with clarity of purpose and perseverance;
(2)	The North Carolina economy is in the midst of a massive transition created by technological changes, global competition, and new production practices; and
(3)	In order to maintain employment opportunities, increase income levels, reduce poverty, and generate the public revenues necessary to provide public services, North Carolina must increasingly rely on an economy which adds value to its natural and human resources and provides a diverse mix of products.
(c)	The North Carolina Progress Board shall:
(1)	Encourage the discussion and understanding of critical global and national social and economic trends that will affect North Carolina in the coming decades;
(2)	Examine the report of the Commission for a Competitive North Carolina;
(3)	Track the eight issue areas set out in subsection (a) of this section;
(4)	Hold public hearings and other methods of public participation to secure the views of citizens on priority goals for North Carolina;
(5)	Formulate and submit to North Carolinians a report that describes and explains a vision for North Carolina's progress over the next 20 to 30 years;
(6)	Submit to the 1997 Regular Session of the General Assembly prior to its convening, specific targets and milestones to accomplish its mission;
(7)	Recommend how the targets and milestones can be applied to increase the accountability of government to the people of this State; and
(8)	Report periodically to the people of North Carolina on progress toward meeting goals, targets, and milestones.
(d)	The Regular Session of the General Assembly shall further define the mission of the North Carolina Progress Board in continuing its work.
(e)	The General Assembly, after adopting the initial set of goals and measures as proposed or amended, may alter the goals and measures.
"§ 143B-372.3.  Staff.
(a)	The North Carolina Progress Board may hire an executive director, who may be dismissed by the North Carolina Progress Board.  The Executive Director shall report to the North Carolina Progress Board.  The Executive Director shall hire support staff and may dismiss them.
(b)	There may be an Executive Staff Committee to assist the North Carolina Progress Board which shall consist of the Executive Director, if hired, the State Budget Officer, the State Planning Officer, and the Director of Fiscal Research.
(c)	The State Budget Office and the State Planning Office shall also provide staff support to the North Carolina Progress Board."
Sec. 2.  Part 2 of Article 9 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is repealed.
Sec. 3.  No additional funds are appropriated to implement this act.  Members may be appointed upon ratification of this act for terms to commence July 1, 1995.
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 29th day of May, 1995.

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Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

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Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives