Amends GS 20-4.01(27) toadd an autocycle as a type ofpassenger vehicle.Definesautocycle as "a three-wheeled motorcycle with a steering wheel, pedals, seat safety belts for each occupant, anti-lock brakes, air bag protection, completely enclosed seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, and is otherwise manufactured to comply with federal safety requirements for motorcycles." Amends the definition for motorcycle to include autocycles. Makes a technical change, re-lettering sub-subsections.

Under current law, GS 20-7(a2) identifies persons that are eligible to operate a motorcycle with a motorcycle learner's permit. Amends GS 20-7, adding subsection (a3) to provide that subsection (a2) does not apply to autocycles and that a person operating an autocycle must have a regular driver's license. Amends subsection (c) of thisstatute to prohibit a person from using an autocycle to complete a road test required by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Makes an organizational change to GS 20-37.16(c), adding headings to clarify the endorsements required to drive certain vehicles and the vehicles that be driven with the specified endorsements. Provides that for purposes of subsection (c), the term "motorcycles" does not include autocycles. Provides that under this section, autocycles are subject to the same endorsement requirements as motor vehicles.

Amends the following sections to provide that for the purposes of each of these sections, the term "motorcycle" does not include autocycles: (1) GS 20-124(d) (brake requirements), (2) GS 20-125.1(d) (directional signals), (3) GS 20-129(c) (required lighting equipment of vehicles), (4) GS 20-130(a) (spot lamps), and (5) GS 20-131(a) (requirements as to headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps). Provides that for the purposes of each of the above listedstatutes, autocycles are subject to the requirements under each section for motor vehicles.

Adds a new subsection (d) to GS 20-135.2. Provides that under this statute, the term "motorcycle" excludes autocycles. Requires every autocycle registered in North Carolina to have at minimum one set of seatbelts for the front seat of the autocycle and specifies that the safety belt must meet the same requirements as those for safety belts in motor vehicles.

Amends GS 20-135.3 to include autocycles in seat belt anchorage requirements for rear seats of motor vehicles. Provides that for the purposes of this section, the term "motorcycles" does not include autocycles.

Amends GS 20-140(a) to exclude the operator of or passengers in an autocycle from the requirementsregarding wearing of safety helmets.

Amends GS 20-146.1(b) to provide that this subsection, which limits motorcycles to operating no more than two abreast in a single lane, does not include autocycles. Restricts autocycles to operating not more than one abreast in a single lane.

Makes a conforming change to GS 20-127(c)(1).

Effective October 1, 2015. Provides that prosecutions for offenses committed before this act's effective date are not abated or affected by this act and that statutes that would apply except for this act will continue to apply to those prosecutions.

As the title indicates, amends the following provisions regarding statewide elections in order to restore partisan judicial elections for Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Court of Appeals: (1) GS 163-106(c), filing notice of candidacy, and subsection(d), notice of candidacy for certain offices to indicate vacancy; (2) GS 163-107(a), fee schedule; (3) GS 163-107.1(b), filing a petition instead of paying a filing fee; and (4) GS 163-111(c)(1), procedure for requesting second primary. Makes technical changes to insert gender-neutral language.

Makes conforming changes to remove the election of Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Court of Appeals from the provisions governing the election of judges in Subchapter X of GS Chapter 163.

Becomes effective for primaries and elections held on or after January 1, 2016.

Amends GS 148-132, providing that the Section of Correction Enterprises of the Division of Adult Correction is authorized to market and sell products and services produced by Correction Enterprises to licensed health professionals for the sole purpose of providing eyeglasses to enrollees in the Medicaid or NC Health Choice plans. Sale price of these products cannot exceed the health professional's cost of acquisition. Further provides that orders submitted by health professionals to Correction Enterprises must include the program identification number of the enrollee that will receive the eyeglasses. 

Includes introductory "whereas clauses" providing public policy reasons for enacting this legislation.

Part I.

Amends GS 78-17 to add a new exemption to the list of transactions that are exempt from the registration and filing requirements to include the offer or sale of securities conducted in accordance with proposed GS 78A-17.1, the Invest NC exemption. Effective when bill becomes law, expiring on July 1, 2017.

