Bill Summary for H 49 (2023-2024)

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Summary date: 

Feb 2 2023

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 49 (Public) Filed Thursday, February 2, 2023
AN ACT TO ENACT THE RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY SECURITY AND PROTECTION ACT OF 2023 AND TO AUTHORIZE CONCEALED CARRY FOR CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITY EMPLOYEES.
Intro. by McNeely, Carson Smith, Chesser, N. Jackson.

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Bill summary

Substantively identical to S 41, filed 1/30/23.

Names the act the “Religious Assembly Security and Protection Act of 2023.” Amends GS 14-269.2 (setting forth those circumstances when weapons on campus or other educational property is a crime) by adding new defined term, School operating hours, to mean any time when the premises are used for curricular, extracurricular, educational, instructional, or school-sponsored activities or when the premises are being used for programs for minors by entities not affiliated with the religious institution.  Adds a new subsection providing that the statute does not apply to a person with a valid concealed handgun permit, or a person who is exempt from obtaining a permit, if: (1) the person possesses and carries a handgun on educational property other than an institution of higher education or a nonpublic, postsecondary educational institution; (2) the educational property is the location of both a school and a building that is a place of religious worship; (3) the weapon is a handgun; (4) the handgun is only possessed and carried on educational property outside of the school operating hours; and (5) the person or persons in legal possession or control of the premises have not posted a conspicuous notice prohibiting the carrying of a concealed handgun on the premises. Specifies for these purposes, property owned by a local board of education or county commission must not be construed as a building that is a place of religious worship. Makes conforming changes to GS 14-415.11. Effective December 1, 2023.

Amends GS 14-415.27 to allow a person with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in a law enforcement or correctional facility if the person is employed by a law enforcement agency and who (1) is not a law enforcement officer sworn and certified pursuant to Article 1 of GS Chapter 17C or GS Chapter 17E, (2) has been designated in writing by the head of the law enforcement agency in charge of the facility, (3) has in the person's possession written proof of the designation, and (4) has not had the designation rescinded. Allows for the written designation to be rescinded by the head of the law enforcement agency in charge of the law enforcement facility. Applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2023.