NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1973 SESSION

CHAPTER 766
SENATE BILL 18

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT SALARIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Policy. The General Assembly finds that in order to upgrade the criminal justice system in North Carolina by attracting and retaining a high caliber of personnel in law enforcement, and to prevent a high personnel turnover, it is necessary to insure that law enforcement officers receive a reasonable salary. The purpose of this Chapter is to provide an appropriation to supplement salaries of law enforcement personnel in order that law enforcement personnel receive salaries at least equal to the minimum salaries set out herein until October 1, 1975, the supplement to be the difference between the individual gross salaries of law enforcement personnel as of January 1, 1973, and the minimum salaries set out in this act.
Sec. 2.  Definitions. Terms used in this Chapter shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the language or context, or unless such construction is inconsistent with the manifest intention of the legislature.
(1)	"Assistant department head" means an officer occupying the first position(s) subordinate to the department head, and for which commensurate pay is authorized.
(2)	"Department head" means a chief administrator of any agency of the State or any political subdivision thereof who is responsible for the administration, enforcement, and/or the adjudication of the penal, correctional, traffic, or criminal laws of this State. This shall include but not be limited to chiefs of police, sheriffs, agency directors, chief judges, and clerks of court.
(3)	"First level supervisory positions" means positions occupied by a police officer, deputy sheriff, or other employee which in the upward chain of command directly supervises law enforcement officers as defined in this section and for which commensurate pay is authorized.
(4)	"Law enforcement officer" means any employee of a criminal justice agency which is a part of or administered by the State or any political subdivision thereof and who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime or the enforcement of the traffic or criminal laws of this State, and who possesses the full power of arrest within the agency jurisdiction by virtue of an oath administered under the authority of the State.
(5)	"Middle management positions" means those positions which are between first level supervisory positions and assistant department head positions as defined in this section, and for which commensurate pay is authorized.
Sec. 3.  Department head salaries:
(1)	for municipalities of less than 5,000 population, and counties of less than 25,000 population, seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year;
(2)	for municipalities of 5,000 to 10,000 population, and counties of 25,000 to 50,000 population, nine thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500) per year;
(3)	for municipalities of 10,000 to 20,000 population, and counties of 50,000 to 100,000 population, twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) per year;
(4)	for municipalities of more than 20,000 population, and counties of more than 100,000 population, fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000) per year.
Sec. 4.  Assistant department head salaries:
(1)	for municipalities of less than 5,000 population, and counties of less than 25,000 population, six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year;
(2)	for municipalities of 5,000 to 10,000 population, and counties of 25,000 to 50,000 population, seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year;
(3)	for municipalities of 10,000 to 20,000 population, and counties of 50,000 to 100,000 population, nine thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500) per year;
(4)	for municipalities of more than 20,000 population, and counties of more than 100,000 population, twelve thousand dollars ($12,000).
Sec. 5.  Middle management position salaries:
(1)	for municipalities of less than 10,000 population and counties of less than 50,000 population, six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year;
(2)	for municipalities of 10,000 to 20,000 population, and counties of 50,000 to 100,000 population, seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year; and
(3)	for municipalities of more than 20,000 population, and counties of more than 100,000 population, nine thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500) per year.
Sec. 6.  First level supervisory position salaries:
(1)	for municipalities of less than 20,000 population, and counties of less than 100,000 population, six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year; and
(2)	for municipalities of more than 20,000 population, and counties of more than 100,000 population, seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year.
Sec. 7.  Law enforcement officer salaries:
(1)	for all municipalities and all counties, six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year.
Sec. 8.  Implementation and administration. The provisions of this Chapter shall be implemented and administered by the Criminal Justice Training and Standards Council under the direction and supervision of the North Carolina Justice Department.
Sec. 9.  Appropriations. Appropriations shall be made from the general fund to supplement the difference between the gross individual salaries of law enforcement officers as of January 1, 1973, and the minimum salaries set out in this act. Appropriations provided for in this act shall expire October 1, 1975.
Sec. 10.  Census. The population figures referred to in this Chapter shall be based on the United States Federal Census of 1970.
Sec. 11.  This act shall become effective October 1, 1973.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 23rd day of May, 1973.