NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1971 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 838

SENATE BILL 783

 

 

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA COUNCIL ON STATE GOALS AND POLICY.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof to be designated as Article 54 and to read as follows:

"Article 54.

"North Carolina Council on State Goals and Policy Act.

"§ 143-496.  Short title. — This Article shall be known as the North Carolina Council on State Goals and Policy Act of 1971.

"§ 143-497.  Council established. — There is hereby established in the North Carolina Department of Administration the North Carolina Council on State Goals and Policy.

"§ 143-498.  Definition. — In this Article 'Council' shall mean the North Carolina Council on State Goals and Policy.

"§ 143-499.  Organization of the Council. — (a) Membership. The members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall consist of 15 citizens whose background, training, and experience qualify them to survey the whole range of State needs, to propose State goals, and to recommend ways for State government to achieve these goals and to serve the interests of all citizens. The members of the Council shall be appointed for four-year terms. The terms shall be staggered with seven members appointed during the first year, five members in the second year and three members during the third year of each gubernatorial term of office. Service on the Council shall not be incompatible with the holding of any elective or appointive office as regulated by Article VI, Section 9, of the Constitution of North Carolina.

(b)        The Chairman and other Officers of the Council. The Governor shall serve as Chairman of the Council and shall designate someone to serve as Chairman in his absence.

(c)        Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Council prior to the regular expiration of a term shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(d)        Allowances. The members of the Council who are not officers or employees of the State shall receive for their services the per diem and allowances prescribed by G.S. 138-5.

"§ 143-500.  Powers and duties. — The Council shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)        Express the needs and aspirations of North Carolina's citizens and identify the kind of future they want for themselves and their families in the form of goals proposed for State action along with a suggested timetable within which these goals might reasonably be achieved.

(2)        Study the resources and means of action available to state government and recommend policies to guide the State in using these resources and means to achieve State goals and suggest short-run goals, consistent with the long-run goals, that should receive priority consideration within a three to five-year frame.

(3)        Evaluate the present structure and activities of state government and recommend improvements in management and communication so that the State may pursue its chosen goals in an efficient and well-coordinated manner.

(4)        Identify areas of public interest where needs are urgent or present policies inadequate and recommend appropriate study and analysis to provide a basis for evaluating alternative courses of action.

(5)        Inform the general public of the main problems facing the State and involve the citizenry in the study and debate of State goals and policy.

(6)        Submit a report to the Governor by November 30 of each year to guide him in preparing his 'State of the State' message.

"§ 143-501.  The Staff of the Council — The Department of Administration shall supply staff services to the Council.

"§ 143-507.  Information. — Every agency or department of the Executive Branch of State government shall provide the Council, upon its request, with any information in the possession of the agency or department."

Sec. 2.  This act shall take effect upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 13th day of July, 1971.