NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

CHAPTER 932

SENATE BILL 11

AN ACT CREATING A MUTUAL BURIAL ASSOCIATION STUDY COMMISSION AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Whereas, there are over 900,000 citizens of North Carolina who belong to approximately 365 mutual burial associations located in all parts of the State; and

Whereas, the membership of these associations has been steadily decreasing since 1951 with a consequent loss in their financial stability; and

Whereas, the average age of members of these mutual burial associations has been steadily increasing over the last 10 years; and

Whereas, under existing law these mutual burial associations can only offer in benefits up to two hundred dollars ($200.00) per member, which is no longer a sufficient sum to provide a burial for a deceased member; and

Whereas, there is a dire need for the above conditions to be corrected by appropriate legislation; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby created the Committee for the Study of Mutual Burial Associations, to be composed of 10 members. Eight members shall be appointed by the Governor, one member shall be appointed by the President of the Senate and one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

Sec. 2.  The Governor shall designate a chairman and vice-chairman of the commission from among the membership of the commission.

Sec. 3.  It shall be the duty of the commission to make a comprehensive study of mutual burial associations as they now exist in North Carolina and to make appropriate recommendations to the 1981 Session of the General Assembly after it files its report as to how mutual burial associations may be financially strengthened and better serve their membership.

Sec. 4.  Members of the commission who are members of the General Assembly shall receive subsistence and travel allowance at the rate set forth in G.S. 120-3.1. Members of the commission who are not officials or employees of the State of North Carolina and who are not members of the General Assembly shall receive per diem compensation and travel expenses at the rate set forth in G.S. 138-5. Any members of the commission or officials or employees of the State of North Carolina shall receive travel allowances at the rate set forth in G.S. 138-6.

Sec. 5.  The commission shall have authority to employ clerical assistants, actuarial assistants and legal assistants and to purchase necessary supplies and materials.

Sec. 6.  The expenses of the commission shall be supported from the receipts of the Burial Commission in the Department of Commerce.

Sec. 7.  The commission is authorized to conduct public hearings around the State in order to get citizen input as to ways in which mutual burial associations may be strengthened and better carry out their statutory purposes.

Sec. 8.  The committee shall make a written report of its study to the General Assembly, including recommendations for appropriate legislative action. The report shall be presented no later than the opening date of the 1981 General Assembly.

Sec. 9.  G.S. 120-74 is amended by deleting in the second sentence the word "assistant".

Sec. 10.  This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 8th day of June, 1979.