NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 637

HOUSE BILL 1305

 

 

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ON THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMISSION AND TO MAKE OTHER CONFORMING CHANGES.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 143B-253, as the same appears in the 1974 Replacement Volume 3C of the General Statutes, which was transferred to Article 9 of Chapter 143B by Section 24, Chapter 70 of the 1977 Session Laws, and which was renumbered as G.S. 143B-400 by Section 25 of Chapter 70 of the 1977 Session Laws, is hereby amended and rewritten to read as follows:

"§ 143B-253.  Veterans' Affairs Commission - members; selection; quorum; compensation. — The Veterans' Affairs Commission of the Department of Administration shall consist of one voting member from each Congressional district, all of whom shall be veterans, appointed by the Governor for four-year terms. In making these appointments, the Governor shall insure that both major political parties will be continuously represented on the Veterans' Affairs Commission.

The initial members of the commission shall be the appointed members of the current Veterans' Affairs Commission who shall serve for the remainder of their current terms and six additional members appointed by the Governor for terms expiring June 30, 1981. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the commission created by the resignation, dismissal, death or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. The Governor shall have the power to remove any member of the commission in accordance with provisions of G.S. 143B-13.

In the event that more than 11 Congressional districts are established in the State, the Governor shall on July 1 following the establishment of such additional Congressional districts appoint a member of the commission from that Congressional district. If on July 1, 1977, or at any time thereafter due to Congressional redistricting, two or more members of the Veterans' Affairs Commission shall reside in the same Congressional district then such members shall continue to serve as members of the commission for a period equal to the remainder of their current terms on the commission provided that upon the expiration of said term or terms the Governor shall fill such vacancy or vacancies in such a manner as to insure that as expeditiously as possible there is one member of the Veterans' Affairs Commission who is a resident of each Congressional district in the State.

The Governor shall designate from the membership of the commission a chairman and vice-chairman of the commission who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary of the Department of Administration or his designee shall serve as secretary of the commission.

Members of the commission shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with provisions of G.S. 138-5.

A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

The Veterans' Affairs Commission shall meet at least twice a year and may hold special meetings at any time or place within the State at the call of the chairman, at the call of the Secretary of the Department of Administration or upon the written request of at least six members.

All clerical and other services required by the commission shall be provided by the Secretary of the Department of Administration."

Sec. 2.  Whenever the words "Secretary of Military and Veterans' Affairs" are used in the provisions of G.S. 143B-252 as the same appears in the 1974 Replacement Volume 3C of the General Statutes, which was transferred to Article 9 of G.S. 143B by Section 24 of Chapter 70 of the 1977 Session Laws and which was renumbered as G.S. 143B-399 by Section 25 of Chapter 70 of the 1977 Session Laws, the same shall be deleted and the words "Secretary of the Department of Administration" shall be inserted in lieu thereof.

Sec. 3.  There is enacted G.S. 143B-400.1 which shall read as follows:

"§ 143B-400.1.  Veterans' Affairs Commission Advisory Committee – members; compensation. — The department commander or official head of each veterans' organization which has been chartered by an act of the United States Congress and which is legally constituted and operating in this State pursuant to said charter shall constitute an Advisory Committee to the Veterans' Affairs Commission. Members of the Veterans' Affairs Commission Advisory Committee shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5."

Sec. 4.  The terms of any of the current members of the Veterans' Affairs Commission which expire on May 16 of any year are hereby extended to expire on June 30 of such particular year.

Sec. 5.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that the provisions of this act shall be implemented without additional appropriations to the Department of Administration, and nothing herein contained shall be construed to obligate the General Assembly to appropriate additional funds.

Sec. 6.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 20th day of June, 1977.