2009 North Carolina Code
Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions.
§ 143-506.14. North Carolina Office of Local Government Advocacy created; membership; terms; meetings; compensation; powers and duties; staff; cooperation by departments.

§ 143‑506.14.  North Carolina Office of Local Government Advocacy created; membership; terms; meetings; compensation; powers and duties; staff; cooperation by departments.

(a)        There is established in the office of the Governor, the North Carolina Office of Local Government Advocacy.  The Local Government Advocacy Council, created by Executive Order Number 22, is hereby transferred to the Office of Local Government Advocacy.  The Council shall consist of 19 persons and shall be composed as follows:  six members representing county government, five of whom are the members of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and one who is the Executive Director of the Association; six members representing municipal government, five of whom are the members of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina League of Municipalities and one who is the Executive Director of the League; two Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and three at‑large members appointed by the Governor.  The Association of County Commissioners and the League of Municipalities representatives shall serve terms on the Council consistent with their terms as Executive Committee members appointed by the Governor.  The members appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve until January 15, 1981, or until their successors are appointed, whichever is later.  Their successors shall serve a term of two years.  The at‑large members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor for a period of two years.  The Chairman and Vice‑Chairman shall be the President of the Association of County Commissioners and the President of the League of Municipalities respectively, with the office rotating between the League and Association annually.  Provided that no person among those appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve on the Council for more than two complete consecutive terms.

(b)        The Council shall meet at least once each quarter and may hold special meetings at any time at the call of the Chairman or the Governor.

The members of the Council shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138‑5.

(c)        Membership.  The Local Government Advocacy Council shall not be considered a public office and, to that end membership may be held in addition to the number of offices authorized by G.S. 128‑1.1.

(d)        The general duties and responsibilities of the Council are:

(1)        To advocate on behalf of local government and to advise the Governor and his Cabinet on the development and implementation of policies and programs which directly affect local government;

(2)        To function as liaison for State and local relations and communications;

(3)        To identify problem areas and recommend policies with respect to State, regional and local relations; and

(4)        To review, monitor and evaluate current and proposed State program policies, practices, procedures, guidelines and regulations with respect to their effect on local government.

(e)        The Office of Local Government Advocacy shall be staffed by persons knowledgeable of local government who shall seek to carry out the directives of the Local Government Advocacy Council by:

(1)        Advocating the policies of the Council with various State departments;

(2)        Serving as a communications liaison between the Local Government Advocacy Council and the various State departments; and

(3)        Functioning as an ombudsman for the resolution of local government problems.

(f)         It shall be the responsibility of each respective Cabinet department head to:  (i) insure that departmental employees make every effort to cooperate with and provide support to the Local Government Advocacy Council in keeping with the intent of this Article; and (ii) advise the Local Government Advocacy Council of their proposed policies and plans for review in terms of their effect on local government. (1979, c. 412, s. 9; 1991, c. 739, s. 23.)