Chapter 143B. 
Executive Organization Act of 1973. 
Article 1.
General Provisions.
Part 1.  In General.
§ 143B‑1.  Short title.
This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Executive Organization Act of 1973." (1973, c. 476, s. 1.)

§ 143B‑2.  Interim applicability of the Executive Organization Act of 1973.
The Executive Organization Act of 1973 shall be applicable only to the following named departments:
(1)	Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
(2)	Department of Health and Human Services.
(3)	Department of Revenue.
(4)	Department of Public Safety.
(5)	Repealed by Session Laws 2012‑83, s. 47, effective June 26, 2012.
(6)	Department of Environmental Quality.
(7)	Department of Transportation.
(8)	Department of Administration.
(9)	Department of Commerce.
(10)	Repealed by Session Laws 2012‑83, s. 47, effective June 26, 2012.
(11)	Department of Information Technology.
(12)	Department of Adult Correction.  (1973, c. 476, s. 2; c. 620, s. 9; c. 1262, ss. 10, 86; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; c. 879, s. 46; 1977, c. 70, s. 22; c. 198, s. 21; c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(121); c. 751, s. 7(18); 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 959, s. 37; 1997‑443, ss. 11A.118(a), 11A.119(a); 2000‑137, s. 4(ll); 2011‑145, s. 19.1(g), (h), (l); 2012‑83, s. 47; 2015‑241, ss. 7A.1(c), 14.30(s), (u); 2021‑180, s. 19C.9(d).)

§ 143B‑3.  Definitions.
As used in the Executive Organization Act of 1973, except where the context clearly requires otherwise, the words and expressions defined in this section shall be held to have the meanings here given to them.
(1)	Agency: whenever the term "agency" is used it shall mean and include, as the context may require, an existing department, institution, commission, committee, board, division, bureau, officer or official.
(2)	Board: a collective body which assists the head of a principal department or his designee in the development of major programs including the tender of advice on departmental priorities.
(3)	Commission: a collective body which adopts rules and regulations in a quasi‑legislative manner and which acts in a quasi‑judicial capacity in rendering findings or decisions involving differing interests.
(4)	Committee: a collective body which either advises the head of a principal department or his designee or advises a commission in detailed technical areas.
(5)	Council: a collective body which advises the head of a principal department or his designee as representative of citizen advice in specific areas of interests.
(6)	Division: the principal subunit of a principal State department.
(7)	Head of department: head of one of the principal State departments.
(8)	Higher education: State senior institutions of higher learning.
(9)	Principal State department: one of the departments created by the General Assembly in compliance with Article III, Sec. 11, of the Constitution of North Carolina. (1973, c. 476, s. 3.)

§ 143B‑4.  Policy‑making authority and administrative powers of Governor; delegation.
The Governor, in accordance with Article III of the Constitution of North Carolina, shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the State. The Governor shall be responsible for formulating and administering the policies of the executive branch of the State government. Where a conflict arises in connection with the administration of the policies of the executive branch of the State government with respect to the reorganization of State government, the conflict shall be resolved by the Governor, and the decision of the Governor shall be final. (1973, c. 476, s. 4.)

§ 143B‑5.  Governor; continuation of powers and duties.
All powers, duties, and functions vested by law in the Governor or in the Office of Governor are continued except as otherwise provided by the Executive Organization Act of 1973.
The immediate staff of the Governor shall not be subject to the North Carolina Human Resources Act.  (1973, c. 476, s. 5; 2013‑382, s. 9.1(c).)

