GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 300

Short Title:  GPAC - Let AOC Staff Support OAH.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Martin of Guilford.
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Referred to:  Government Performance Audit.
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February 22, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT A RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE TO TRANSFER TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, TO ELIMINATE POSITIONS AT THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS THAT WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO MOVE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS SO THAT IT IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED WITH THE STAFF OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS.
Whereas, 16 of the 40 full-time staff positions at the Office of Administrative Hearings, including three secretaries on personal services contracts, are support-related and perform functions similar to those performed by the staff of the Administrative Office of the Courts; and 
Whereas, these 16 positions are responsible for providing secretarial support and research, scheduling cases, and handling budgetary, fiscal, personnel, and other administrative matters; and
Whereas, the Administrative Office of the Courts has a large, well-trained staff and systems in place to support the additional work load from the Office of Administrative Hearings; and
Whereas, of the 16 support positions at the Office of Administrative Hearings, two would be needed to handle the extra work load at the Administrative Office of the Courts but the remaining 14 could be eliminated; and
Whereas, if the Administrative Office of the Courts provides support services to the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Office of Administrative Hearings would need to move so that it is physically located with the staff of the Administrative Office of the Courts; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The State Property Office shall find suitable space for the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Office of Administrative Hearings so that the Office of Administrative Hearings is physically located with the staff of the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Sec. 2.  The following two positions are transferred from the Office of Administrative Hearings to the Administrative Office of the Courts: Administrative Assistant II and Clerk/Typist V.  The base budget of the Administrative Office of the Courts is increased by ninety-one thousand six hundred thirty-nine dollars ($91,639) for the 1994-95 fiscal year as the result of the transfer of positions required by this section and the base budget of the Office of Administrative Hearings is reduced by the same amount.
Sec. 3.  The following 14 positions at the Office of Administrative Hearings are eliminated: Deputy Director, Internal Auditor, Administrative Service Manager, Clerk IV, Accounting Technician V, Administrative Assistant III, Clerk Typist V, Chief Hearing Clerk, Clerk IV, Paralegal III, Receptionist Clerk IV, Paralegal II, Administrative Officer II, and Clerk/Typist V.  The base budget of the Office of Administrative Hearings is reduced by four hundred fifty-three thousand nine hundred seventy dollars ($453,970) for the 1994-95 fiscal year as the result of the positions eliminated by this section.
Sec. 4.  The Office of Administrative Hearings shall not renew its three personal services contracts for secretarial services.
Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.