Bill Summaries: S 781 FREEDOM OF SPEECH/PRESS/EXERCISE OF RELIGION.

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  • Summary date: May 15 2020 - View Summary

    Includes whereas clauses.

    Amends GS 166A-19.30 and GS 166A-19.31 to prohibit the Governor or the governing body of a municipality or county, respectively, from restricting through an executive order, or through ordinances, prohibitions, or restrictions, any: (1) public press organization conducting activities in an emergency area in the normal course of business; (2) time, place, or manner of peaceable, nonviolent, or nonthreatening activity in an emergency area intended to express political views or to provide lawful information to others; or (3) religious institution in an emergency area from conducting regular business or congregating for worship services during a state of emergency (allows the issuance of nonbinding recommendations requesting religious institutions prohibit or restrict regular business or congregating). 

    Appropriates $2,500 in nonrecurring funds for 2020-21 from the General Fund to the NC Sheriffs' Association, Inc., to educate local law enforcement officers on the act's requirements. Appropriates $2,500 in nonrecurring funds for 2020-21 from the General Fund to the NC Association of Chiefs of Police, to educate local law enforcement officers on the act's requirements. Effective July 1, 2020.

    Applies to executive orders, ordinances, prohibitions, and restrictions issued after May 31, 2020.