§ 143B‑6.  Principal departments.
In addition to the principal departments enumerated in the Executive Organization Act of 1971, all executive and administrative powers, duties, and functions not including those of the General Assembly and its agencies, the General Court of Justice and the administrative agencies created pursuant to Article IV of the Constitution of North Carolina, and higher education previously vested by law in the several State agencies, are vested in the following principal departments:
(1)	Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
(2)	Department of Health and Human Services.
(3)	Department of Revenue.
(4)	Department of Public Safety.
(5)	Repealed by Session Laws 2012‑83, s. 48, effective June 26, 2012.
(6)	Department of Environmental Quality.
(7)	Department of Transportation.
(8)	Department of Administration.
(9)	Department of Commerce.
(10)	Community Colleges System Office.
(11)	Repealed by Session Laws 2012‑83, s. 48, effective June 26, 2012.
(12)	Department of Information Technology.
(13)	Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
(14)	Department of Adult Correction.  (1973, c. 476, s. 6; c. 620, s. 9; c. 1262, ss. 10, 86; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; c. 879, s. 46; 1977, c. 70, s. 23; c. 198, s. 22; c. 771, s. 4; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1130, s. 3; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(122); c. 751, s. 7(19); 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 959, s. 38; 1997‑443, ss. 11A.118(a), 11A.119(a); 1999‑84, s. 23; 2000‑137, s. 4(mm); 2011‑145, s. 19.1(g), (h), (l); 2012‑83, s. 48; 2015‑241, ss. 7A.1(d), 14.30(s), (u), 24.1(aa); 2015‑268, s. 7.3(a); 2021‑180, s. 19C.9(e).)

§ 143B‑7.  Continuation of functions.
Each principal State department shall be considered a continuation of the former agencies to whose power it has succeeded for the purpose of succession to all rights, powers, duties, and obligations of the former agency. Where a former agency is referred to by law, contract, or other document, that reference shall apply to the principal State department now exercising the functions of the former agency. (1973, c. 476, s. 7.)

§ 143B‑8.  Unassigned functions.
All functions, duties, and responsibilities established by law that are not specifically assigned to any principal State department may be assigned by the Governor to that department which, in accordance with the organization of State government, can most appropriately and effectively perform those functions, duties, and responsibilities. This provision shall not apply to professional and occupational licensing boards or to higher education. (1973, c. 476, s. 8.)

§ 143B‑9.  Appointment of officers and employees.
(a)	The head of each principal State department, except those departments headed by popularly elected officers, shall be appointed by the Governor and serve at the Governor's pleasure. The salary of the head of each of the principal State departments shall be set by the Governor, and the salary of elected officials shall be as provided by law.
For each head of each principal State department covered by this subsection, the Governor shall notify the President of the Senate of the name of each person to be appointed, and the appointment shall be subject to senatorial advice and consent in conformance with Section 5(8) of Article III of the North Carolina Constitution unless (i) the senatorial advice and consent is expressly waived by an enactment of the General Assembly or (ii) a vacancy occurs when the General Assembly is not in regular session. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy when the General Assembly is not in regular session may serve without senatorial advice and consent for no longer than the earlier of the following:
(1)	The date on which the Senate adopts a simple resolution that specifically disapproves the person appointed.
(2)	The date on which the General Assembly shall adjourn pursuant to a joint resolution for a period longer than 30 days without the Senate adopting a simple resolution specifically approving the person appointed.
(b)	The head of a principal State department shall appoint a chief deputy or chief assistant, and such chief deputy or chief assistant shall not be subject to the North Carolina Human Resources Act. The salary of such chief deputy or chief assistant shall be set by the Governor. Unless otherwise provided for in the Executive Organization Act of 1973, and subject to the provisions of the Human Resources Act, the head of each principal State department shall designate the administrative head of each transferred agency and all employees of each division, section, or other unit of the principal State department.  (1973, c. 476, s. 9; 1977, c. 802, s. 42.20; 1983, c. 717, s. 51; 2012‑142, s. 25.02(c); 2013‑382, s. 9.1(c); 2016‑126, 4th Ex. Sess., s. 38.)

