131D-10.9A. Permanency Innovation Initiative Oversight Committee created.

(a) Creation and Membership. - The Permanency Innovation Initiative Oversight Committee is established. The Committee shall be located administratively in the General Assembly. The Committee shall consist of 12 members serving staggered terms. In making appointments, each appointing authority shall select members who have appropriate experience and knowledge of the issues to be examined by the Committee and shall strive to ensure racial, gender, and geographical diversity among the membership. The initial Committee members shall be appointed on or after July 1, 2013, as follows:

(1) Four members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of the members appointed under this subdivision, at least one shall be a member of the judiciary who shall serve for a term of two years and at least one shall be a representative from the Children's Home Society of North Carolina who shall serve for a term of three years. One member of the House shall be appointed for a one-year term. The remaining appointee shall serve a one-year term.

(2) Four members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Of the members appointed under this subdivision, at least one shall be a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, who shall serve for a term of two years and at least one shall be a representative from The Duke Endowment who shall serve for a term of three years. One member of the Senate shall be appointed for a one-year term. The remaining appointee shall serve a one-year term.

(3) Four members shall be appointed by the Governor. Of the members appointed under this subdivision, at least one shall be a representative from a county department of social services who shall serve for a term of three years, at least one shall be a representative from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who shall serve for a term of two years, and at least one shall be a representative from Youth Villages who shall serve for a term of two years. The remaining member shall serve a one-year term.

(b) Terms. - Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial Committee members, each member shall be appointed for a term of three years and shall serve until a successor is appointed. No member may serve more than two consecutive full terms. A vacancy shall be filled within 30 days by the authority making the initial appointment.

(c) Purpose and Powers. - The Committee shall:

(1) Design and implement a data tracking methodology to collect and analyze information to gauge the success of the initiative established under this section as well as any initiatives for foster care youth transitioning to adulthood.

(2) Develop a methodology to identify short- and long-term cost-savings in the provision of foster care and foster care transitional living services and any potential reinvestment strategies.

(3) Oversee program implementation to ensure fidelity to the program models identified under subdivisions (1) and (2) of G.S. 131D-10.9B(a).

(4) Study, review, and recommend other policies and services that may positively impact permanency, well-being outcomes, and youth aging out of the foster care system.

(d) Reports. - The Committee shall report its analysis and any findings and recommendations to the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division by February 15 of each year.

(e) Organization. - The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each designate a cochair of the Committee. The Committee shall meet at least twice each year upon the joint call of the cochairs. A quorum of the Committee is seven members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

(f) Funding. - From funds available to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate monies to fund the work of the Committee. Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120-3.1 and G.S. 138-5.

(g) Staff. - The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. Upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission, the Director of Legislative Assistants of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Committee. The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee.