GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1991

CHAPTER 1008
HOUSE BILL 1395

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE REORGANIZATION OF STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AND FIRE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO FILE A REPORT WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is established the Inter-agency Task Force on State Agency Oversight of Workplace Safety and Health.  The Task Force shall study the regulatory responsibilities of State and local governmental agencies involved with workplace safety and health and fire safety.  The members shall include a representative of each of the following:
(1)	The Commissioner of Labor, who shall also chair the Task Force.
(2)	The Commissioner of Insurance or a designee.
(3)	The Secretary of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources or a designee.
(4)	The Chairman of the Industrial Commission or a designee.
(5)	The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission or a designee.
(6)	The Secretary of the Department of Transportation or a designee.
(7)	The Chairman of the State Personnel Commission or a designee.
(8)	A community college representative appointed by the President of the North Carolina System of Community Colleges.
(9)	Two local officials, one selected by the North Carolina League of Municipalities and the other selected by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
(10)	One employee selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list of recommendations submitted by the AFL-CIO and one business owner selected by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from a list of recommendations submitted by the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry.
The Task Force shall submit an interim written report to the LRC Study Committee on Fire and Occupational Safety at Industrial and Commercial Facilities no later than October 1, 1992, and a final report to the members of the General Assembly by March 1, 1993.  The report shall recommend a proposed reorganization of the occupational health and safety and fire safety network within State and local government to better address the needs of employers and employees in this State.  Except for cause, the same designee shall serve from the inception of the Task Force until the issuance of the final report.
The proposed reorganization should accomplish the following goals:
(1)	Be as consolidated and coordinated as possible with clear areas of responsibility and clear lines of authority;
(2)	Be devoid of duplication;
(3)	Be devoid of political or special interest influence;
(4)	Be able to respond quickly, efficiently, and effectively to reports of unsafe conditions and to emergencies;
(5)	Clarify the role of local government in fire and safety protection in the workplaces in their jurisdictions;
(6)	Fully utilize the community colleges in training inspectors and offering programs for safety committees and businesses that seek to improve worker safety;
(7)	Consider contracting with local fire agencies for inspections before adding more people to the State payroll;
(8)	Develop an educational component that will include the creation and distribution of educational materials regarding workplace safety laws and duties of employers and rights of workers, including brochures, fliers, posters, public service spots for radio and television, newspaper and magazine articles; and
(9)	Include proposals for establishing supplementary inspection programs in addition to those authorized under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The Department of Labor shall provide clerical and professional assistance to the Task Force.  Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation or reimbursement.
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of July, 1992.

James C. Gardner
President of the Senate

Daniel Blue, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Representatives