The N.C. General Assembly has filed a bill for consideration during an emergency session held Wednesday.
The bill, titled "Bipartisan Ethics, Elections & Court Reform," would have four major goals, first to consolidate the functions of elections, campaign finance, lobbying and ethics under one state agency, to be named the N.C. Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement. The new agency would have a board consisting of eight members, four from each political party.
The bill would also remove the ability for the new elections board to alter voter districting plans made by the assembly, and would leave that power only to the G.A. and the courts.
The law would also restore partisan elections to the N.C. Supreme Court — as of now, individuals running for justice positions do not have their party affiliations listed on the ballot.
The bill would also make some minor changes to the set up the Appellate Court review of some cases, and makes some alterations to the terms for industrial commissioners.
The Dec. 14 session was the fourth emergency session held by the General Assembly this year. It was originally called Tuesday to pass an aid plan for Hurricane Matthew Recovery, but was extended Wednesday, though no specific reason was given for the extension.
An incomplete bill was also filed during the session, and could be a placeholder for future legislation to be considered tomorrow.
