GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION LAW 2001-359
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COORDINATING COUNCIL.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 76.
"North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council.
"§ 143-725. Council established; role of the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis.
(a) Council Established. - The North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council ("Council") is established to develop policies regarding the utilization of geographic information, GIS systems, and other related technologies. The Council shall be responsible for the following:
(1) Strategic planning.
(2) Resolution of policy and technology issues.
(3) Coordination, direction, and oversight of State, local, and private GIS efforts.
(4) Advising the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Information Resource Management Commission (IRMC) as to needed directions, responsibilities, and funding regarding geographic information.
The purpose of this statewide geographic information coordination effort shall be to further cooperation among State, federal, and local government agencies; academic institutions; and the private sector to improve the quality, access, cost-effectiveness, and utility of North Carolina's geographic information and to promote geographic information as a strategic resource in the State. The Council shall be located in the Office of the Governor for organizational, budgetary, and administrative purposes.
(b) Role of CGIA. - The Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (CGIA) shall staff the Geographic Information and Coordinating Council and its committees. CGIA shall manage and distribute digital geographic information about North Carolina maintained by numerous State and local government agencies. It shall operate a statewide data clearinghouse and provide Internet access to State geographic information.
"§ 143-726. Council membership; organization.
(a) Members. - The Council shall consist of up to 35 members, or their designees, as set forth in this section. An appointing authority may reappoint a Council member for successive terms.
(b) Governor's Appointments. - The Governor shall appoint the following members:
(1) The head of an at-large State agency not represented in subsection (d) of this section.
(2) An employee of a county government, nominated by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
(3) An employee of a municipal government, nominated by the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
(4) An employee of the federal government who is stationed in North Carolina.
(5) A representative from the Lead Regional Organizations.
(6) A member of the general public.
(7) Other individuals whom the Governor deems appropriate to enhance the efforts of geographic information coordination.
Members appointed by the Governor shall serve three-year terms. The Governor shall appoint an individual from the membership of the Council to serve as Chair of the Council. The member appointed shall serve as Chair for a term of one year.
(c) General Assembly Appointments. - The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint three members to the Council. These members shall serve one-year terms.
(d) Other Members. - Other Council members shall include:
(1) The Secretary of State.
(2) The Commissioner of Agriculture.
(3) The Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(4) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
(5) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
(6) The Secretary of the Department of Administration.
(7) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
(8) The Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.
(9) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(10) The Secretary of the Department of Revenue.
(11) The President of the North Carolina Community Colleges System.
(12) The President of The University of North Carolina System.
(13) The Chair of the Public Utilities Commission.
(14) The State Budget Officer.
(15) The Executive Director of the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
(16) The Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
(17) One representative from the State Government GIS User Committee.
(18) One representative elected annually from the Local Government Committee established pursuant to subdivision (h)(2) of this section.
(19) The State Chief Information Officer who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
Council members serving ex officio pursuant to this subsection shall serve terms coinciding with their respective offices. Members serving by virtue of their appointment by a standing committee of the Council shall serve for the duration of their appointment by the standing committee.
(e) Meetings. - The Council shall meet at least quarterly on the call of the Chair. The Management and Operations Committee shall conduct the Council's business between quarterly meetings.
(f) Administration. - The Director of the CGIA shall be secretary of the Council and provide staff support as it requires.
(g) Reports. - The Council shall report at least annually to the Governor and to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.
(h) Committees. - The Council may establish work groups, as needed, and shall oversee the standing committees created in this subsection. Each standing committee shall adopt bylaws, subject to the Council's approval, to govern its proceedings. Except as otherwise provided, the Chair of the Council shall appoint the standing committee chairs from representatives listed in subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this section. The standing committees are as follows:
(1) State Government GIS User Committee. - Membership shall consist of representatives from all interested State government departments. The Chair of the Council shall appoint the committee chair from one of the State agencies represented in subsection (d) of this section.
(2) Local Government Committee. - Membership shall consist of representatives from organizations and professional associations that currently serve or represent local government GIS users, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and Lead Regional Organizations. The committee shall elect one of its members to the Council.
(3) Federal Interagency Committee. - Membership shall consist of representatives from all interested federal agencies and Tribal governments with an office located in North Carolina. The appointed federal representative serving pursuant to subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall serve as the Chair of the Federal Interagency Committee.
(4) Statewide Mapping Advisory Committee. - This committee shall consolidate statewide mapping requirements and attempt to gain statewide support for financing cooperative programs. The committee shall also advise the Council on issues, problems, and opportunities relating to federal, State, and local government geospatial data programs.
(5) GIS Technical Advisory Committee. - This committee shall develop the statewide technical architecture for GIS and anticipate and respond to GIS technical opportunities and issues affecting State, county, and local governments in North Carolina.
(6) Management and Operations Committee. - This committee shall consider management and operational matters related to GIS and other matters that are formally requested by the Council. The committee membership shall consist of the Chair of the Council, the State Budget Officer, the chair of each of the standing committees of the Council, and other members of the Council appointed by the Chair.
"§ 143-727. Compensation and expenses of Council members; travel reimbursements.
Members of the Council shall serve without compensation but may receive travel and subsistence as follows:
(1) Council members who are officials or employees of a State agency or unit of local government, in accordance with G.S. 138-6.
(2) All other Council members at the rate established in G.S. 138-5."
SECTION 2. The respective appointing authorities shall complete their appointments to the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council under G.S. 143-726(b) and (c), as enacted in Section 1 of this act, within 60 days of the date when this act becomes effective.
SECTION 3. This act shall not be construed to obligate the General Assembly to appropriate any funds to implement the provisions of this act. The provisions of this act shall be implemented from funds otherwise appropriated or available to the Office of the Governor.
SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 2nd day of August, 2001.
s/ Beverly E. Perdue
President of the Senate
s/ James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Michael F. Easley
Governor
Approved 11:44 a.m. this 10th day of August, 2001