Enacts new GS 78A-17.1, Invest NC Exemption, to Article 3 of GS Chapter 78A. Provides that an offer or sale of a security by an issuer is exempt from registration requirements under GS 78-24 and filing requirements under GS 78A-49(d) if the offer or sale is conducted in accordance with the 13 specified requirements. Provides that the caps set for cash and other consideration for all sales of the security in reliance upon the exemption in GS 78A-17.1 must be cumulatively adjusted every fifth year by the Secretary of State (Administrator) to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Requires an issuer of security for which the offer of sale is exempt under this section to submit a free-of-charge quarterly report to the issuer's shareholders until there are no outstanding securities issued under this section. Specifies how an issuer can satisfy the reporting requirement via an internet website if made available in accordance with specified requirements. Requires that an issuer must file each quarterly report with the Administrator. Specifies content required to be in the report. Provides criteria for offers and sales to controlling persons, defined as an officer, director, partner, trustee, or individuals having similar status or performing similar functions as the issuer, or a person owning 10% or more of the outstanding shares of any class or classes of securities of the issuer. Provides for disqualification for the exemption if an issuer or person affiliated with the issuer or offering is subject to any qualifications contained in 18 NCAC 06A. 1207(a)(1) through (a)(6) or contained in Rule 262 as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.262).  Authorizes the Administrator to adopt rules to protect investors who purchase securities under this section. Directs the Administrator to charge a nonrefundable filing fee of $150 for filing the exemption notice. Effective when bill becomes law, expiring on July 1, 2017.

Makes a conforming change to GS 78A-49(d) regarding the informational filing requirement. Effective when bill becomes law, expiring on July 1, 2017.

Requires the Administrator to adopt rules to implement this act within 12 months. Provides for a 15-day notice and comment period and requires the Administrator to hold at least one public hearing on the rules. Provides that the rules become effective on the first day of the month following the date the rules are adopted and sent to the Codifier of Rules for entry into the Administrative Code. Provides that this provision expires 12 months after the effective date of this act. Effective when bill becomes law, expiring on July 1, 2017.

Part II.

Adds new Article 3L, “NC New Markets Jobs Act of 2015,” to GS Chapter 105 to provide that an entity that makes a qualified equity investment earns a below-the-line tax reduction that may be applied to the entity’s state premium tax liability on future premium tax reports filed under Article 8B of GS Chapter 105.

Enacts new GS 105-129.101 (definitions). Defines qualified equity investment as an equity investment in, or long-term debt security issued by, a qualified community development entity that meets each of the following requirements: (1) is acquired after the act's effective date at its original issuance solely in exchange for cash; (2) has at least 85% of its cash purchase price used by the qualified community development entity to make qualified low-income community investments in qualified active low-income community businesses located in this state by the first anniversary of the initial reduction allowance date; and (3) is designated as a qualified equity investment under this subdivision and certified by the Department of Commerce (Department) as not exceeding the limitation in proposed GS 105-129.102(d)(5). Additionally defines qualified active low-income community business, qualified community development entity, and additional terms as they apply in this act.

Provides details on the tax reduction and directs the Department to certify $208,333,333  in qualified equity investment authority in accordance with two allocations, one for the Rural Reserve and one for the Statewide Reserve, as described in GS 105-129.109(a). Sets out the procedure for a qualified community development entity to apply to the Department, which is to begin accepting applications on July 1, 2015, for an equity investment or long-term debt security to be designated as a qualified equity investment. Allows for disallowing a reduction claimed or to be claimed by a taxpayer under new Article 3L under specified circumstances. Requires that notice of a disallowed tax reduction must be sent in writing to the taxpayer and the Department of Revenue. Prohibits enforcement of the disallowance under this Article until the qualified community development entity has been provided with notice of the noncompliance and allowed six months to cure the noncompliance. Provides that a recaptured reduction and the related qualified equity investment authority reverts to the Department and is to be issued pro rata to other applicants whose allocations were reduced under the provisions of this section and in accordance with the application process. Requires that applicants pay a refundable performance deposit for each application submitted. Sets out conditions under which the deposit is forfeited.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue binding letter rulings in response to applicants requesting an interpretation of the law to a specific set of facts. Sets out requirements for the rulings.