§ 143B‑10.  Powers and duties of heads of principal departments.
(a)	Assignment of Functions. – Except as otherwise provided by this Chapter, the head of each principal State department may assign or reassign any function vested in him or in his department to any subordinate officer or employee of his department.
(b)	Reorganization by Department Heads. – With the approval of the Governor, each head of a principal State department may establish or abolish within his department any division. Each head of a principal State department may establish or abolish within his department any other administrative unit to achieve economy and efficiency and in accordance with sound administrative principles, practices, and procedures except as otherwise provided by law. When any such act of the head of the principal State department affects existing law the provisions of Article III, Sec. 5(10) of the Constitution of North Carolina shall be followed.
Each Department Head shall report all reorganizations under this subsection to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office, within 30 days after the reorganization if the General Assembly is in session, otherwise to the Joint Legislative Committee on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office, within 30 days after the reorganization. The report shall include the rationale for the reorganization and any increased efficiency in operations expected from the reorganization.
(c)	Department Staffs. – The head of each principal State department may establish necessary subordinate positions within the department, make appointments to those positions, and remove persons appointed to those positions, all within the limitations of appropriations and subject to the State Budget Act and the North Carolina Human Resources Act. All employees within a principal State department shall be under the supervision, direction, and control of the head of that department. The head of each principal State department may establish or abolish positions, transfer officers and employees between positions, and change the duties, titles, and compensation of existing offices and positions as the head of the department deems necessary for the efficient functioning of the department, subject to the State Budget Act and the North Carolina Human Resources Act and the limitations of available appropriations. For the purposes of the foregoing provisions, a member of a board, commission, council, committee, or other citizen group shall not be considered an "employee within a principal department." Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as authorizing the transfer of officers and employees between departments without express authorization of the General Assembly.
(d)	Appointment of Committees or Councils. – The head of each principal department may create and appoint committees or councils to consult with and advise the department. The General Assembly declares its policy that insofar as feasible, such committees or councils shall consist of no more than 12 members, with not more than one from each congressional district. If any department head desires to vary this policy, he must make a request in writing to the Governor, stating the reasons for the request. The Governor may approve the request, but may only do so in writing. Copies of the request and approval shall be transmitted to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations. The members of any committee or council created by the head of a principal department shall serve at the pleasure of the head of the principal department and may be paid per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses within the limits of appropriations and in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138‑5, when approved in advance by the Director of the Budget. Per diem, travel, and subsistence payments to members of the committees or councils created in connection with federal programs shall be paid from federal funds unless otherwise provided by law.
An annual report listing these committees or councils, the total membership on each, the cost in the last 12 months and the source of funding, and the title of the person who made the appointments shall be made to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations by March 31 of each year.
(e)	Departmental Management Functions. – All management functions of a principal State department shall be performed by or under the direction and supervision of the head of that principal State department. Management functions shall include planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting.
(f)	Custody of Records. – The head of a principal State department shall have legal custody of all public records as defined in G.S. 132‑1.
(g)	Budget Preparation. – The head of a principal State department shall be responsible for the preparation of and the presentation of the department budget request which shall include all funds requested and all receipts expected for all elements of the department.
(h)	Plans and Reports. – Each principal State department shall submit to the Governor an annual plan of work for the next fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year. Each principal State department shall submit to the Governor an annual report covering programs and activities for each fiscal year. These plans of work and annual reports shall be made available to the General Assembly. These documents will serve as the base for the development of budgets for each principal State department of State government to be submitted to the Governor.
(i)	Reports to Governor; Public Hearings. – Each head of a principal State department shall develop and report to the Governor legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long‑range coordinated planning and policy formulation in the work of his department. To this end, the head of the department may hold public hearings, consult with and use the services of other State agencies, employ staff and consultants, and appoint advisory and technical committees to assist in the work.
(j)	Departmental Rules and Policies. – The head of each principal State department and the Director of the Office of State Human Resources may adopt:
(1)	Rules consistent with law for the custody, use, and preservation of any public records, as defined in G.S. 132‑1, which pertain to department business;
(2)	Rules, approved by the Governor, to govern the management of the department, which shall include the functions of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, budgeting, and budget preparation which affect private rights or procedures available to the public;
(3)	Policies, consistent with law and with rules established by the Governor and with rules of the State Human Resources Commission, which reflect internal management procedures within the department. These may include policies governing the conduct of employees of the department, the distribution and performance of business and internal management procedures which do not affect private rights or procedures available to the public and which are listed in (e) of this section. Policies establishing qualifications for employment shall be adopted and filed pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes; all other policies under this subdivision shall not be adopted or filed pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
Rules adopted under (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
This subsection shall not be construed as a legislative grant of authority to an agency to make and promulgate rules concerning any policies and procedures other than as set forth herein.  (1973, c. 476, s. 10; c. 1416, ss. 1, 2; 1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1219, s. 46; 1983, c. 76, ss. 1, 2; c. 641, s. 8; c. 717, s. 78; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 955, ss. 97, 98; 1987, c. 738, s. 147; c. 827, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1038, s. 15; 2006‑203, s. 101; 2013‑382, s. 9.1(c); 2019‑250, s. 5.8.)

