Daily bulletin [2002 : November 13, v.2002 : no.79]

ACTIONS BY THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY Institute ^/Government — School of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Legislative Reporting Service, Box 7294 State Legislative Building, Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone 919.733.2484 Fax 919.715.3464 House Legislative Day 257 Vol. 2002, No. 79 Senate Legislative Day 243 Wednesday, November 13, 2002 In 1997, Article II, section 22, of the North Carolina Constitution was amended to authorize the Governor to veto bills passed by the General Assembly and to establish a procedure for the Governor and General Assembly to follow should the Governor exercise this authority. Governor Easley became the first Governor to exercise the veto authority when he vetoed S 1283, the appointments bill, on November 3, 2002. In the bill, the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tern, of the Senate made appointments to various boards and commissions. Governor Easley, in his veto message, cited several reasons for vetoing the bill: two of the appointees were deceased, at least five appointees were not qualified for the positions to which they were appointed, and six appointments were made that must be made by the Governor. Since the General Assembly had adjourned sine die on October 4, 2002, the constitution presented the Governor with three choices as his next step. First, he could do nothing, in which case the bill would become law over his veto on the fortieth day after October 4, the day of adjournment. Second, he could reconvene the 2002 regular session for the sole purpose of reconsidering S 1283. This choice had to be exercised before the fortieth day after adjournment. Third, if a majority of the members of both houses signed a statement dated no earlier than thirty days after adjournment that no reconvened session was necessary, the Governor would not be required to call a reconvened session to consider the vetoed bill, and the veto would stand. In the case of S 1283, this possibility could not, as a practical matter, be implemented because of time constraints. Governor Easley choose the second option and by a proclamation dated November 11, 2002, reconvened the 2002 Regular Session on November 13, 2002, to reconsider S 1283. The Senate referred the bill to the Rules Committee, thereby effectively sustaining the Governor’s veto. Carolyn Justus (R.-Henderson) was appointed to complete the term of Representative Larry T. Justus. Speaker Black appointed Representative Justus to the same committee assignments as were held by her late husband. BILLS INTRODUCED TODAY BILL# SHORT TITLE IDEN COMMITTEE S 1479 ADOPTING RULES FOR THE RECONVENED ADOPTED SESSION S 1480 SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT ADOPTED GS INDEX SENATE RES JOINT RES This publication is printed on permanent, acid-free paper in compliance with the North Carolina General Statutes. Institute of Government— School of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ©2002