N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-116: Status of area authority; status of consolidated human services agency.

(a) An area authority is a local political subdivision of the State.

(b) A consolidated human services agency is a department of the county.

(c) One or more area authorities may jointly form a consortium, through an interlocal agreement, for the purpose of responding to requests for proposals issued by the Department and contracting with the Department. The consortium shall be considered a multicounty public authority and a local political subdivision of the State and shall establish, by interlocal agreement, an alternative governance structure that reports to the area boards of each participating area authority. The boards of each participating area authority shall have the option to appoint members of the multicounty public authority board in a manner or with a composition other than as required by G.S. 122C-118.1 by each participating area board adopting a resolution to that effect and receiving written approval from the Secretary.

(d) An area authority may, individually or in concert with other eligible entities such as other area authorities, entities licensed as a prepaid health plan under G.S. 58-93-5, or other permitted bidders, respond to requests for proposals issued by the Department to cover services on a statewide basis and contract with the Department to cover these services. An area authority may, through an interlocal agreement, be designated by other area authorities as the lead applicant to respond to requests for proposals issued by the Department and to contract with the Department to cover services on a statewide basis. (1977, c. 568, s. 1; c. 679, s. 7; 1979, c. 358, s. 2; 1981, c. 51, ss. 3, 4; c. 539, s. 1; 1983, c. 280; c. 383, s. 2; 1985, c. 589, s. 2; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 690, s. 10; 2012-151, s. 2(a); 2023-134, s. 9E.22(p).)