§ 143B‑11.  Subunit nomenclature.
(a)	The principal subunit of a department is a division.  Each division shall be headed by a director.
(b)	The principal subunit of a division is a section.  Each section shall be headed by a chief.
(c)	If further subdivision is necessary, sections may be divided into subunits which shall be known as branches and which shall be headed by heads, and branches may be divided into subunits which shall be known as units and which shall be headed by supervisors. (1973, c. 476, s. 11.)

§ 143B‑12.  Internal organization of departments; allocation and reallocation of duties and functions; limitations.
(a)	The Governor shall cause the administrative organization of each department to be examined periodically with a view to promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Governor may assign and reassign the duties and functions of the executive branch among the principal State departments except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. When the changes affect existing law, they must be submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with Article III, Sec. 5(10) of the Constitution of North Carolina.
(b)	The Governor shall report all transfers of departmental functions under this section to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office, within 30 days after the transfer if the General Assembly is in session, otherwise to the Joint Legislative Committee on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office, within 30 days after the transfer. The report shall include the rationale for the transfer and the increased efficiency in operations expected from the transfer. (1973, c. 476, s. 12; 1985, c. 479, s. 164.)

§ 143B‑13.  Appointment, qualifications, terms, and removal of members of commissions.
(a)	Each member of a commission created by or under the authority of the Executive Organization Act of 1973 shall be a resident of the State of North Carolina, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law.
Unless more restrictive qualifications are provided in the Executive Organization Act of 1973, the Governor shall appoint each member on the basis of interest in public affairs, good judgment, knowledge, and ability in the field for which appointed, and with a view to providing diversity of interest and points of view in the membership.
The balance of unexpired terms of existing commission members shall be served in accordance with their most recent appointment.
A vacancy occurring during a term of office is filled in the same manner as the original appointment is made and for the balance of the unexpired term, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Constitution of North Carolina.
(b)	A commission membership becomes vacant on the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term: (i) the death of the incumbent, (ii) his incompetence as determined by final judgment or final order of a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) his resignation, (iv) his removal from office, (v) his ceasing to be a resident of the State, (vi) his ceasing to discharge the duties of his office over a period of three consecutive months except when prevented by sickness, (vii) his conviction of a felony or of any offense involving a violation of his official duties, (viii) his refusal or neglect to take an oath within the time prescribed, (ix) the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction declaring void his appointment, and (x) his commitment as a substance abuser under Part 8 of Article 5 of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes; but in that event, the office shall not be considered vacant until the order of commitment has become final.
(c)	No member of the State commission may use his position to influence any election or the political activity of any person, and any such member who violates this subsection may be removed from such office by the Governor, if such member was appointed by the Governor, or by the appointing authority, if such member was not appointed by the Governor. Nothing herein shall prohibit such member from publishing the fact of his membership in his own campaign for public office.
(d)	In addition to the foregoing, any member of a commission may be removed from office by the Governor for misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance.
(e)	Any appointment by the Governor to a commission, board, council or committee made subsequent to January 5, 1973, and prior to July 1, 1973, for a term that would extend for a period inconsistent with the staggered term provisions of the Executive Organization Act of 1973, may be reduced by the Governor to conform to those staggered term provisions.
(f)	Whenever a statute requires that the Governor appoint at least one person from each congressional district to a board or commission, and due to congressional redistricting, two or more members of the board or commission shall reside in the same congressional district, then such members shall continue to serve as members of the board or commission for a period equal to the remainder of their unexpired terms, provided that upon the expiration of said term or terms the Governor shall fill such vacancy or vacancies in such a manner as to insure that as expeditiously as possible there is one member of the board or commission who is a resident of each congressional district in the State.
(f1)	Whenever a statute requires that the Governor or any board, commission, council, person, or agency (whether or not that board, commission, council, or agency was established under this Chapter) appoint one or more persons from each congressional district to a board, commission, or council, and due to congressional redistricting, a person no longer resides in the district the member has been appointed to represent, such member or members shall, if otherwise qualified, continue to serve as members of the board or commission for the remainder of their unexpired terms, and shall be considered to meet the residency requirement.
(f2)	Whenever a statute requires that the Governor or any board, commission, council, person, or agency (whether or not that board, commission, council, or agency was established under this Chapter) appoint one or more persons from each congressional district to a board, commission, or council, and the statute fails to provide for a procedure to fill the extra position due to the addition of an additional congressional district, then the appointing authority shall appoint a person for a term commencing on January 3rd of the year in which the addition of the additional congressional district becomes effective. Unless the statute provides for persons to serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority, the appointing authority shall set the length of the initial term of office. (1973, c. 476, s. 13; 1975, c. 879, s. 47; 1981, c. 520, s. 1; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1191, s. 5; 1985, c. 589, ss. 45, 46; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1038, s. 16.)

