GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 639

Short Title:  Cut Salaries.	(Public)
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Ligon; Dockham, Gardner, Hege, Howard, Russell, and Wilson.
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Appropriations.
─────────────────────────────────────── 

April 10, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO GENERALLY REDUCE BY FIFTEEN PERCENT THE SALARIES OF STATE OFFICIALS, STATE EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES EARNING MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR, AND TO REDUCE THE SALARIES OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY FIFTEEN PERCENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. (a) Effective July 1, 1991, if the total annual compensation, including longevity pay, of any elected or appointed State officer or State employee is $58,825 or more, the total annual compensation shall be reduced by fifteen percent (15%).  If the total annual compensation, including longevity pay, is greater than $50,000 but less than $58,825, the total annual compensation shall be reduced to $50,000.
(b)	This section shall not apply to compensation pursuant to contracts entered into prior to July 1, 1991.  As provided by Article III, Section 9 of the Constitution of North Carolina, it shall become effective January 1, 1992, with respect to offices established under that Article.  As provided by Article IV, Section 21 of the Constitution of North Carolina, it shall not apply to judges in office on July 1, 1991, during continuance in that office, but shall apply to the successor to any such judge.
Sec. 2.  Effective July 1, 1991, Article 22 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part. 6.  Maximum Employee Compensation.
"§ 115C-331. Salary schedule revision; reduction of compensation.
(a)	Effective July 1, 1991, if the total annual compensation, including salaries, supplements, and bonuses, from State and federal funds, of any employee of a local school administrative unit is $58,825 or more, the total annual compensation shall be reduced by fifteen percent (15%).  If the total annual compensation, including salaries, supplements, and bonuses, from State and federal funds, is greater than $50,000 but less than $58,825, the total annual compensation shall be reduced to $50,000.
This section shall not apply to compensation pursuant to contracts entered into prior to July 1, 1991."
Sec. 3.  Effective July 1, 1991, G.S. 120-3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 120-3.  Pay of members and officers of the General Assembly.
(a)	The Speaker of the House shall be paid an annual salary of  twenty-nine thousand eight hundred thirty-five dollars ($29,835), payable monthly, and an expense allowance of one thousand three hundred twenty dollars ($1,320) per month.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall be paid an annual salary of twenty-nine thousand eight hundred thirty-five dollars ($29,835), payable monthly, and an expense allowance of one thousand three hundred twenty dollars ($1,320) per month.  The Speaker Pro Tempore of the House shall be paid an annual salary of sixteen thousand eight hundred nine dollars ($16,809), payable monthly, and an expense allowance of seven hundred eighty dollars ($780.00) per month; and the Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall be paid an annual salary of sixteen thousand eight hundred nine dollars ($16,809), payable monthly, and an expense allowance of seven hundred eighty dollars ($780.00) per month.  The majority and minority leaders in the House and the majority and minority leaders in the Senate shall be paid an annual salary of thirteen thousand eight-six dollars ($13,086), payable monthly, and an expense allowance of six hundred twenty-two dollars ($622.00) per month.
(b)	Every other member of the General Assembly shall receive increases in annual salary only to the extent of and in the amounts equal to the average increases received by employees of the State, effective upon convening of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly after enactment of these increased amounts.  Accordingly, every other member of the General Assembly shall be paid an annual salary of ten thousand six hundred twenty-eight dollars ($10,628), payable monthly, and an expense allowance of five hundred twenty-two dollars ($522.00) per month.
(c)	The salary and expense allowances provided in this section are in addition to any per diem compensation and any subsistence and travel allowance authorized by any other law with respect to any regular or extra session of the General Assembly, and service on any State board, agency, commission, standing committee and study commission."
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification.