AN ACT to direct the Legislative research commission to study the needs and potential solutions to mitigate housing barriers for individuals with criminal records and to mitigate homelessness in the State.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Legislative Research Commission (LRC) shall study the issue of housing discrimination and housing barriers for individuals with criminal records in the State.

As part of its study, the LRC shall do all of the following:

(1)        Examine existing housing barriers for individuals with criminal records in the State.

(2)        Examine existing housing discrimination against individuals with criminal records in the State.

(3)        Examine the challenges facing individuals with criminal records, including financial, social, and logistical challenges.

(4)        Any other matters the LRC deems relevant to its efforts.

SECTION 1.(b)  The LRC shall report its findings, together with any proposed legislation, to the 2024 Regular Session of the 2023 General Assembly upon its convening.

SECTION 2.(a)  The Legislative Research Commission (LRC) shall study the issue of homelessness in the State.

As part of its study, the LRC shall do all of the following:

(1)        Examine the current availability of housing in metropolitan and rural areas of the State.

(2)        Identify existing federal, State, and local subsidies, grants, and other incentives and programs available to increase the availability of housing, the extent to which the subsidies, grants, and other incentives and programs are utilized, and the successfulness of their usage in increasing the availability of housing.

(3)        Examine the challenges for individuals facing homelessness and those in need of housing, including financial, social, and logistical challenges.

(4)        Assess the ability of local governments to leverage existing laws and resources, including partnering with nonprofit and for‑profit entities, to decrease homelessness.

(5)        Examine the best practices of other states in decreasing homelessness.

(6)        Examine any unique challenges faced by local governments across the State resulting from differences in economic prosperity and considering the differences between the metropolitan and rural areas of the State.

(7)        Any other matters the LRC deems relevant to its efforts.

SECTION 2.(b)  The LRC shall report its findings, together with any proposed legislation, to the 2024 Regular Session of the 2023 General Assembly upon its convening.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.