§ 143B‑14.  Administrative services to commissions.
(a)	The head of the principal State department to which a commission has been assigned is responsible for the provision of all administrative services to the commission.
(b)	Except as otherwise provided by law, the powers, duties, and functions of a commission are not subject to the approval, review, or control of the head of the department or of the Governor.
(c)	The Governor may assign to an appropriate commission created by the Executive Organization Act of 1973 duties of a quasi‑legislative and quasi‑judicial nature existing in the executive branch of State government which have not been assigned by this Chapter to any other commission. All such assignment of duties by the Governor to a commission shall be made in accordance with Article III, Sec. 5(10) of the Constitution of North Carolina.
(d)	All management functions of a commission shall be performed by the head of the principal State department. Management functions shall include planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting. (1973, c. 476, s. 14; c. 1416, s. 3; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1137, s. 41.2; 1981, c. 688, s. 20; 1983, c. 927, s. 11; 1987, c. 827, s. 221; 1991, c. 418, s. 9.)

§ 143B‑15.  Compensation of members of commissions.
The salary of members of full‑time commissions shall be set by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Governor to be submitted as a part of his budget requests. (1973, c. 476, s. 15.)

§ 143B‑16.  Appointment and removal of members of boards, councils and committees.
Unless more restrictive qualifications are provided in this Chapter, the Governor shall appoint each member of a board, council, or committee on the basis of his interest in public affairs, good judgment, knowledge and ability in the field for which appointed, and with a view to providing diversity of interest and points of view in the membership. Unless other conditions are provided in the Executive Organization Act of 1973, any member of a board, council, or committee may be removed from office by the Governor for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance.
No member of a board, council, or committee may use his position to influence any election or the political activity of any person, and any such member who violates this paragraph may be removed from such office by the Governor, if such member was appointed by the Governor, or by the appointing authority, if such member was not appointed by the Governor. Nothing herein shall prohibit such member from publishing the fact of his membership in his own campaign for public office. (1973, c. 476, s. 16; 1981, c. 520, s. 2.)

§ 143B‑17.  Commission investigations and orders.
Unless otherwise provided for in the Executive Organization Act of 1973, any commission created by the Executive Organization Act of 1973 may order an investigation into areas of concern over which it has rule‑making authority, and the head of the department required to give staff support to such commission shall render such reports and information as the commission may require. In default of the production of information by the head of the principal department or any employee or agent thereof, the commission may seek the aid of the  Wake County Superior Court to require the production of information as hereinafter provided.
In proceedings before any commission or any hearing officer or member of the commission so authorized by the commission, if any person refuses to respond to a subpoena, or refuses to take the oath or affirmation as a witness or thereafter refuses to be examined or refuses to obey any lawful order of a commission contained in its decision rendered after hearing, the chairman of the commission may apply to the Superior Court of Wake County or to the superior court of the county where the proceedings are being held for an order directing that person to take the requisite action. Should any person willfully  fail to comply with an order so issued, the court shall punish him as  for contempt. (1973, c. 476, s. 17.)

§ 143B‑18:  Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c.  418, s. 10.

