Article 58.

Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

§ 143-532.  Definitions.

For the purposes of this Article:

(1) The term "inaugural period" means the period which includes the day on which the ceremony inaugurating the Governor is held, the seven calendar days immediately preceding such day, and the seven calendar days immediately subsequent to such day; and

(2) The term "inaugural planning period" means the period beginning July 1 of the year in which the Governor is elected and ending the last day in the inaugural period. (1975, c. 816.)

 

§ 143-533.  Creation, appointment of members; members ex officio.

There is hereby created a Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to consist of three representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, (or a person designated by the Speaker) three senators to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, three citizens to be appointed by the Governor, and three citizens to be appointed by the Governor-elect upon certification of his election.  Of the three citizens appointed to the Committee by the Governor, only two may be of the same political party.  The Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, (or a person designated by the President of the Senate), the Governor, and, upon certification of their election, all members-elect of the Council of State, shall be ex officio members of the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. (1975, c. 816; 1981, c. 47, s. 2; 1991, c. 739, s. 25.)

 

§ 143-534.  Time of appointments; terms of office.

Appointments to the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies shall be made on or before July 1 of years in which there is an election of the Governor. The term of office of the Committee members, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate and the Governor who are members ex officio, shall begin on the first day of the inaugural planning period, and shall end on the last day of the inaugural period. The term of office of the members-elect of the Council of State, who are ex officio members of the Committee, shall begin upon certification of their election, and shall end on the last day of the  inaugural period. (1975, c. 816.)

 

§ 143-535.  Vacancies.

Vacancies in the appointive membership of the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the officer who made the original appointment. Vacancies in the ex officio membership shall be filled for the unexpired term by election by the remaining members of the Committee. A legislative vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by a member of the same house in which the vacancy occurred. (1975, c. 816.)

 

§ 143-536.  Chairman; rules of procedure; quorum.

At its first meeting the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies shall, by majority vote, elect a chairman from within the Committee membership. There shall also be a vice-chairman who shall be designated by the Governor-elect from among his appointees on the Committee who shall assume his duties upon appointment. The chairman, and in his absence the vice-chairman, shall preside over meetings of the Committee. The Committee shall adopt rules of procedure governing its meetings. Six members, excluding ex officio members, shall constitute a quorum of the Committee. (1975, c. 816.)

 

§ 143-537.  Meetings.

The first meeting of the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies shall be held during the inaugural planning period at the call of the President of the Senate. Thereafter the Committee shall meet at the call of the chairman. (1975, c. 816.)

 

§ 143-538.  Powers and duties.

During the inaugural planning period the Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies shall plan and sponsor official parades, swearing-in ceremonies and other formal occasions connected with the swearing-in and installation of the Governor and other members of the Council of State. Throughout the inaugural planning period the Committee shall consult with and remain in close contact with the Governor-elect and all of the other members-elect of the Council of State upon certification of their election. Balls, dinners, testimonials, parties and other informal occasions shall be coordinated with official events by the Committee; however, nothing in this Article shall preclude any  group or person from conducting private events during the inaugural period. (1975, c. 816.)

 

§ 143-539.  Offices; per diem and allowances of members; payments from appropriations.

The Department of Administration shall provide office space to the Committee.  The members of the Committee, including ex officio members, shall be paid such per diem, subsistence and travel allowances as are prescribed by law for State boards and commissions generally.  All payments for purposes authorized by this Article shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon written authorization of the chairman of the Committee, from funds appropriated to the Contingency and Emergency Budget. (1975, c. 816; 1991, c. 739, s. 26.)

 

§§ 143-540 through 143-544.  Reserved for future codification purposes.