GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	2
SENATE BILL 895
Information Technology Committee Substitute Adopted 4/23/01

Short Title:	Geographic Information. Coordinating Council.	()	
Sponsors:	     	
Referred to:	     	
April 5, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COORDINATING COUNCIL.

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 76.
"North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council.
"§ 143-725.  Council established; role of the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis.
(a)	Council Established. – There is established the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council ("Council") to develop policies regarding the utilization of geographic information, GIS systems, and other related technologies. The Council is responsible for strategic planning; resolution of policy and technology issues; coordination, direction, and oversight; and advising the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Information Resource Management Commission (IRMC) as to needed directions, responsibilities, and funding regarding geographic information. This statewide geographic information coordination effort shall further cooperation among State, federal, and local government agencies; academic institutions; and the private sector to improve the quality, access, cost-effectiveness, and utility of North Carolina's geographic information and to promote geographic information as a strategic resource in the State. The Council shall be located in the Office of the Governor for organizational, budgetary, and administrative purposes.
(b)	Role of CGIA. – The Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (CGIA) shall staff the Geographic Information and Coordinating Council and its committees. CGIA shall manage and distribute digital geographic information about North Carolina maintained by numerous State and local government agencies. It shall operate a statewide data clearinghouse and provide Internet access to State geographic information.
"§ 143-726.  Council membership; organization.
(a)	Members. – The Council shall consist of up to 35 members, or their designees, as listed in this section. An appointing authority may reappoint a Council member for successive terms.
(b)	Governor's Appointments. – The Governor shall appoint the following members:
(1)	The head of an at-large State agency not represented in subsection (d) of this section.
(2)	An employee of a county government.
(3)	An employee of a municipal government.
(4)	An employee of the federal government who is stationed in North Carolina.
(5)	A representative from the Lead Regional Organizations. 
(6)	A member nominated by the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
(7)	A member nominated by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
(8)	A member of the general public.
(9)	Any other individuals whom the Governor deems appropriate to enhance the efforts of geographic information coordination.
Members appointed by the Governor shall serve three-year terms. The Governor shall name a Chair from among the Council membership to serve as Chair for a term of one year.
(c)	General Assembly Appointments. – The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint three members to the Council. These members shall serve one-year terms.
(d)	Other Members. – Other Council members shall include:
(1)	The Secretary of State.
(2)	The Commissioner of Agriculture.
(3)	The Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(4)	The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
(5)	The Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
(6)	The Secretary of the Department of Administration.
(7)	The Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
(8)	The Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.
(9)	The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(10)	The Secretary of the Department of Revenue.
(11)	The President of the North Carolina Community Colleges System.
(12)	The President of The University of North Carolina System.
(13)	The Chair of the Public Utilities Commission.
(14)	The State Budget Officer.
(15)	One representative from the State Government GIS User Committee.
(16)	One representative elected annually from the Local Government Committee established pursuant to subdivision (h)(2) of this section.
(17)	The State Chief Information Officer who shall serve as a nonvoting, ex officio member.
Members serving pursuant to this subsection shall serve terms to coincide with (i) their respective offices or (ii) their respective appointments by the standing committee they represent.
(e)	Meetings. – The Council shall meet quarterly, or more often, as determined by the Chair. The Chair shall head the Management and Operations Committee to conduct the Council's business between quarterly meetings.
(f)	Administration. – The Director of the CGIA shall be secretary of the Council and provide staff support as it requires.
(g)	Reports. – The Council shall report at least annually to the Governor and to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.
(h)	Committees. – The Council may establish work groups, as needed, and shall oversee the standing committees created in this subsection. Each standing committee shall adopt bylaws, subject to the Council's approval, to cover its proceedings. Except as otherwise provided, the Chair of the Council shall appoint the standing committee chairs from representatives listed in subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this section. The standing committees are as follows:
(1)	State Government GIS User Committee. – Membership shall consist of representatives from all interested State government departments. The Council Chair shall appoint the committee chair from one of the State agencies represented in subsection (d) of this section.
(2)	Local Government Committee. – Membership shall consist of representatives from organizations and professional associations that currently serve or represent local government GIS users, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and a Lead Regional Organization. The committee shall elect one of its members to the Council.
(3)	Federal Interagency Committee. – Membership shall consist of representatives from all interested federal agencies and Tribal governments with an office located in North Carolina. The appointed federal representative serving pursuant to subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall serve as the Chair of the Federal Interagency Committee.
(4)	Statewide Mapping Advisory Committee. – This committee shall consolidate statewide mapping requirements and attempt to gain statewide support for financing cooperative programs. The committee shall also advise the Council on issues, problems, and opportunities relating to federal, State, and local government geospatial data programs.
(5)	GIS Technical Advisory Committee. – This committee shall develop the statewide technical architecture for GIS and anticipate and respond to GIS technical opportunities and issues affecting State, county, and local governments in North Carolina.
(6)	Management and Operations Committee. – This committee shall consider management and operational matters related to GIS and other matters that are formally requested by the Council. The committee membership shall include the Council Chair, a representative from the Office of State Budget, Planning, and Management, and one representative from each standing committee of the Council.
"§ 143-727.  Compensation and expenses of Council members; travel reimbursements.
Members of the Council shall serve without compensation but may receive travel and subsistence as follows:
(1)	Council members who are officials or employees of a State agency or unit of local government, in accordance with G.S. 138-6.
(2)	All other Council members at the rate established in G.S. 138-5."
SECTION 2.  The respective appointing authorities shall complete their appointments to the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council under G.S. 143‑726(b) and (c), as enacted in Section 1 of this act, within 60 days of the date when this act becomes effective.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.