NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1965 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 977

HOUSE BILL 1074

 

 

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION A STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S COORDINATING COUNCIL ON AGING TO PROVIDE THE ORGANIZATION FRAMEWORK FOR BETTER AND MORE FULL GOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEEDS, PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE AGED AND THE AGING.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  There is hereby created in the Department of Administration, hereafter called the Department, the North Carolina Governor's Coordinating Council on Aging, hereafter called the Council. The Council shall consist of the State Director of Administration; the State Commissioner of Public Welfare; the State Health Director; the State Commissioner of Mental Health; the State Librarian of the State Library; the Executive Director of the Recreation Commission; the Chairman of the Employment Security Commission; the Executive Secretary of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System; the Commissioner of the Department of Labor; the State Superintendent of Public Instruction; the Supervisor of Services to the Aging, State Board of Public Welfare; the Director of the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina; the Director of the Agricultural Extension Services of North Carolina State University at Raleigh; all serving as ex officio and herein referred to as Government members; a representative of the Medical Society of the State of North Carolina to be appointed by the President of the Society; and seven citizens of the State of North Carolina, herein referred to as citizen members, who have an interest and knowledge of the problems of the aging. The Governor of North Carolina shall appoint the seven citizen members.

The Chairman shall be appointed by the Governor.

Sec. 2.  The citizen members and the Medical Society member of the Council shall be appointed for terms of four years each, commencing July 1, 1965, except that of the citizen members first appointed one shall be for a term of one year, two for terms of two years, two for terms of three years and two for terms of four years. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of any unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 3.  A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business. The Council shall meet quarterly and more often if necessary on the call of the Chairman. If unable to attend a Council meeting, a Government member shall send in his place his deputy or another person with authority to act in his behalf, and who shall, then, be allowed full Council status and shall be considered a member of the Council for the purpose of obtaining a quorum and for all other Council purposes.

Sec. 4.  All non-government members shall be entitled to reimbursement for authorized expenses incurred in the work of the Council, as provided for members of boards and commissions under the general laws of the State.

Sec. 5.  The Council is placed within the Department of Administration for administrative purposes.

Sec. 6.  The Council shall appoint in accordance with the State personnel plan an Executive Director who shall be a person professionally qualified by experience and training to assume the responsibilities of the position and to serve at the will of the Council.

Sec. 7.  The Executive Director of the Council shall select and appoint in accordance with the State personnel plan such other personnel as the Council determines to be necessary. The Executive Director of the Council shall employ, on a contractual basis, such other consultants and/or staff persons as he deems necessary, within funds allocated for such purpose, upon the approval of the Council.

Sec. 8.  The Council is authorized to establish and disestablish such advisory subcommittees as it considers advisable and useful, and to appoint, with their concurrence, such Government and citizen members to the subcommittees as it considers necessary and appropriate, provided that members of said advisory subcommittees shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for authorized travel expenses.

Sec. 9.  The Council, through its Executive Director, Staff, its members and subcommittees shall take action to carry out the following purposes:

(1)        Maintain a continuing review of existing programs for the aging in the State of North Carolina, and periodically make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly for improvements in and additions to such programs;

(2)        Study, collect, maintain, publish, and otherwise disseminate factual data and pertinent information relative to all aspects of aging. These include the societal, economic, education, recreation, and health needs and opportunities of the aging;

(3)        Stimulate, inform, educate and assist local organizations, the community at large, and older people themselves about aging, about needs, resources and opportunities for the aging, and about the part they can play in improving conditions for the aging;

(4)        Serve as the agency through which various public and non-public organizations concerned with the aged can exchange information, coordinate programs, and be helped to engage in joint endeavors;

(5)        Provide consultation and information to North Carolina State government departments and agencies and to nongovernmental organizations which may be considering the inauguration of services, programs, or facilities for the aging, or which can be stimulated to take such action;

(6)        Encourage and assist governmental and private agencies to coordinate their efforts on behalf of the aging in order that such efforts be effective and that duplication and wasted effort be prevented or eliminated;

(7)        Promote employment opportunities as well as proper and adequate recreation use of leisure for older people, including opportunities for uncompensated but satisfying volunteer work;

(8)        Identify research needs, encourage research, and assist in obtaining funds for research and demonstration projects.

Sec. 10.  The Council may establish or help to establish demonstration programs of services for the aging.

Sec. 11.  The Council shall constitute the State agency for handling all programs of the Federal Government relating to the aging requiring action within the State which are not the specific responsibility of another State agency under the provisions of Federal law or which have not been specifically entrusted to another State agency by the Legislature.

Sec. 12.  The Council shall, in addition to such other recommendations, studies, and plans as it may submit from time to time, submit a biennial report of progress to the Governor and, thus, to the General Assembly.

Sec. 13.  In addition to the appropriations out of the General Fund of the State, the Council may accept gifts, bequests, devices, matching funds or other considerations for use in promoting the work of the Council.

Sec. 14.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 15.  This Act shall become effective on July 1, 1965.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 11th day of June, 1965.