(a)        There is hereby created the North Carolina Human Relations Commission of the Civil Rights Division of the Office of Administrative Hearings. The North Carolina Human Relations Commission shall have the following functions and duties:

(1)        To study problems concerning human relations;

(2)        To promote equality of opportunity for all citizens;

(3)        To promote understanding, respect, and goodwill among all citizens;

(4)        To provide channels of communication among the races;

(5)        To encourage the employment of qualified people without regard to race;

(6)        To encourage youths to become better trained and qualified for employment;

(7)        To receive on behalf of the Civil Rights Division of the Office of Administrative Hearings and to recommend expenditure of gifts and grants from public and private donors;

(8)        To enlist the cooperation and assistance of all State and local government officials in the attainment of the objectives of the Commission;

(9)        To assist local good neighborhood councils and biracial human relations committees in promoting activities related to the functions of the Commission enumerated above;

(10)      To advise the Chief Administrative Law Judge upon any matter the Chief Administrative Law Judge may refer to it;

(11)      To administer the provisions of the State Fair Housing Act as outlined in Chapter 41A of the N.C. Gen. Stat.;

(12)      To administer the provisions of Chapter 99D of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(b)        The Human Relations Commission of the Civil Rights Division of the Office of Administrative Hearings shall consist of 22 members. The Governor shall appoint one member from each of the 13 congressional districts, plus five members at large, including the chairperson. The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives shall appoint two members to the Commission. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members to the Commission. The terms of four of the members appointed by the Governor shall expire June 30, 1988. The terms of four of the members appointed by the Governor shall expire June 30, 1987. The terms of four of the members appointed by the Governor shall expire June 30, 1986. The terms of four of the members appointed by the Governor shall expire June 30, 1985. The terms of the members appointed by the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives shall expire June 30, 1986. The terms of the members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor shall expire June 30, 1986. The initial term of office of the person appointed to represent the 12th Congressional District shall commence on January 3, 1993, and expire on June 30, 1996. At the end of the respective terms of office of the initial members of the Commission, the appointment of their successors shall be for terms of four years. No member of the commission shall serve more than two consecutive terms. A member having served two consecutive terms shall be eligible for reappointment one year after the expiration of his second term. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Commission created by the resignation, dismissal, death, or disability of a member shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term.

(c)        Members of the Commission shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-5

(d)       A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(e)        All clerical and support services required by the Commission shall be supplied by the Office of Administrative Hearings. ?(1975, c. 879, ss. 34, 35; 1983, c. 461; 1983, c. 522, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 979, s. 1(6), (7); 1991, c. 433, s. 3; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1038, s. 20; 1995, c. 490, s. 26; 2001-486, s. 2.19; 2011-145, s. 20.1A(b); 2011-391, s. 45(a); 2017-57, ss. 31.1(b), (c).)