GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

H                                                                                                                                                   3

HOUSE BILL 772

Corrected Copy 4/11/11

Committee Substitute Favorable 6/2/11

Short Title:        Study SORNA Compliance.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

April 7, 2011

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish the joint legislative study committee on federal sex offender registration and notification act (sorna) compliance.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Committee Established. - There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) Compliance. 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 making 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.

SECTION 1.(b)  Duties. - The Committee shall study and make recommendations on the following:

(1)        The requirements of SORNA and the changes required in State law to bring the State into compliance with those requirements.

(2)        The potential cost to State and local agencies to implement the requirements of SORNA compared to the potential loss of grant funding for failure to comply.

(3)        Whether the current State registration requirements are meeting the needs of the State and providing adequate public safety.

(4)        Whether the State should comply with the requirements of SORNA, and if so, make specific recommendations for the implementation of SORNA.

SECTION 1.(c)  Report. - The Committee may make a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the 2012 General Assembly upon its convening. The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report or upon the convening of the 2012 General Assembly, whichever is earlier.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.