GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 1348

Short Title:        Study Regulation/Beauty Pageants/Under 13 Yrs.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Mobley; and Parmon.
Referred to:	Juvenile Justice, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

April 9, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish the Joint legislative study committee on the regulation of beauty pageants for youth under thirteen years of age.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on the Regulation of Beauty Pageants for Youth Under 13 Years of Age. The Committee shall consist of 10 members to be appointed as follows:

(1)        Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2)        Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority who made the initial appointment.

The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4. The Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by 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. The House of Representatives and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, or 138-6, as appropriate.

SECTION 2.  The Committee shall study the regulation of beauty pageants for youth under 13 years of age in North Carolina. In conducting the study, the Committee shall consider issues related to the following:

(1)        How youth under 13 years of age are affected by competing in beauty pageants, both positive and negative.

(2)        Any data regarding regulation of the beauty pageant industry in this State as related to youth under 13 years of age.

(3)        Legislation adopted by other states addressing the regulation of beauty pageants for youth under 13 years of age.

(4)        The appropriate agency to regulate the beauty pageant industry for youth under 13 years of age in this State.

(5)        The criteria under which beauty pageants for youth under 13 years of age should be regulated in this State, including minimum age requirements of participants, requirements for parental involvement, and any restrictions as related to the use of excessive makeup and competition focus areas.

(6)        Any other issues the Committee considers relevant to the study.

SECTION 3.  The Committee shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly prior to its convening. The Committee shall terminate upon the filing of its final report.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.