Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

Changes the act’s long and short titles.

Deletes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following.

Amends GS 90A-74 to expand the powers and duties of the North Carolina Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board to allow the board to hold real property, subject to the approval of the Governor and Council of State.

Amends GS 113A-119(a) to allow electronic payments for development permits in areas of environmental concern under the Coastal Management Act of 1974.

Amends GS 130A-303 to add a new subsection (c) authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality to implement emergency measures and procedures necessary for the proper management of solid waste generated during a declared emergency. Requires written notice to be provided to the media and other affected organizations and parties. Provides for expiration of emergency measures and procedures no more than 60 days after the state of emergency has ended.

Amends GS 162A-203 to prohibit local governments from charging the State or a political subdivision a system development fee pursuant to Article 8 of Chapter 162A. Prohibition becomes effective upon enactment and any local ordinances inconsistent with it are void and unenforceable. Requires local governments to reimburse any system development fees paid by the State or a political subdivision between October 1, 2017, and July 1, 2020 upon request.

Amends Sec. 2.1 of SL 2019-224, which appropriated funding to the Wildlife Resources Commission to address abandoned and derelict vessels. Requires the Commission to comply with specific notice requirements before removing and disposing of a vessel and revise the definition of abandoned and derelict vessel.

Revises the allocation of funds for the Lindsey Bridge dam repair and stream restoration project originally in Section 36.3(a) of SL 2018-5. Revision provides that the funding will be reallocated to provide a directed grant to the Town of Madison. Includes definitions and imposes requirements on the expenditure of funds pursuant to the directed grant. Expires on June 30, 2021.

Extends the expiration date for GS Chapter 130A, Article 9, Part 6, which governs removal of mercury switches in light fixtures in vehicles, from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2031. Provides that any funds remaining in the Mercury Pollution Prevention Fund on that date shall be transferred to the Division of Waste Management. Makes conforming changes. Effective June 30, 2020. 

Extends by six months several research reporting deadlines applicable to the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory (Collaboratory). Amends Section 11.8 of SL 2016-94, which provides funding to initially establish the Collaboratory, to expand the authority of the Collaboratory to allow it to fund research by institutions outside the University of North Carolina system. Prohibits institutions receiving funding from the Collaboratory to charge for indirect costs.