NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1969 SESSION

CHAPTER 910

SENATE BILL 786

AN ACT TO AMEND GENERAL STATUTES CHAPTER 7A TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT NORTH CAROLINA COURTS COMMISSION.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1.  General Statutes Chapter 7A is amended by insertion of the following new Subchapter:

"SUBCHAPTER X. NORTH CAROLINA COURTS COMMISSION

"Article 40. North Carolina Courts Commission

G.S. 7A-600.  Creation: members; terms; qualifications; vacancies. The North Carolina Courts Commission is hereby created. It shall consist of fifteen regular members, seven of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, seven by the Speaker of the House, and one by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House jointly. At least eight of the appointees shall be members or former members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Two of the appointees shall be laymen. Four of the appointees of the President of the Senate shall serve for two years, and three for four years. Four of the appointees of the Speaker of the House shall serve for two years, and three for four years. The joint appointee shall serve for four years. All initial terms shall begin July 1, 1969. Subsequent terms shall begin July 1 of odd-numbered years. A vacancy in Commission membership shall be filled by the remaining members of the Commission to serve for the remainder of the term vacated. A member whose term expires may be reappointed.

G.S. 7A-601.  Ex officio members. The following additional members shall serve ex officio. The Administrative Officer of the Courts; a representative of the North Carolina State Bar appointed by the Council thereof; and a representative of the North Carolina Bar Association appointed by the Board of Governors thereof. Ex officio members shall have no vote.

G.S. 7A-602.  Commission supersedes temporary commission of same name. The Commission shall succeed to the records and research in progress of the temporary Courts Commission established by Resolution 73 of the 1963 General Assembly.

G.S. 7A-603.  Duties. It shall be the duty of the Commission to make continuing studies of the structure, organization, jurisdiction, procedures and personnel of the Judicial Department and of the General Court of Justice and to make recommendations to the General Assembly for such changes therein as will facilitate the administration of justice.

G.S. 7A-604.  Chairman; meetings; compensation of members. The Commission shall elect its own chairman, and shall meet at such times and places as the chair- man shall designate. The facilities of the State Legislative Building shall be available to the Commission. The members of the Commission shall receive the same per diem and allowances as members of State boards and commissions generally.

G.S. 7A-605.  Supporting services. The Commission is authorized to contract for such professional and clerical services as is necessary in the proper performance of its duties."

Sec. 2.  Resolution 73 of the 1963 General Assembly is repealed effective July 1, 1969.

Sec. 3.  This Act shall become effective July 1, 1969.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 19th day of June, 1969.