§ 120-19. 1. Hearings; examination of witnesses; counsel.

(a)Committees of either the House or Senate of the General Assembly of North Carolina may hold separate or joint hearings, call witnesses, and compel testimony relevant to any bill, resolution or other matter properly before the committee. (b)Witnesses may be examined under oath. (c)When any person is examined before a committee, any member wishing to ask a question must address it to the chairman or presiding officer, who repeats the question or directs the witness to answer the member’s question. Staff members or counsel employed by the committee may propound questions to the chairman for a witness to answer. (d)Objections to the propriety of a question are directed to the committee as a whole. The committee must determine whether the objection is to be sustained or overruled by majority vote of the committee. (e)When any witness is examined under oath, the proceedings must be taken and transcribed verbatim. Upon request, a witness must be furnished a copy of the transcript of his appearance before the committee. (f)Witnesses may be accompanied by their own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their rights. History: History.1973, c. 543.