AN ACT to create the legislative reform commission to study and make recommendations regarding legislator terms, term limits, session limits, and compensation.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  There is established the Commission on Legislative Reform (Commission). The Commission shall be composed of eight members of the public appointed as follows:

(1)        Four by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(2)        Four by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

No member of the Commission may be an elected official while serving on the Commission.

SECTION 1.(b)  Each appointing authority shall designate a cochair. The Commission shall meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. A quorum of the Commission shall be a majority of its members. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the appointing authority. Members of the Commission shall receive per diem and allowances as provided in G.S. 138‑5 and G.S. 138‑6.

SECTION 1.(c)  The purpose of the Commission is to study and make recommendations regarding modifications to the North Carolina Constitution with regard to:

(1)        The length of terms for members of the General Assembly.

(2)        Term limits for members of the General Assembly.

(3)        Limitations on the length of legislative sessions.

(4)        Legislative compensation.

(5)        Legislative per diem and mileage allowances.

SECTION 1.(d)  As part of the study, the Commission may examine:

(1)        Other states' laws regarding the length of legislative terms and legislative term limits.

(2)        The length of North Carolina legislative sessions, regular and extra, for each biennium since 1981.

(3)        The length of other states' legislative sessions, particularly states with similar populations, and limitations on the length of legislative sessions.

(4)        The current compensation, per diem, and mileage allowances of members of the General Assembly and how those amounts have changed since 1981.

(5)        The compensation and allowances of state legislators in other states, particularly states with similar populations, similar session lengths, or both, and how those have changed since 1981.

(6)        Mechanisms for indexing legislative pay and allowances such as cost of living increases, federal states, and compensation of public employees, including teachers.

(7)        Any other information the Commission deems appropriate.

SECTION 1.(e)  The School of Government of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall assist the Commission in its work as follows:

(1)        Provide meeting space.

(2)        Provide necessary clerical, administrative, and legal support.

(3)        Prepare the Commission's report.

SECTION 1.(f)  The Commission shall report no later than April 15, 2024, to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the Appropriations Committees. The report shall contain:

(1)        Findings related to subdivisions (1) through (7) of subsection (d) of this section.

(2)        Recommendations regarding amendments to the North Carolina Constitution with regard to subdivisions (1) through (5) of subsection (c) of this section.

(3)        Any other findings and recommendations the Commission deems appropriate.

SECTION 1.(g)  The Commission shall terminate upon submission of its report or April 15, 2024, whichever occurs first.

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