NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

CHAPTER 296

HOUSE BILL 696

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DISCLOSURE OF PROPERTY INTERESTS AND ASSETS BY GUILFORD COUNTY OFFICIALS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Every member of the Board of Commissioners of Guilford County shall within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act or within thirty (30) days after assuming office disclose any legal, equitable or beneficial interest he or his spouse may have in any real property in Guilford County which is in the zoning, water and sewer jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners of Guilford County.

This disclosure shall be filed in writing with the Clerk of Superior Court and shall include all real property which any Commission member holds title to, individually or jointly, any real property held in trust as well as any pecuniary interest he may have in any business, firm or corporation of whatever nature, which holds title to or has any ownership interest in any real property within the zoning, water and sewer jurisdiction of the Board of Commissioners of Guilford County.

Sec. 2. Every member of the Board of Commissioners of Guilford County shall disclose any legal, equitable or beneficial ownership interest he may have in any business, firm, or corporation, of whatever nature, which is doing business with Guilford County pursuant to contracts which have been awarded by the Board of County Commissioners.

Sec. 3. Every member of the Board of County Commissioners of Guilford County shall disclose any legal, equitable or beneficial ownership interest he may have in any business, firm, or corporation, of whatever nature, which is attempting to secure the award of a bid from the County, prior to the award of any contract.

Sec. 4. The acquisition by any member subject to this act of any legal, equitable or beneficial interest in real property within the zoning, water and sewer jurisdiction of the Board of Commissioners of Guilford County shall be disclosed within thirty (30) days after the acquisition of same. Any legal, equitable or beneficial ownership interest which any member has in any business, firm or corporation, of whatever nature, with whom Guilford County is now doing business, shall be disclosed within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act or within thirty (30) days after acquisition of the ownership interest.

Sec. 5. Every Board member who has an ownership interest required to be disclosed by this act shall disqualify himself from voting on any matter involving any such ownership interest which comes for official action before the Board of County Commissioners of Guilford County.

Sec. 6. Any member who violates any provision of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Any member who is convicted of a violation of any provision of this act shall forfeit his elected or appointed office, and such office shall be considered vacant as of the date of the final judgment of conviction.

Sec. 7. This act shall become effective on January 1, 1974.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of May, 1973.