Provides that an entity claiming a reduction for qualified equity investment is not required to pay any additional retaliatory tax as a result of claiming the reduction.

Prohibits a certified qualified equity investment from being decertified unless the requirements of GS 105-129.107 have been met. Sets out conditions for decertification.

Provides that no qualified community development entity is entitled to pay any affiliate of such entity any fees in connection with any activity under this Article prior to decertification of all qualified equity investment issued by the entity. Does not prohibit a qualified community development entity from allocating or distributing income earned by it to the affiliates or paying reasonable interest on amounts lent to the entity by such affiliates.

Allows qualified community development entities to apply for both the Rural Reserve (consisting of $156,250,000) and the Statewide Reserve (consisting of $52,083,333). Sets out requirements for investments made under the Rural Reserve and the Statewide Reserve.

Directs a qualified community development entity issuing qualified equity investments to submit a report to the Department within the first five business days after the first anniversary of the initial reduction allowance that documents the investment of 85% of the purchase price in qualified low-income community investments in qualified active low-income community businesses in North Carolina. Specifies the required content of the report. Requires a qualified community development entity to continue to submit annual reports to the Department on or before April 1 of the calendar year during the compliance period.

Provides that this section, proposed Article 3L, applies to qualified equity investments made on or after July 1, 2015.

As the title indicates.

Repeals the following General Statutes: 58-2-170, 58-3-191(a) and(b1), 58-67-140(a)(7), 58-36-3(c), 58-40-130(e), and 58-50-95 concerning specified insurance reports.

Amends GS 58-2-165(b) to provide that the Commissioner of Insurance (Commissioner) may require statements under thisstatute (was, alsounder GS 58-2-170) and GS 58-2-190 to be filed in a format that can be read by electronic data processing equipment within specified limitations.

Applies to reports otherwise required to be filed on or after July 1, 2015.

Under current law, GS 115C-238.51A sets out the process for reviewing and approving applications to establish Cooperative Innovative High Schools (CIHS).

Amends subsection (b) of GS 115C-238.51A, which applies to CIHS applications that do not request additional funds. Provides that a CIHS approved under this subsection may open at the beginning of the school year following approval or may open after a planning year.

Amends subsection (c) of GS 115C-238.51A, which applies to CIHS applications that request additional funds. Provides that CIHS applications requesting additional funds may be approved contingent upon the appropriation by the General Assembly of (1) the additional funds or (2) funding for a planning year (was, contingent on the appropriation of additional funds). Makes additional changes to this subsection to make its provisions applicable to requests for planning year funding as well as requests for additional funds. Requires a CIHS that receives planning year funding under this subsection to open after a planning year.

Appropriates $750,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2015-16 fiscal year to be allocated for planning year funding in the amount of $75,000 per approved CIHS.

Effective July 1, 2015.

Enacts new GS 130A-221.5 to provide that every physician, physician's assistant, or certified nurse practitioner that provides well-child care must ensure that diabetes screening is performed for each child under their care at least once at the following age intervals, (1) birth, (2) 12 months of age, and (3) 24 months of age. 

Effective October 1, 2015.

 

Enacts new GS 96-35, unemployment insurance program integrity; reporting, to ensure that program integrity measures enacted by the Division of Employment Services (DES) include the rigorous and consistent use of business intelligence and data analytics.

Sets out the following five required activities that DES must do to enhance integrity: (1) prioritize DES program integrity efforts that maximize the use of information sharing with or  between specified projects and initiatives in order to prevent, detect, and reduce unemployment insurance fraud and irregularities, (2) coordinate efforts with the Office of Information Technology Services to ensure that DES integrates into its operation and procedures  the most effective and accurate processes and tools to prevent fraudulent, suspicious, or irregular claims, (3) coordinate efforts with the Department of Revenue to enhance alerts which indicate circumvention of payment of unemployment insurance taxes, (4) coordinate efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services to facilitate claims cross-matching and other appropriate steps, and (5) coordinate efforts with the Office of State Controller to facilitate cross-matching and other appropriate steps using BEACON.

