NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 634

SENATE BILL 672

 

 

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND HEALTH.

 

Whereas, considerable morbidity and mortality from disease can be attributed to a lack of physical conditioning; and

Whereas, more than half of all deaths in North Carolina are attributable to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and these diseases have been demonstrated to be significantly linked to inadequate physical activity and fitness; and

Whereas, forty-five percent (45%) of all adult Americans do not engage in physical activity for the purpose of exercise and more than fifty percent (50%) are overweight; and

Whereas, good physical fitness is a great source of preventive medicine and can restore and preserve the energy, endurance and sense of well-being which are too often missing in an increasingly sedentary way of life; and

Whereas, there is no current focus in the State of North Carolina for the promotion of greater availability and accessibility of organized community-based physical fitness resources for citizens of all ages; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  A new Part is added to Article 3, Chapter 143B of the General Statutes to read as follows:

"Part 26.

"Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health.

"§ 143B-216.8.  Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health; creation; powers; duties. — There is hereby created the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health in the Department of Human Resources. The council shall have the following functions and duties:

(1)        to promote interest in the area of physical fitness; to consider the need for new State programs in the field of physical fitness; to enlist the active support of individual citizens, professional and civic groups, amateur and professional athletes, voluntary organizations, State and local government agencies, private industry and business, and community recreation programs in efforts to improve the physical fitness and thereby the health of the citizens of North Carolina;

(2)        to examine current programs of physical fitness available to the people of North Carolina, and to make recommendations to the Governor for coordination of programs to prevent duplication of such services; to support programs of physical fitness in the public school systems; to develop cooperative programs with medical, dental, and other groups; to maintain a liaison with government, private and other agencies concerning physical fitness programs; to stimulate research in the area of physical fitness; to sponsor physical fitness workshops, clinics, conferences, and other related activities pertaining to physical fitness throughout the State;

(3)        to serve as an agency for recognizing outstanding developments, contributions, and achievements in physical fitness in North Carolina;

(4)        the council shall make an annual report to the Governor and to the Secretary of Human Resources, including therein suggestions and recommendations for the furtherance of the physical fitness of the people of North Carolina.

"§ 143B-216.9.  The Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health; members; selection; quorum; compensation. — The Governor's Council on Physical Fitness in the Department of Human Resources shall consist of 10 members, including a chairman.

(1)        The composition of the council shall be as follows: one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and eight persons from the health care professions, the fields of business and industry, physical education, recreation, sports and the general public. The eight nonlegislative members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure.

(2)        The eight initial nonlegislative members of the council shall be appointed thusly: two for a term of one year, two for a term of two years, two for a term of three years, two for a term of four years. At the end of the respective terms of office of these initial members, all succeeding appointments of nonlegislative members shall be for terms of four years; nonlegislative members shall serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms; all unexpired terms due to resignation, death, disability, removal or refusal to serve shall be filled by a qualified person appointed by the Governor for the balance of the unexpired term.

(3)        Legislative members of the council shall serve two-year terms beginning and ending on July 1 of odd-numbered years, and shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.

(4)        Members of the Governor's Council shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5 or G.S. 138‑6, or travel and subsistence expenses under G.S. 120-3.1, as appropriate.

(5)        The Council shall meet no more than quarterly.

(6)        A majority of the Governor's Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business."

Sec.  2. Implementation of the provisions of this act is contingent upon receipt of fully supporting funds from federal and other nonstate sources, and nothing herein contained shall be construed to obligate the General Assembly to make appropriations for this purpose.

Sec.  3. This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 23rd day of May, 1979.