NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 1248

SENATE BILL 964

AN ACT TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' MINIMUM SALARY PROGRAM TO PREVENT THE ELIMINATION OF THE JUDICIAL ADVISORY UNIT.

Whereas, the existing advisory unit for judges and district attorneys has provided legal counsel to those officials throughout the State; and

Whereas, the unit is able to provide immediate response to inquiries even during the course of a trial thereby possibly preventing the occurrence of serious or reversible error; and

Whereas, the effectiveness of the unit is verified by the numerous requests for its services; and

Whereas, the unit has been funded completely by a LEAA grant which will be exhausted on June 30, 1978, and no additional federal funding is forthcoming; and

Whereas, it is therefore necessary that State funds be appropriated for the continued existence of the unit; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  The Department of Justice is hereby directed to redirect funds in the amount of eighty-eight thousand nine hundred sixteen dollars ($88,916) which have been appropriated for the fiscal year 1978-79 to provide minimum salaries for local law enforcement officers, and to use this amount for the salaries and equipment for two attorneys, two research assistants, and one secretary for the Judicial Advisory unit.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1978.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 16th day of June, 1978.