A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT creating the legislative study commission on nanotechnology.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The General Assembly finds that development of a coordinated response to the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging nanotechnologies would greatly expand opportunities for all North Carolinians to obtain and retain challenging and economically rewarding employment and would provide key assistance to the State's traditional industries by making them more competitive in the global economy of the future. To that end, there is created the Legislative Study Commission on Nanotechnology ("Commission"). The Commission shall consist of 14 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to include:
a.	Four members of the House of Representatives.
b.	One person from a private emerging technology business or firm employing 200 or more employees in this State.
c.	One person employed by a college or university in this State who is an expert or researcher in nanotechnology or a related emerging technology.
d.	One member of the general public.
(2)	Seven members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to include:
a.	Four members of the Senate.
b.	One person from a private emerging technology business or firm employing fewer than 200 employees in this State.
c.	One person employed by a college or university in this State who is an expert or researcher in nanotechnology or a related emerging technology.
d.	One member of the general public.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Commission shall study and develop a coordinated approach to promoting economic growth in North Carolina through the promotion of emerging nanotechnologies, the science of the very small. In particular, the Commission shall examine, and make recommendations concerning, the following:
(1)	The promotion and development of a critical mass of coordinated nano‑capabilities in North Carolina.
(2)	The development and exploitation of leading‑edge nanotechnologies.
(3)	The promotion of industries and economic development centered on these new engineering, materials, and biological technologies.
SECTION 2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each appoint a cochair for the Commission. The Commission may contract for consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02. Upon approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist in the work of the Commission. Clerical staff shall be furnished to the Commission through the offices of the House of Representatives and the Senate Directors of Legislative Assistants. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission. Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances at the rate established in G.S. 120‑3.1. The appointing authority shall fill vacancies.
The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all the powers provided under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19 through G.S. 120‑19.4, including the power to request all officers, agents, agencies, and departments of the State to provide any information, data, or documents within their possession, ascertainable from their records, or otherwise available to them, and the power to subpoena witnesses.
SECTION 3.  The Commission's interim and final reports shall include the results of the Commission's study as well as recommendations, legislative and otherwise. The Commission shall submit an interim report to the 2006 Regular Session of the 2005 General Assembly. The Commission shall make a final report to the 2007 General Assembly and shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year and the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund the work of the Commission.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.