{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-158","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-158","heading":"Commission for the Blind.","body":"(a)\tThe Commission for the Blind of the Department of Health and Human Services shall consist of 19 members as follows:\n(1)\tOne representative of the Statewide Independent Living Council.\n(2)\tOne representative of a parent training and information center established pursuant to section 631(c) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1431(c).\n(3)\tOne representative of the State's Client Assistance Program.\n(4)\tOne vocational rehabilitation counselor who has knowledge of and experience in vocational rehabilitation services for the blind. A vocational rehabilitation counselor appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall serve as a nonvoting member of the Commission if the counselor is an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services.\n(5)\tOne representative of community rehabilitation program services providers.\n(6)\tOne current or former applicant for, or recipient of, vocational rehabilitation services.\n(7)\tOne representative of a disability advocacy group representing individuals who are blind.\n(8)\tOne parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of an individual who is blind, has multiple disabilities, and either has difficulty representing himself or herself or who is unable, due to disabilities, to represent himself or herself.\n(9)\tOne representative of business, industry, and labor.\n(10)\tOne representative of the directors of projects carried out under section 121 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 741, as amended, if there are any of these projects in the State.\n(11)\tOne representative of the Department of Public Instruction.\n(12)\tOne representative of the NCWorks Commission.\n(12a)\tTwo licensed physicians nominated by the North Carolina Medical Society whose practice is limited to ophthalmology.\n(12b)\tTwo optometrists nominated by the North Carolina State Optometric Society.\n(12c)\tTwo opticians nominated by the North Carolina Opticians Association.\n(13)\tThe Director of the Division of Services for the Blind shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member.\n(b)\tThe members of the Commission for the Blind shall be appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall appoint members after soliciting recommendations from representatives of organizations representing a broad range of individuals who have disabilities and organizations interested in those individuals. In making appointments to the Commission, the Governor shall consider, to the greatest extent practicable, the extent to which minority populations are represented on the Commission.\n(c)\tExcept for individuals appointed to the Commission under subdivisions (12a), (12b), and (12c) of subsection (a) of this section, a majority of Commission members shall be persons who are blind, as defined in G.S. 111-11 and who are not employed by the Division of Services for the Blind.\n(d)\tThe Commission for the Blind shall select a Chairperson from among its members.\n(e)\tThe term of office of members of the Commission is three years. The term of members appointed under subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), and (12a) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire on June 30 of years evenly divisible by three. The term of members appointed under subdivisions (5), (6), (7), (8), and (12b) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire on June 30 of years that follow by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three. The term of members appointed under subdivisions (9), (10), (11), (12), and (12c) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire on June 30 of years that precede by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three.\n(f)\tNo individual may be appointed to more than two consecutive three-year terms. Upon the expiration of a term, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed, as provided by G.S. 128-7. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired balance of the term.\n(g)\tA member of the Commission shall not vote on any issue before the Commission that would have a significant and predictable effect on the member's financial interest. The Governor shall have the power to remove any member of the Commission from office for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143B-13 of the Executive Organization Act of 1973.\n(h)\tThe members of the Commission shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5.\n(i)\tA majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.\n(j)\tAll clerical and other services required by the Commission shall be supplied by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (1973, c. 476, s. 140; 1977, c. 581; 1993, c. 561, s. 89(b); 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a); 2000-121, s. 31; 2013-360, s. 12A.14(b); 2015-241, s. 15.11(f).)","path":["Chapter 143B. Executive Organization Act of 1973.","Article 3. Department of Health and Human Services.","Part 7. Commission for the Blind."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-158.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:22:43Z","sha256":"08e7939f4c266a30ea4b79e4a5658bcfc0158fa1f001ae7ce469002350066212","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-157","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-159"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}