GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 899*

Short Title:  Addiction Research Auth.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Warren; Albertson, Allran, Carrington, Dalton, Hoyle, Martin of Pitt, McDaniel, Miller, Rand, Weinstein, and Wellons.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 16, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE NORTH CAROLINA ADDICTION RESEARCH AUTHORITY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 122C of the  General Statutes is repealed.
Section 2.  Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new Part to read:
"Part 30.  North Carolina Addiction Research Authority.
"§ 143B-216.35.  North Carolina Addiction Research Authority created; purpose; duties.
(a)	There is created the North Carolina Addiction Research Authority.  The purpose of the Authority is to promote knowledge about the causes and characteristics of the misuse and abuse of and addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
(b)	The North Carolina Addiction Research Authority shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1)	Promote and support research on alcohol and other drug abuse. The research shall include:
a.	Basic research related to biomedical, behavioral, and psychosocial functions;
b.	Clinical research related to treatment and prevention; and
c.	Health services research and outcome studies related to the delivery of services;
(2)	Administer the Addiction Research Fund created under this Part;
(3)	Seek funds from State, federal, private, and other sources through grants, contracts, donations, and other similar means, and also foster opportunities for researchers in North Carolina to pursue other sources of funding;
(4)	Facilitate dissemination of research findings and collaboration among the research community and treatment sites, and make findings available to the general public; and
(5)	Cooperate with the Substance Abuse Services section of the Department of Human Resources and other units of State government to pursue mutual research interests.
"§ 143B-216.36.  Authority governance; administration.
(a)	The North Carolina Addiction Research Authority shall be governed by a 15-member board.  The board shall be comprised of the following members:
(1)	One representative from each of the four medical schools in North Carolina, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the dean of each medical school;
(2)	One representative from the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the dean of the School of Public Health;
(3)	One representative from the Cannon Research Center in the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Director of the Center;
(4)	One representative of the general public who is a recovering addict or who has a special interest in addiction research, appointed by the Governor;
(5)	One representative of the general public who is a recovering addict or who has a special interest in addiction research, appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(6)	One representative of the general public who is a recovering addict or who has a special interest in addiction research, appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(7)	Two representatives from the general scientific community who are specialists in the biopsychosocial aspects of addiction, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the North Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine;
(8)	One representative from the addiction field, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina; and
(9)	Three representatives from the field of social sciences who are faculty members at campuses of The University of North Carolina not represented in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section, at least two of whom shall be from historically black colleges or universities, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of The University of North Carolina.
The initial term of persons appointed under subdivisions (1)	and (3) of this subsection shall be for two years; the initial term of persons appointed under subdivisions (7) and (9) shall be for one year; and the initial terms of persons appointed under subdivisions (2), (4), (5), (6), and (8) shall be for three years.  Thereafter all terms shall be for three years. Vacancies on the board shall be filled by the original appointing authority, using the criteria set out in this section for the original appointment.
(b)	The board shall elect one of its members as chair and one as vice-chair.  The Director of the Governor's Institute on Alcohol and Substance Abuse shall serve ex officio as executive secretary to the Authority.  The Institute shall perform the following functions:
(1)	Implement and monitor competitive grants programs which shall be open to qualified North Carolina-based organizations.  The grants programs shall utilize generally accepted peer review processes;
(2)	Facilitate the dissemination of research findings through various means such as conferences, publications, and networks; and
(3)	Other functions as directed by the board.
(c)	The Authority may adopt rules establishing the grant review process and providing for the review of grant applicants and awarding of grant funds.
"§ 143B-216.37.  Authorization to receive and spend funds.
The North Carolina Addiction Research Authority may receive funds from State, federal, and private or other sources.  These funds shall be deposited to a separate fund designated as the 'Addiction Research Fund'.  The Authority shall use monies from the Fund for a competitive grants program to promote and support research on alcohol and other drug abuse under conditions determined by the Authority.  The Authority may use monies from the Fund for administrative costs to carry out its duties and responsibilities under this Part."
Section 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Addiction Research Fund the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to implement this act.