120-70.81. Purpose and powers of Committee.

(a) The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee shall examine, on a continuing basis, the several educational institutions in North Carolina, in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve public education from kindergarten through higher education. In this examination, the Committee may:

(1) Study the budgets, programs, and policies of the Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the Community Colleges System Office, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, and the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to determine ways in which the General Assembly may encourage the improvement of all education provided to North Carolinians and may aid in the development of more integrated methods of institutional accountability;

(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2017-126, s. 16, effective July 20, 2017.

(3) Study other states' educational initiatives in public schools, community colleges, and public universities, in order to provide an ongoing commentary to the General Assembly on these initiatives and to make recommendations for implementing similar initiatives in North Carolina; and

(4) Study any other educational matters that the Committee considers necessary to fulfill its mandate.

(5) Study the needs of children and youth. This study may include, but is not limited to:

a. Developing strategies for addressing the issues of school dropout, teen suicide, and adolescent pregnancy.

b. Identifying and evaluating the impact on children and youth of other economic and environmental issues.

(b) The Committee may make interim reports to the General Assembly on matters for which it may report to a regular session of the General Assembly. A report to the General Assembly may contain any legislation needed to implement a recommendation of the Committee.