Requires DES to submit quarterly written reports, beginning April 1, 2015, that detail its progress and efforts in achieving  the above required activities, to the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Unemployment Insurance, the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, the Chairs of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. Sets out specific items the written report must contain, including metrics regarding unemployment benefits overpayments, improper payments, and fraudulent payments.

Requires DES, beginning January 1, 2016, to submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing efforts to carry out the above required activities. Sets out five specific items the annual report must contain, including, the methodology used to determine analytic priorities for unemployment insurance program integrity investigation.

Amends GS 20-7(b2) to give the DMV authority to disclose social security numbers to the Department of Commerce (Commerce), Division of Employment Security (DES), for the purpose of verifying employer and claimant identity. Amends GS 96-9.2(c) and changes the end date of the 12-month period used to calculate "total insured wages" for contribution rates to June 30 (was, July 31). Applies to contributions payable for calendar quarters beginning on or after January 1, 2014.

Amends the actively seeking work requirement as found in GS 96-14.9(e), requiring individuals to make at least five job contacts (was, sought work on at least two different days during the week and made at least two contacts) with potential employers each week to fulfill the work-seeking requirement. Effective July 1, 2015, applying to claims for benefits on or after that date.

Amends GS 96-15(h), making clarifying and technical changes regarding judicial review of hearing decisions of the Board of Review. Provides that a decision of the Board of Review becomes final 30 days after the date of mailing unless a party to the decision seeks judicial review. Effective July 1, 2015, applying to decisions made on or after that date.

Amends GS 96-3, GS 96-4(j), and GS 96-9.15(f) regarding the DES, deleting and/or replacing the language that referred to the Employment Security Section and the Employment Insurance Section with DES.

Enacts new GS 1-359(b) to provide that when DES wins a civil action against an employer to collect unpaid employment taxes, DES can attach or garnish the employer's credit card receipts in recovering the unpaid taxes. Direct receipt of those funds by DES represents a sufficient discharge for the amount paid by the credit card company.

Amends GS 96-10(b)(1) regarding collections of contributions, providing that any judgment that is executable and allowed by GS 96-10 will be subject to attachment and garnishment for payment of unpaid taxes as provided in GS 1-359(b).

Amends GS 96-14.9, concerning weekly certification of eligibility for benefits, requiring individuals to present valid photo identification when requested to report to the DES. Also sets out what is considered to be a valid photo ID.

Amends Section 1.10(c) of SL 2011-401 to extend the deadline for rule and regulation readoption by the Division of Employment Security, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act in GS Chapter 150B, Article 2A, to April 20, 2015 (was, December 31, 2012).

Repeals GS 96-14.4, Duration of benefits for individual claimant. Effective July 1, 2015, applying to claims for benefits made on or after July 1, 2015.

Amends GS 96-14.3, changing the title to Duration of benefits (was, Minimum and maximum duration of benefits). Deletes any language referencing minimum  or maximum number of weeks and establishes that the maximum number of weeks will now serve as the number of weeks an individual will receive benefits according to the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. Provides that the total benefits paid to an individual is calculated by multiplying the individual's weekly benefit by the number of weeks allowed under GS 14.3(a). Effective July 1, 2015, applying to claims for benefits made on or after July 1, 2015.

Amends GS 96-14.12(b) to provide that the duration of benefits for an individual who is unemployed based on services provided to a corporation in which the individual held 5 percent or more outstanding of voting stock will be limited to six weeks (previously, it was the lesser of six weeks or the weeks determined under now repealed GS 94-14.4).  Effective July 1, 2015, applying to claims for benefits made on or after July 1, 2015.

Amends GS 96-16(f), updating statutory references, replacing GS 96-14.4 with GS 96-14.3. Effective July 1, 2015, applying to claims for benefits made on or after July 1, 2015.

Re-enacts GS 105-151.31, the "Earned Income Tax Credit," as it existed immediately before its expiration. Requires an individual who is a nonresident or part-year resident who claims the credit under thisstatute to reduce the amount of the credit by multiplying it by the appropriate fraction: (1) for the 2015 taxable year the percentage is 2.5% and (2) for all other taxable years, the percentage is 5%.

Provides that thisstatute is repealed for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.