Amends GS 136-18(36) updating existing state law authorizing the DOT to oversee the safety of fixed guideway transit systems by correcting a federal statutory reference. Subsection now refers to the Map 21 (The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act), previously referred to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.

Amends GS 20-66(c) to direct the DMV to issue a single registration renewal sticker for each vehicle registration plate. Makes technical changes.

Effective January 1, 2015.

As title indicates.

Enacts new GS Chapter 75, Article 8, Abusive Patent Assertions, with the purpose of curbing bad-faith assertions of patent infringement.  Provides nine findings regarding patents in North Carolina, including that abusive patent litigation and bad-faith infringement claims can harm NC companies and that North Carolina has a strong interest in protecting its citizens and businesses against abusive patent assertions. Provides that the General Assembly seeks to strike a balance between (1) the interest of efficient and prompt resolution of patent infringement claims, the protection of NC businesses from abusive and bad-faith assertions of patent infringement, and building the NC economy and (2) the intent to respect federal law and not interfere with legitimate patent enforcement claims.

Sets out definitions to be used in this Article, including demand, target, and interested party.

Sets out twelve factors that the court can consider as evidence that a person has made a bad-faith assertion of patent infringement, including the person demands payment of a license fee or response within an unreasonably short period of time, the person making the claim or assertion sent the same demand to multiple recipients, as well as any other factors the court finds relevant.

Also sets out seven factors the court can consider as evidence that a person has not made a bad-faith assertion of patent infringement, including that the person engages in a good-faith effort to establish that the target has infringed the patent and to negotiate an appropriate remedy, the person has demonstrated good-faith business practices in previous efforts to enforce the patent, as well as any other factors the court finds relevant.  

Provides that activities relating to advising others of ownership or right of license, communicating that the patent is available for license or sale, notifying others of the infringement of the patent, or seeking compensation on account for past or present infringement/ license to a patent will not be deemed  unlawful when not carried out in bad faith.

Requires a bond to be posted in an amount equal to a good-faith estimate of the target’s fees and costs to litigate the claim and reasonable recoverable amounts, when the court has found  a reasonable likelihood that a person has made a bad-faith assertion of patent infringement.  A hearing on the bond requirement can be requested by either party.  No bond issued can exceed $500,000.  Court is authorized to waive the bond requirement upon a finding that the person has available assets equal to the proposed bond amount or waive it for any other good cause.

Sets out regulations for enforcement, remedies, and damages, providing that the Attorney General has the same authority to make rules, conduct investigations, and bring civil actions under these new provisions as provided in the Chapter.  Provides that a target or person aggrieved by a violation of these regulations can bring an action in Superior Court. Remedies include equitable relief, damages, costs, and fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees), and exemplary damages in an amount of $50,000 or three times the total of damages, costs, and fees, whichever is greater.

Provides for  joinder of interested parties as well as establishing that any person making demands on a target has purposefully availed themselves of doing business in North Carolina and thus is subject to suit and jurisdiction in North Carolina, regardless of other business conducted in the state.  Provides that interested parties that joined the action through the joinder clause can be held jointly and severally liable for any amount awarded.  States that the rights or authority of North Carolina or the Attorney General are not limited in regards to conduct involving assertions of patent infringement.

All of the above is effective when bill becomes law, applying to actions commenced on or after that date and demands made on or after that date.

Amends GS 14-118.4, Extortion, providing that a person is guilty of extortion when intentionally obtaining or attempting to obtain property of another by making or threatening to make an abusive patent assertion. Effective December 1, 2014, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

To be summarized.

Enacts new GS Chapter 143, Article 31, Limitations on Certain Private Employment After Serving State, specifying that individuals and immediate family members of those individuals whom, in the six months leading up to termination, (1) were state employees who substantially participated in the award or management of a State contract or (2) were state employees that substantially participated in making a regulatory or licensing decision, cannot knowingly accept employment with, begin employment with, or receive compensation from a person, parent, or subsidiary that was a recipient of the contract or regulatory or licensing decision.

Sets out additional individuals that are subject to the six-month wait period for certain employment, including individuals and immediate family members of individuals that served as officers; members of a commission or board with contract, regulatory, or licensing authority; heads of a state agency; or chief procurement officers, state purchasing officers, or designees with duties directly related to procurement.  

Directs each state agency to adopt policies that delineate which positions would be subject to the above regulations.  Provides that state agencies can also designate positions that are subject to a notification requirement, which requires written notice and explanation to certain employees that are in positions that could become subject to the above regulations and wait period.

Provides that persons that violate these regulations, or that solicit or conspire to violate these regulations are guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and will be fined between $1,000 and $5,000.

Requires agencies to make the above required designations no later than three months after the effective date of this act.

Effective July 1, 2014, not applying to individuals who have accepted or started employment or received compensation prior to that date.

