AN ACT to create a study committee on orphan roads.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Creation. – There is created the Study Committee on Orphan Roads.

SECTION 1.(b)  Membership. – The committee shall consist of the following members:

(1)        Three members of the House of Representatives chosen by the House Majority Leader.

(2)        Three members of the Senate chosen by the Senate Majority Leader.

(3)        Three members of the House of Representatives chosen by the House Minority Leader.

(4)        Three members of the Senate chosen by the Senate Minority Leader.

(5)        Four persons, chosen by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, who have experience in road construction, maintenance, and transportation funding.

(6)        Three persons, chosen by the Governor, who have experience in local government and local community organizations.

(7)        Three members of the House of Representatives, chosen by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who have experience in local government and local community organizations.

(8)        Three members of the Senate, chosen by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, who have experience in local government and local community organizations.

SECTION 1.(c)  Organization. – The committee shall be organized as follows:

(1)        The committee shall have three cochairs, one designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one designated by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

(2)        The cochairs may, with the approval of the committee, hire staff and consultants to assist the committee in performing the duties of the committee.

(3)        Members, staff, and consultants of the committee shall receive travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138‑5, 138‑6, and 120‑3.1 from funds made available to the committee.

(4)        The committee shall meet upon the call of the cochairs and shall meet at least quarterly. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

SECTION 1.(d)  Duties. – The committee shall do the following:

(1)        Study how many roads in North Carolina are orphaned, abandoned, or have no ownership.

(2)        Recommend solutions to bring these roads up to code and maintained.

(3)        Recommend solutions to slow and stop this from continuing.

(4)        Recommend long‑term solutions regarding road maintenance, funding, and road identification.

(5)        Recommend any legislative changes.

SECTION 2.  Funds. – Of the funds appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in nonrecurring funds may be used by the committee to implement the purposes of this act, including for administrative costs, stipends, travel costs, and for staff and consultants hired by the committee.

SECTION 3.  Report. – The committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly, no later than May 1, 2025. The committee shall terminate upon the filing of this report.

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