(a) In the construction of a statute creating, continuing, or modifying a commission or committee whose funds are appropriated or transferred to the General Assembly or to the Legislative Services Commission for disbursement, unless that construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the General Assembly or repugnant to the context of the statute, the creation, continuation, or modification of the commission or committee shall not be construed as a grant of authority to the commission or committee to hire its own employees or to contract for consultant or other services.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a commission or committee whose funds are appropriated or transferred to the General Assembly or to the Legislative Services Commission for disbursement and which has the power to contract for consultants or hire employees, or both, may contract for consultants, or hire employees, or both, only upon the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission.  A contract for employment or consultant services by such a commission or committee is void and unenforceable unless approved by the Legislative Services Commission prior to the contract being entered into.

(c) This section shall not apply to contracts of employment or for consultant services for standing or select committees of either house of the General Assembly, or subcommittees thereof, which shall be entered into by either the Speaker of the House or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as appropriate, and governed by the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-35 (1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1100, s. 9.1.)