(a) Creation. – There is created a body politic and corporate to be known as the “North Carolina Turnpike Authority”. The Authority is constituted as a public agency, and the exercise by the Authority of the powers conferred by this Article in the construction, operation, and maintenance of toll roads and bridges shall be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

(b) Administrative Placement. – The Authority shall be located within the Department of Transportation and shall be subject to and under the direct supervision of the Secretary of Transportation.

(c) Authority Board. – The North Carolina Turnpike Authority shall be governed by a nine-member Authority Board consisting of two members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121, two members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121, four members appointed by the Governor, and the Secretary of Transportation. Each appointing authority shall appoint members who reside in diverse regions of the State. The Chair of the Authority shall be selected by the Authority Board.

(d) Board of Transportation Members. – Members of the North Carolina Board of Transportation may serve as members of the Authority Board.

(e) Staggered Terms. – One of the initial appointments to the Authority Board by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of the initial appointments to the Authority Board by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and three of the initial appointments of the Governor shall be appointed to terms ending January 14, 2007. One of the initial appointments to the Authority Board by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of the initial appointments to the Authority Board by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one of the initial appointments of the Governor shall be appointed to terms ending January 14, 2005. The Secretary of Transportation shall serve as an ex officio voting member of the Board. Thereafter, at the expiration of each stipulated term of office, all appointments shall be to a term of four years from the date of the expiration of the term.

(f) Vacancies. – All members of the Authority Board shall remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. The original appointing authority may appoint a member to serve out the unexpired term of any member.

(g) Removal of Board Members. – Each member of the Authority Board, notwithstanding subsection (e) of this section, shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The Chair of the Authority serves at the pleasure of the Authority Board.

(h) Conflicts of Interest, Ethics. – Members of the Authority Board shall be subject to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 136-13, 136-13.1, and 136-14.

(i) Compensation. – The appointed members of the Authority Board shall receive no salary for their services but shall be entitled to receive per diem and travel allowances in accordance with the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-5 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-6 as appropriate.

(j) Bylaws. – The Authority Board shall adopt, change, or amend bylaws with respect to the calling of meetings, quorums, voting procedures, the keeping of records, and other organizational, staffing, and administrative matters as the Authority Board may determine. Any bylaws, or subsequent changes or amendments to the bylaws, shall be included in the Annual Report as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 136-89.193

(k) Executive Director and Administrative Employees. – The Authority Board shall appoint an Executive Director, whose salary shall be fixed by the Authority, to serve at its pleasure. The Executive Director shall be the Authority’s chief administrative officer and shall be responsible for the daily administration of the toll roads and bridges constructed, maintained, or operated pursuant to this Article. The Executive Director or his designee shall appoint, employ, dismiss, and, within the limits approved by the Authority Board, fix the compensation of administrative employees as the Executive Director deems necessary to carry out this Article.

(l) Office. – The offices of the Authority may be housed in one or more facilities of the Department of Transportation. (2002-133, s. 1; 2009-343, ss. 1, 2; 2011-145, s. 28.35(c).)