A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE PROCESS BY WHICH A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS APPOINTED TO THE ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION and to make technical, clarifying, and conforming changes.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The title of Article 19 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Article 19.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact and Commission."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 113‑251 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑251.  Definition of terms.
	As used in this Article:
(1)	'Commission' means the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
			
(2)	'Commissioner' means a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
(3)	'Compact' means the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact.
(4)	'Fisheries Director' means the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources."
SECTION 3.  Article III of G.S. 113‑252 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑252.  Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact and Commission.
…
Article III

Each state joining herein shall appoint three representatives to a commission hereby constituted and designated as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. One shall be the executive officer of the administrative agency of the state charged with the conservation of the fisheries resources to which this compact pertains. The second shall be a member of the legislature appointed by the Governor. The third shall be a citizen who has knowledge of and interest in marine fisheries issues, appointed by the Governor. This Commission shall be a body corporate, with the powers and duties set forth herein.
…."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 113‑254 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑254.  North Carolina members of Commission.
(a)	In pursuance of Article III of the Compact, there shall be three commissioners from North Carolina. The first commissioner  shall be the Fisheries Director, ex officio. The term of this commissioner shall terminate at the time the commissioner ceases to hold office as the Fisheries Director. The successor to this commissioner shall be the commissioner's successor as Fisheries Director. The second commissioner shall be a legislator appointed by the Governor. The term of this commissioner shall terminate at the time the commissioner ceases to hold legislative office. This commissioner's successor shall be appointed by the Governor. The third commissioner from the State of North Carolina shall be a citizen of the State with knowledge of and interest in marine fisheries issues appointed by the Governor. The term of this commissioner shall be three years. This commissioner may be reappointed for successive terms and shall hold office until the commissioner's successor is appointed and qualified. A vacancy occurring in the office of this commissioner for any reason or cause shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term.
(b)	The Fisheries Director may delegate to any deputy or other subordinate of the Fisheries Director the power to be present, participate, and vote as the Fisheries Director's representative or substitute at any meeting, hearing, or other proceeding of the Commission.
(c)	Any commissioner may be removed from office by the Governor upon charges and after a hearing."
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.