A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to add the office of state treasurer to the council of state offices subject to the voter‑owned elections act.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 163‑278.95 reads as rewritten:
"§ 163‑278.95.  Purpose and establishment of Voter‑Owned Elections Act.
The purpose of this Article is to ensure the vitality and fairness of democratic elections in North Carolina to the end that any eligible citizen of this State can realistically choose to seek and run for public office. It is also the purpose of this Article to protect the constitutional rights of voters and candidates from the detrimental effects of increasingly large amounts of money being raised and spent in North Carolina to influence the outcome of elections. It is essential to the public interest that the potential for corruption or the appearance of corruption is minimized and that the equal and meaningful participation of all citizens in the democratic process is ensured. Accordingly, this Article establishes the North Carolina Voter‑Owned Elections Fund as an alternative source of campaign financing for candidates who obtain a sufficient number of qualifying contributions from registered voters and who voluntarily accept strict fund‑raising and spending limits. This Article is available to candidates for the Council of State offices of Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Treasurer, and Commissioner of Insurance in elections to be held in 2008 and thereafter."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 163‑278.96(12) reads as rewritten:
"(12)	Office. – The Council of State offices of Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Treasurer, and Commissioner of Insurance."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.