I'RKI'ACI': 



I Ir- I i-yishilivc R(.s(.';iiili Coiiimission. Lsl;ililisln.'cl by Ailiclc 6B of Chapter 120 ol 

 llio CiciKTiil Staliilos. is <i general piiiposc sliuly group. I he Commission is eo ciiairecl 

 by the Speaker ol the House anil (he PiesiclenI Pro Tempore ol the Senate and has five 

 aiUlilional members appointed Irom eaeh house ol the Cieneral Assembly. Among the 

 Commissions duties is that ol making oi causing to be made, upon the direction of the 

 Cieneral Assembly, "such sluilies ol and investigations into governmental agencies and 

 institutions and matters of public policy as will aid the General Assembly in performing 

 its duties in the most ellkienl and effective manner." (G.S. 120.10. I7( I )). 



At the direction of the l'>X7 (ieneial Assembly, the Legislative Research 

 Commission has undeilaken sluilies ol numerous subjects. I hese studies were grouped 

 into broail categories ami each member of the Commission was given responsibility for 

 one category of slutly. The Co chairs of die Legislative Research Commission, under 

 the authoiity of Ci.S. 1 20 U). It)(b) and (c). appointed committees consisting of 

 membeis of the (ieueral Assembly and Mie pul->iic lo conduct the studies. Co-chairs, 

 one from each house of the (ieiicial Assembly, weie designated for each committee. 



The stuily of the Anii\ial Wellaie Act was authorized by Section 2.1 of Chapter 

 871 of the 19X7 Session Laws (1^X7 Session). I hat act slates that the Commission 

 may consider H. H. IXSO in determining the nature, scope and aspects of the study. 

 Section I ol II. 1^ IX.SO reads in |Kut: "The Legislative Research Commission may 

 study the pio\isious and ellecliveuess of the Animal Welfare Act of I07X. including 

 whelhei the Acl should apply lo cil) and county animal shelters and whether central 

 records containing inloiuialiou siibmilteil to the Animal Welfare Section of the State 

 Deparlmcnl of Agriculture shoiiKI be maintained." Hie relevant portions of Chapter 

 X71 and I LB. I are included in Appendix A. and II.H. IX.'iO is Appendix B. 



Ihe Legislative Research Commission giouped this stinly in its Animals area under 

 the ilirection of Senatoi R. L. Mailiu. Ihc ( ommittee was chaired by Senator George 



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