NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1965 SESSION

CHAPTER 1045
HOUSE BILL 1030

AN ACT TO CREATE A LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION IN NORTH CAROLINA.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1.  There is hereby created a Legislative Research Commission to consist of five Senators to be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and five Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall be ex officio members of the Legislative Research Commission. Provided, that when the President of the Senate has been elected by the Senate from its own membership, then the President of the Senate shall make the appointments of the Senate members of the Legislative Research Commission, shall serve ex officio as a member of the Commission and shall perform the duties otherwise vested in the President pro tempore by Sections 4 and 5 of this Act.
Sec. 2.  Appointments to the Legislative Research Commission shall be made within fifteen days subsequent to the close of each regular Session of the General Assembly. The term of office shall begin on the day of appointment, and shall end on the date when the next regular Session of the General Assembly convenes.
Sec. 3.  Vacancies in the appointive membership of the Legislative Research Commission occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the officer who made the original appointment.
Vacancies in the ex officio membership shall be filled for the unexpired term by election by the remaining members of the Commission. Every vacancy shall be filled by a member of the same House as that of the person causing the vacancy.
Sec. 4.  The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall serve as Co-Chairmen of the Legislative Research Commission. The Commission shall adopt rules of procedure governing its meetings. Eight members, including ex officio members, shall constitute a quorum of the Commission.
Sec. 5.  The first meeting of the Legislative Research Commission shall be held at the call of the President pro tempore of the Senate in the State Legislative Building. Thereafter the Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairmen. Every member of the preceding General Assembly has the right to attend all Sessions of the Commission, and to present his views at the meeting on any subject under consideration.
Sec. 6.  The Legislative Research Commission may employ and fix the compensation of such personnel as the Commission may deem necessary for the execution of the functions of the Commission. The Commission may contract with any public or private agency or institution for clerical services, and for assistance in performing research studies or collecting information.
Sec. 7.  The Legislative Research Commission may call upon any department, agency, institution, or officer of the State or of any political subdivision thereof for such facilities and data as may be available, and these departments, agencies, institutions, and officers shall cooperate with the Commission and its committees to the fullest possible extent.
Sec. 8.  The Legislative Research Commission has the following powers and duties:
(a)	Pursuant to the direction of the General Assembly or either House thereof, or of the Chairmen, to make or cause to be made such studies of and investigations into governmental agencies and institutions and matters of public policy as will aid the General Assembly in performing its duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
(b)	To report to the General Assembly the results of the studies made. The reports may be accompanied by the recommendations of the Commission and bills suggested to effectuate the recommendations.
(c)	Upon completion by the clerks of the Senate and House of their duties after the close of each Legislative Session, to assume custody of all equipment, records, materials and supplies in the possession of the clerks. Immediately prior to the convening of the next Session, the Commission shall transfer all equipment, materials and supplies to the clerks of the respective Houses.
(d)	When the General Assembly is not in Session, to authorize the expenditure of funds appropriated to the General Assembly for the purchase, repair or maintenance of furniture, equipment, materials and supplies, and to contract for services needed by the General Assembly.
Sec. 9.  The facilities of the State Legislative Building shall be available to the Commission for its work. The members of the Commission, including ex officio members, shall be paid such per diem, subsistence and travel allowances as are prescribed by law for State boards and commissions generally. All payments for purposes authorized by this Chapter shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon written authorization of the Chairmen of the Commission, from funds appropriated to the Legislative Research Commission or the Legislative Council, except that expenditures authorized under Section 8(d) of this Chapter shall be paid from funds appropriated to the General Assembly.
Sec. 10.  If any provision of this Act is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.
Sec. 11.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 12.  This Act shall become effective upon its ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 14th day of June, 1965.