Amends GS 115C-215 regarding the administration of the driver education program by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop and implement a follow-up information management system in accordance with GS 115C-217 for monitoring the performance of current and past driver education program participants, and to establish and utilize performance indicators to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of the driver education program.

Directs the SBE to collect data form local school administrative units and to use data from the Division of Motor Vehicles (1) to establish the performance indicators and (2) to determine whether the performance indicators have been met. Specifies that this subsection is not to be construed so as to allow disclosing information otherwise deemed confidential by state or federal law.

Directs the SBE to consult with the Highway Safety Research Center Institute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish performance indicator design, data collection procedure, and reporting methodologies. Specifies what the performance indicators must be designed to do at minimum. Requires the SBE to provide an interim report on its progress in establishing performance indicators to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee on or before October 1, 2014, and to submit a final report by March 15, 2015. Directs the SBE to establish the performance indicators required under this act no later than March 1, 2015.

Enacts a new GS 115C-217, Driver education follow-up information management system. Defines "program participants" to mean current and former participants up to 22 years of age in the driver education program administered by DPI under GS 115C-215. Provides that under the strategic plan established and implemented by the SBE for the driver education program, DPI in collaboration with the DMV, is to develop, implement, and maintain a follow-up automated management system for monitoring the performance of program participants. Stresses that DPI is to ensure that the data collected about program participants is maintained as confidential, not open to general public inspection, and maintained and disseminated in a manner that protects the individual's identity from general public disclosure. Specifies what the data is to include, procedures and guidelines to be adopted by DPI to establish the information management system, guidelines governing local school administrative units and submission of information as requested by DPI, and reporting and evaluation guidelines. Authorizes DPI to withhold up to 10% of state driver education funds allotted to a local school administrative unit that does not submit data requested by DPI. Provides that any withheld funds are to revert and remain unexpended and unencumbered until appropriated by the General Assembly in a subsequent fiscal year. Requires DPI to ensure that funding and staff resources for the follow-up management system are not diverted into other programs or systems administered by DPI.

Amends GS 20-88.1 to direct the DMV to provide data on participants in the driver education program as required under GS 115C-215 and GS 115C-217.

GS 20-166.1(k) provides that the DMV may periodically publish statistical data on motor vehicle accidents derived from information in accident reports. Requires that any annual report made under this subsection is to include data gathered through the follow-up management system established under GS 115C-217. Specifies additional data comparisons and content to be included in the annual report.

Requires DPI to develop and implement the follow-up information management system as required by GS 115C-217 no later than March 1, 2015.

Directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) in consultation with DPI, and any other state agency DOT deems necessary, to study the feasibility of delivering driver education through electronic means. Specifies what the study must minimally examine. Includes requirements that the study examine the cost and feasibility of delivering the classroom component of driver education through electronic means.

Includes additonal details governing the study. Requires DOT to issue a Request for Qualifications to individuals and organizations identified by DOT as potential providers of the classroom component of the driver education program via electronic means. Directs DOT to submit an interim report on its progress to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee on or before December 1, 2014, and a final report by March 15, 2015.

Enacts new GS 143-162.3 to direct the UNC School of Government, in cooperation with other state universities, to generate, by March 1, 2015,standards for establishing and completing pilot projects requested by the General Assembly. Requires that all departments, agencies, bureaus, divisions, and institutions of the state conduct and complete pilot projects requested by the General Assembly after March 1, 2015 under the standards established by the School of Government unless specfically exempted by law. Authorizes the School of Government to update the standards for pilot projects as it deems necessary but requires 90 days written notice to all departments, institutions, bureaus, and divisions of the state prior to any updates to the standards for pilot projects.

Directs the School of Government not to finalize the standards for pilot projects until after it consults with the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee. Requires that the School of Government submit a detailed report of the pilot projects standards by January 1, 2015 to the Chairs of the Committee and to the Director of Program Evaluation Division at the General Assembly. Provides that if the Committee does not meet to hear the consultation within 90 days of submission of the report then the consultation requirement is satisfied.

Requires the Department of Public Instruction to (1) reduce the budget rating formula for school bus operations by 1% annually beginning in 2014-15 until fiscal year 2018-19, when the buffer reaches 5%; (2) limit the statewide inventory of spare school buses that meet the replacement criteria to 10% of the total inventory; and (3) implement a replacement part inventory management policy to ensure inventories are reduced to sufficent levels. Requires a report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by December 31, 2014.

Amends GS 115C-522 to require DPI, in consultation with the Department of Administration, to establish term contracts for school bus replacement parts with statewide annual sales exceeding $100,000. Requires local boards of education to purchase replacement parts from these contracts unless the price from noncertified sources is less than the cost under the state term contact and the parts are the same or substantially similar. Effective January 1, 2015.

Requires DPI to revise the inspection process for county school bus maintenance operations to ensure school bus safety and reliabilty by incorporating inspection, maintenance, and utilization information from the fleet management system to identity noncompliant bus maintenance facilities and improve oversight of local school bus operations. Requires a report on the process and implementation schedule to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 31, 2014.