§ 143B‑19.  Pending actions and proceedings.
No action or proceeding pending at the time the Executive Organization Act of 1973 takes effect and brought by or against any State agency whose functions, powers, and duties are transferred by the Executive Organization Act of 1973 to a principal State department shall be affected by any provision of the Executive Organization Act of 1973, but the same may be prosecuted or defended in the name of the head of the principal State department. In all such actions and proceedings, the principal State department to which the functions, powers, and duties of a State agency have been transferred shall be substituted as a party upon appropriate application to the courts. (1973, c. 476, s. 19.)

§ 143B‑20:  Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c.  418, s. 10.

§ 143B‑21.  Affirmation of prior acts of abolished agencies.
The abolition of certain agencies by the Executive Organization Act of 1973 should not be construed as invalidating any lawful prior act of such agency. (1973, c. 476, s. 21.)

§ 143B‑22.  Terms occurring in laws, contracts and other documents.
Any reference or designation in any statute, contract, or other document pertaining to functions, powers, obligations, and duties of a State agency assigned by the Executive Organization Act of 1973 to a principal State department shall be deemed to refer to the principal State department or the head of the principal State department, as may be appropriate. (1973, c. 476, s. 22.)

§ 143B‑23.  Completion of unfinished business.
Any business or other matter undertaken or commenced by any State agency or the commissioners or directors thereof, pertaining to or connected with the functions, powers, obligations, and duties hereby transferred to a principal State department, and pending on July 1, 1973, may be conducted and completed by the principal State department in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions and with the same effect as if conducted and completed by the State agency or commissioners and directors thereof. (1973, c. 476, s. 23.)

§ 143B‑24.  Cooperative agreements; prohibition regarding Health Benefit Exchanges.
(a)	Except as otherwise provided by law, each principal State department may, with the approval of the Department of Administration, enter into cooperative agreements with the federal government, any state government, any agency of the State government, any local government of the State, jointly with any two or more, or severally, in carrying out its functions.
(b)	The General Assembly reserves the authority to define the State's level of interaction, if any, with the federally facilitated Health Benefit Exchange that will operate in the State. No department, agency, or institution of this State shall enter into any contracts or commit any resources for the provision of any services related to the federally facilitated Health Benefit Exchange under a "Partnership" Exchange model, except as authorized by the General Assembly. No department, agency, or institution of this State shall take any actions not authorized by the General Assembly toward the formation of a State‑run Health Benefit Exchange. It is not the intent of this section to prohibit State‑federal interaction that does not pursue a State‑run Exchange or "Partnership" Exchange model.  (1973, c. 476, s. 24; 2013‑5, s. 1(c).)

§ 143B‑25.  Agencies not enumerated.
Any agency not enumerated in the Executive Organization Act of 1973 but established or created by the General Assembly shall continue to exercise all its powers, duties, and functions subject to the provisions of Chapter 143A of the General Statutes of the State of North Carolina. (1973, c. 476, s. 25.)

§ 143B‑26.  Constitutional references.
All references to the Constitution of North Carolina in the Executive Organization Act of 1973 refer to the Constitution of North Carolina as effective July 1, 1973. (1973, c. 476, s. 26.)

§ 143B‑27.  Repealed by Session Laws 1983, c. 717, s. 79.

§ 143B‑28.  Goals of continuing reorganization.
Structural reorganization of State government should be a continuing process, accomplished through careful executive and legislative appraisal of the placement of proposed new programs and coordination of existing programs in response to changing emphases in public needs and should be consistent with the following goals:
(1)	The organization of State government should assure its responsiveness to popular control. It is the goal of reorganization to improve the administrative capability of the executive to carry out these policies.
(2)	The organization of State government should aid communication between citizens and government. It is the goal of reorganization through coordination of related programs in function‑oriented departments to improve public understanding of government programs and policies and to improve the relationships between citizens and administrative agencies.
(3)	The organization of State government should assure efficient  and effective administration of the policies established by the General Assembly. It is the goal of reorganization to promote efficiency and effectiveness by improving the management and coordination of State services and by eliminating ineffective, overstaffed, obsolete or overlapping activities. (1973, c. 476, s. 28.)

