§ 138-5.  Per diem and allowances of State boards, etc.

(a) (Effective until July 1, 2024) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (f) of this section, members of State boards, commissions, committees and councils which operate from funds deposited with the State Treasurer shall be compensated for their services at the following rates:

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this subdivision, compensation at the rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per diem for each day of service. Members of the North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Council, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Commission for the Blind who are unemployed or who shall forfeit wages from other employment to attend Council or Commission meetings or to perform related duties, may receive compensation not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per diem for attending these meetings or performing related duties, as authorized by sections 105 and 705 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, P.L. 102-569, 42 U.S.C. § 701, et seq., as amended.

(2) Reimbursement of subsistence expenses at the rates allowed to State officers and employees by subdivision (3) of G.S. 138-6(a).

(3) Reimbursement of travel expenses at the rates allowed to State officers and employees by subdivisions (1) and (2) of G.S. 138-6(a).

(4) For convention registration fees, the actual amount expended, as shown by receipt.

(a) (Effective July 1, 2024) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (f) of this section, members of State boards, commissions, committees and councils which operate from funds deposited with the State Treasurer shall be compensated for their services at the following rates:

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this subdivision, compensation at the rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per diem for each day of service. Members of the North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Council, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Commission for the Blind who are unemployed or who shall forfeit wages from other employment to attend Council or Commission meetings or to perform related duties, may receive compensation not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per diem for attending these meetings or performing related duties, as authorized by sections 105 and 705 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, P.L. 102-569, 42 U.S.C. § 701, et seq., as amended. Members of the Board of Trustees of the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for the Deaf, and the Board of Trustees of the Governor Morehead School for the Blind may receive compensation not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per diem for attending trustee meetings or performing related duties.

(2) Reimbursement of subsistence expenses at the rates allowed to State officers and employees by subdivision (3) of G.S. 138-6(a).

(3) Reimbursement of travel expenses at the rates allowed to State officers and employees by subdivisions (1) and (2) of G.S. 138-6(a).

(4) For convention registration fees, the actual amount expended, as shown by receipt.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (f) of this section, the schedules of per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances established in this section shall apply to members of all State boards, commissions, committees and councils which operate from funds deposited with the State Treasurer, excluding those boards, commissions, committees and councils the members of which are now serving without compensation and excluding occupational licensing boards as defined in G.S. 93B-1; and all special statutory provisions relating to per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances are hereby amended to conform to this section.

(c) Repealed by Session Laws 1979, 2nd Session, c. 1137, s. 29.

(d) The subsistence reimbursement for actual lodging expenses provided in this section must be documented by a receipt of lodging expenses from a commercial establishment.

(e) Out-of-state travel on official business by members of State boards, commissions, committees and councils which operate from funds deposited with the State Treasurer shall be reimbursed only upon authorization obtained in the manner prescribed by the Director of the Budget.

(f) Members of all State boards, commissions and councils whose salaries or any portion of whose salaries are paid from State funds shall receive no per diem compensation from State funds for their services; provided, however, that members of State boards, commissions and councils who are also members of the General Assembly shall receive subsistence and travel allowances in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 120-3.1. (1961, c. 833, s. 5; 1963, c. 1049, s. 1; 1965, c. 169; 1971, c. 1139; 1973, c. 1397; 1979, c. 838, s. 18; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1137, s. 29; 1983, c. 761, s. 24; c. 923, s. 217; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1034, s. 185; 1985, c. 757, s. 201(b); 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 39(a); 1987, c. 738, s. 58(a), (b); 1999-237, s. 11.49; 2023-10, s. 2(d); 2023-134, s. 27.8(a).)