NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1967 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 273

HOUSE BILL 501

 

 

AN ACT TO CREATE THE EXECUTIVE MANSION FINE ARTS COMMISSION.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  There is hereby created the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Commission, consisting of sixteen members, who shall be appointed by the Governor on or before July 1, 1967, for terms as follows: Four members for one year; four members for two years; four members for three years; and four members for four years. At the expiration of the foregoing terms all members shall be appointed for terms of four years. The term of each member shall commence on July 1 of the year in which appointed, and each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring for reasons other than expiration of the term shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term. The Governor shall appoint the Chairman of the Commission.

Any public officer appointed to the Commission shall serve ex officio in addition to his duties imposed by law.

Sec. 2.  The purpose of the Commission shall be: (1) To preserve and maintain the Executive Mansion, located at 200 North Blount Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, as a structure having historical significance and value to the State of North Carolina; (2) to improve the furnishings of the Executive Mansion by encouraging gifts and objects of art, furniture and articles which may have historical value, and to approve major changes in the furnishings of the Mansion; (3) to recommend to the Department of Administration any major renovations to the Executive Mansion which the Commission deems necessary to preserve and maintain the structure; (4) to keep a complete list of all gifts and articles received, together with their history and value and to request the assistance of the State Department of Archives and History for this purpose; and (5) to publicize work of the Commission.

Sec. 3.  The Commission is hereby empowered on behalf of the State of North Carolina to receive gifts, contributions of money and objects of art consistent with the purpose for which the Commission is created. Title to all gifts, articles and monies received by the Commission shall be vested in the State of North Carolina and shall remain in the custody and control of the Commission. The Commission is authorized to accept loans of furniture and other objects as, in its discretion, it deems suitable. The Commission is empowered to employ clerical assistance on such basis as it may deem reasonable. Provided, however, that the salary of such persons shall be paid out of funds the Commission has received in the conduct of its work, and it is specifically provided that no other funds belonging to the State of North Carolina shall be used for this purpose. The Commission shall be empowered to expend such funds as it may receive, under this Act, in such manner as it deems appropriate and consistent with the purposes set forth herein. The Commission shall keep an account of receipts and expenditures and the State Auditor shall, at least annually, make a complete audit of the books and records of the Commission and report the result of his audit to the Governor. The Commission may do all things necessary and proper to achieve the purposes set forth in this Act.

Sec. 4.  Members of the Commission shall not receive any per diem, travel or expense allowance or any compensation from any State funds whatsoever, except, in the discretion of the Commission, from those funds received by the Commission under Section 3 of this Act.

Sec. 5.  The Director of the State Department of Archives and History is directed to provide such reasonable assistance as he may be requested by the Commission to render for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of item (4) of Section 2 of this Act.

Sec. 6.  All unexpended funds and assets of the existing Executive Mansion Fine Arts Committee shall be transferred immediately to the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Commission.

Sec. 7.  This Act shall not be construed as divesting the Department of Administration of any powers, duties and authority relating to the budget or the operation and maintenance of the Executive Mansion.

Sec. 8.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 9.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 2nd day of May, 1967.