§ 143B‑28.1.  Create Collaboration for Prosperity Zones.
For purposes of enhanced collaboration and cooperation between governmental agencies, planning, use of resources, and improved efficiency at a regional level, the State is hereby divided into eight permanent zones as follows:
(1)	Western Region, consisting of Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, and Transylvania Counties.
(2)	Northwest Region, consisting of Alleghany, Ashe, Alexander, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties.
(3)	Southwest Region, consisting of Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union Counties.
(4)	Piedmont‑Triad (Central) Region, consisting of Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin Counties.
(5)	North Central Region, consisting of Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson Counties.
(6)	Sandhills (South Central) Region, consisting of Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties.
(7)	Northeast Region, consisting of Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties.
(8)	Southeast Region, consisting of Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, and Wayne Counties.  (2014‑18, s. 3.2.)

§ 143B‑29.  Reserved for future codification.

Part 2.  Governor's Administrative Rules Review Commission.
§§ 143B‑29.1 through 143B‑29.5:  Repealed by Session Laws 1985, c. 746, s. 7.

Part 3. Rules Review Commission.
§ 143B‑30:  Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 418, s. 5.

§ 143B‑30.1.  Rules Review Commission created.
(a)	The Rules Review Commission is created. The Commission shall consist of 10 members to be appointed by the General Assembly, five upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and five upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. These appointments shall be made in accordance with G.S. 120‑121, and vacancies in these appointments shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120‑122. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all appointees shall serve two‑year terms.
(b)	In 1990, two of the appointments made by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate shall expire June 30, 1991, and two shall expire June 30, 1992. In 1990, two of the appointments made by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire June 30, 1992, and two shall expire June 30, 1993. Subsequent terms shall be for two years.
(c)	Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Commission created by the resignation, dismissal, ineligibility, death, or disability of any member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. The chairman shall be elected by the Commission, and he shall designate the times and places at which the Commission shall meet. The Commission shall meet at least once a month. A quorum of the Commission shall consist of six members of the Commission.
(d)	Members of the Commission who are not officers or employees of the State shall receive compensation of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each day or part of a day of service plus reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses at the rates specified in G.S. 138‑5. Members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the State shall receive reimbursement for travel and subsistence at the rate set out in G.S. 138‑6.
(e)	The Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings shall designate, from among the employees of the Office of Administrative Hearings, the staff of the Rules Review Commission.
(f)	The Commission shall prescribe procedures and forms to be used in submitting rules to the Commission for review.
(g)	In the discretion of the Commission, G.S. 114‑2.3 and G.S. 147‑17(a) through (c1) shall not apply to the Commission if the Commission is being sued by another agency, institution, department, bureau, board, or commission of the State, whether such body is created by the Constitution or by statute. The chairman, upon approval of a majority of the Commission, may retain private counsel to represent the Commission to be paid with available State funds to defend such litigation either independently or in cooperation with the Department of Justice. If private counsel is to be so retained to represent the Commission, the chairman shall designate lead counsel who shall possess final decision‑making authority with respect to the representation, counsel, or service for the Commission. Other counsel for the Commission shall, consistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct, cooperate with such designated lead counsel.  (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1028, s. 32; 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1111, s. 2; 1989, c. 35, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1038, s. 18; 1991, c. 418, s. 11; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1030, s. 43; 1995, c. 490, s. 43; 1997‑495, s. 90(a), (b); 2004‑124, s. 22A.1(b); 2006‑66, s. 18.2(f); 2006‑221, s. 20; 2009‑451, s. 21A.2; 2009‑575, s. 19; 2015‑196, s. 2; 2015‑215, s. 2.7; 2017‑57, s. 6.7(e); 2017‑102, s. 43.)

§ 143B‑30.2.  Purpose of Commission.
The Rules Review Commission reviews administrative rules in accordance with Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1028, s. 32; 1987, c. 285, ss. 1‑5; 1991, c. 418, s. 12.)

§ 143B‑30.3:  Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c.  418, s. 5.

§ 143B‑30.4.  Evidence.
Evidence of the Commission's failure to object to and delay the filing of a rule or its part shall be inadmissible in all civil or criminal trials or other proceedings before courts, administrative agencies, or other tribunals. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1028, s. 32.)

§ 143B-31: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-32: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-33: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-34: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-35: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-36: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-37: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-38: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-39: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-40: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-41: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-42: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-43: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-44: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-45: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-46: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-47: Reserved for future codification purposes.

§ 143B-48: Reserved for future codification purposes.