GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 920

Short Title:  NC Postal History Commission.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Decker; and Luebke.

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Referred to:  State Government, if favorable, Appropriations.

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April 10, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA POSTAL HISTORY COMMISSION.
Whereas, the United States Postal Service was created under the Continental Congress on July 26, 1775; and
Whereas, the United States Postal Service issued its first postage stamp on July 1, 1847; and
Whereas, 1997 marks the 150th anniversary of the issuance of the first United States postage stamp; and
Whereas, North Carolina has a rich postal history; and
Whereas, the preservation of North Carolina's postal history can be of great educational benefit to all North Carolinians; and
Whereas, the collection, preservation, and exhibition of North Carolina's postal history falls within the mission of the Department of Cultural Resources; and
Whereas, the State Archives within the Department of Cultural Resources holds many uncataloged and unidentified materials related to North Carolina's postal history; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Museum of History is an appropriate facility for exhibiting North Carolina's postal history; and
Whereas, such an exhibit would give visitors a greater appreciation for North Carolina's history and provide a better understanding of how the postal system served to unite and connect the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
“ARTICLE 71.
"North Carolina Postal History Commission.
"§ 143-675.  Commission established; purpose; members; terms of office; quorum; compensation; termination.
(a)	Establishment. – There is established the North Carolina Postal History Commission. The Commission shall be located within the Department of Cultural Resources for organizational, budgetary, and administrative purposes.
(b)	Purpose. – The purpose of the Commission is to advise the Secretary of Cultural Resources on the collection, preservation, cataloging, publication, and exhibition of material associated with North Carolina's postal history.
(c)	Membership. – The Commission shall consist of 16 members, as follows:
(1)	Four persons appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be recommended by the President of the North Carolina Postal History Commission.
(2)	Four persons appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, two of whom shall be recommended by the President of the North Carolina Postal History Commission.
(3)	Four persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be recommended by the President of the North Carolina Postal History Commission.
(4)	Four persons appointed by the Secretary of Cultural Resources, two of whom shall be recommended by the President of the North Carolina Postal History Commission.
The members appointed to the North Carolina Postal History Commission shall be chosen from among individuals who have education or experience in the fields of archives preservation, North Carolina history, historical administration, museum administration, or a knowledge of North Carolina's postal history.
(d)	Terms. – Members shall serve for three-year terms, with no prohibition against being reappointed.  Initial terms shall commence July 1, 1997.
(e)	Chair. – The chair shall be elected biennially from the membership of the North Carolina Postal History Society from among its members. The initial term shall commence July 1, 1997.
(f)	Vacancies. – Vacancies resulting from the resignation of a member or otherwise shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made, and the term shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.
(g)	Compensation. – The Commission members shall receive no salary as a result of serving on the Commission but shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as applicable.
(h)	Removal. – Members may be removed in accordance with G.S. 143B-13.
(i)	Meetings. – The chair shall convene the Commission.  The Commission shall meet at least quarterly until an exhibit on postal history is mounted and at least semiannually thereafter.
(j)	Quorum. – A majority of the members present at the meeting of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at meetings of the Commission shall be necessary for action to be taken by the Commission.
(k)	Termination of Commission.  – The Commission shall terminate June 30, 2002.
"§ 143-676.  Powers and duties of the Commission.
(a)	Powers and Duties. – The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)	To advise the Secretary of Cultural Resources on the collection, preservation, cataloging, publication, and exhibition of materials associated with North Carolina's postal history in cooperation with the North Carolina Museum of History.
(2)	To adopt bylaws by a majority vote of the Commission.
(3)	To accept grants, contributions, devises, bequests, gifts, and services for the purpose of providing support to the Commission. The funds and property shall be retained by the Commission, and the Commission shall prescribe rules under which the Commission may accept donations of money, property, or personal services, and determine the value of donations of property or personal services.
(b)	Contract Authority. – The Commission may procure supplies, services, and property as appropriate and may enter into contracts, leases, or other legal agreements within funds available to carry out the purposes of this Article. All contracts, leases, or legal agreements entered into by the Commission shall terminate on the date of termination of the Commission. Termination shall not affect any disputes or causes of action of the Commission that arise before the date of termination, and the Department of Cultural Resources may prosecute or defend any causes of action arising before the date of termination. All property acquired by the Commission that remains in the possession of the Commission on the date of termination shall become the property of the Department of Cultural Resources.
"§ 143-677.  Assignment of property; offices.
(a)	Assignment of Property. – Upon request of the Commission, the head of any State agency may assign property, equipment, and personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this Article. Assignments under this subsection shall be without reimbursement by the Commission to the agency from which the assignment was made. Property and equipment that remains in the possession of the Commission on the date of the termination of the Commission shall revert to the agency from which the property was acquired.
(b)	Office Space. – The Department of Cultural Resources shall provide office space in Raleigh for use as offices by the North Carolina Postal History Commission, and the Department of Cultural Resources shall receive no reimbursement from the Commission for the use of the property during the life of the Commission.
"§ 143-678.  Commission reports.
(a)	Annual Report. – Before July 1, 1998, the Commission shall submit to the General Assembly a comprehensive report incorporating specific recommendations of the Commission.  After the initial report, the Commission shall submit a report to the General Assembly within 30 days of the convening of each regular session of the General Assembly.
(b)	Final Report. – The Commission shall submit a final report to the General Assembly no later than June 30, 2002.  The final report shall include:
(1)	A summary of the activities of the Commission.
(2)	A final accounting of funds received and expended by the Commission.
"§ 143-679.  Application of Article.
The provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 121 of the General Statutes apply to the Commission."
Section 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Cultural Resources the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year for the purpose of paying the per diem expenses of the North Carolina Postal History Commission members and for costs related to displaying an exhibit of materials associated with North Carolina's postal history.
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.