NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 803

HOUSE BILL 782

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR A DIRECT APPEAL FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION TO THE SUPREME COURT.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1. Article IV, Section 12(1) of the Constitution of North Carolina is amended by the addition of the following sentence at the end thereof: "The Supreme Court also has jurisdiction to review, when authorized by law, direct appeals from a final order or decision of the North Carolina Utilities Commission."

Sec. 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the next statewide general election, statewide primary election, or statewide election, whichever occurs earlier. That election shall be conducted under the laws then governing general elections in this State.

Sec. 3. At the general election each qualified voter presenting himself to vote shall be provided a ballot on which shall be printed the following:

"[ ]      FOR constitutional amendment giving the Supreme Court authority to review, when authorized by law, direct appeals from the N.C. Utilities Commission.

[ ]       AGAINST constitutional amendment giving the Supreme Court authority to review, when authorized by law, direct appeals from the N.C. Utilities Commission."

Sec. 4. If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment shall be certified by the State Board of Elections to the Secretary of State, who shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of his office, and the amendment shall become effective January 1, 1983.

Sec. 5. This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 3rd day of July, 1981.