Requires DPI to eliminate six specified positions to reduce the operational requirements of the Textbook Services program, effective June 30, 2014. Requires DPI to work with the Department of Administration to develop a plan to reallocate unneeded textbook warehouse space to other agencies. The plan must be submitted to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and to the Fiscal Research Division by December 31, 2014.

Requires DPI to implement a process for monitoring time and resources required for the services provided by the Plant Operation and School Planning sections and compile information during 2014-15 to measure the benefits of the services to the local boards. Requires a report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by September 1, 2015.

Requires DPI to develop model loss prevention and return-to-work programs for adoption by the State Board of Education (State Board) for use by local school boards, designed to reduce the number of injuries resulting in workers' compensation claims and ensure those with claims return to work in accordance with current State Board policy. Effective January 1, 2015, makes conforming changes to GS 115C-47 (Powers and duties of local boards of education).

Amends GS 115C-12 to add to the State Board's powers and duties the power to create an effective performance managment system. Amends GS 115C-21 to require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, on the performance of each administrative support program in the performance management system.

Enacts new GS 115C-23 to require DPI to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 31, 2014, and annually thereafter on the performance of each strategic objective identified by the State Board. Specifies information to be included in the report. Requires DPI to develop a performance management system for administrative support programs to include processes for identifying and monitoring specified objectives and outcomes, program outputs, and procedures.

Amends GS 115C-238.29A(b) to set out minimum standards for the review and recommendation process for charter applications by the NC Charter Schools Advisory Board, including requiring specific factual support for the final recommendation of approval or denial. Amends GS 115C-238.29B to require the State Board of Education (State Board) to adopt rules according to Article 2A of GS Chapter 150B regarding all aspects of charter school operation. Amends GS 115C-238.29D to require the State Board to make final decisions on the approval or denial of applications by June 15 of a calendar year on all applications received before a date established by the Office of Charter Schools for the reciept of applications in the prior calendar year (was, requried the State Board to act by January 15 of a calendar year on all applications and appeals received prior to a date set by the Office of Charter Schools for receipt of applications in the prior calendar year). Allows the State Board to make a final decision for approval contingent on successful completion of a planning year. Allows final decisions denying an application to be appealed by commencing a contested case in the Office of Administative Hearings. Applies beginning with the 2014-15 school year.

To be summarized.

Amends GS 127A-19, concerning selection criteria for the Adjutant General (AG), requiring that the AG, who heads all NC militia, must hold the rank of major general with federal recognition at time of appointmen,t or attain said rank within a reasonable period of time from the date of appointment. If the rank is not attained, the Governor must replace the AG with an appointee that meets required criteria. Provides that "a reasonable time period" takes into account time ingrade requirements for promotion and administrative period needed to complete promotion process.

Sets out five eligibility requirements for appointment as AG, including having a minimum of 10 years commissioned service in the Armed Forces, the Reserve Armed Forces, or a combination of the two, and a minimum of three years commissioned service in the NC Army or Air National Guard within the six-year period before the appointment date. Also requires the appointee to either be a major general, brigadier general, or a colonel, with federal recognition or eligibility for federal recognition and promotion to major general (previously there were no requirements for federal recognition and an appointee was not allowed a reasonable time to achieve the rank of major general).

Deletes language requiring appointees to have only five years' active commissioned service in the armed forces of the US in lieu of new service criteria requiements.

Makes technical and organizational changes.

Effective July 1, 2014, and applies to appointments on or after that date.

To be summarized.

To be summarized.

Appropriates $5 million for 2014-15 from the General Fund to the UNC Board of Governors to be allocated between UNC Charlotte and NC State University to be used as title indicates. Effective July 1, 2014.

Repeals Section 8.39 of SL 2013-360, Schematic Diagrams of School Facilities. Instead, enacts new GS 115C-105.53, as the title indicates. Directs the Department of Public Instruction to develop standards and guidelines for the preparation and content of schematic diagrams and necessary updates in consultation with the Department of Public Safety. Declares that schematic diagrams are not a public record as the term is defined under GS 132-1 and are not subject to inspection and examination under GS 132-6.

Effective when this act becomes law. Directs that the schematic diagrams and keys to the main entrance of all school facilities referenced in Section 2 of this act be provided to local law enforcement before January 1, 2015.

Requires the UNC Board of Governors to study and report on the feasibility of establishing a school of optometry at one or more the following institutions:

(1) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

(2) East Carolina University

(3) Elizabeth City State University

(4) Fayetteville State University 

(5) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

(6) North Carolina Central University

(7) Winston-Salem State University

The report is to be submitted, by December 1, 2014, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division. The report must include (1) a breakdown of expenditures for establishing and operating a school of optometry, (2) a breakdown of all funds available to assist the institution with these expenses, and (3) the projected number of applicants for the affiliated school of optometry.

Encourages  the NC Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc. to make the same report. 

As title indicates.