Includes whereas clauses. Requires the Senate to consider whether to confirm Dr. Mandy Cohen as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Makes the following changes to Article 26 of GS Chapter 120. Renames the chapter as Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee (previously, did not include the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee). Makes organizational changes to place existing language into Part 1, and adds Part 2 pertaining to the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee as follows. 

Creates the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee (Committee), consisting of 12 members with six each appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Establishes terms on the Committee to be for two years, and begin on the convening of the General Assembly in each odd-numbered year. Provides that resignation or removal from service in the General Assembly constitutes resignation or removal from service on the Committee. Requires a vacancy to be filled within 30 days by the appointing officer. Directs the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker to each designate a cochair for the Committee. Provides that the Committee is to meet upon the joint call of the cochairs. Provides a quorum of the Committee of eight members is required for action to be taken. Details provisions for the powers the Committee may exercise in the discharge of its official duties, member expenses, staffing the Committee, and clerical expenses of the Committee.

Charges the Committee with examining the cybersecurity practices of State agencies on a continuing basis in order to make ongoing recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of the State's cybersecurity and data loss prevention practices and measures. Specifies five powers and duties of the Committee in order to carry out its charge, including reviewing any issues that affect State agency information resources that arise during the interim period between sessions of the General Assembly, in the discretion of the Committee. Defines information resources to mean data and the means for storing, retrieving, connecting, or using data, including but not limited to records, files, databases, documents, software, equipment, and facilities that a State agency owns or leases. Directs the Committee to make periodic reports to the General Assembly, which can contain legislative proposals to implement its recommendations. Other powers of the Committee include (1) monitoring State agency and Department of Information Technology cybersecurity and data loss prevention activities; (2) reviewing and monitoring State agency compliance with budgetary and other directives of the General Assembly relating to State agency cybersecurity and data loss prevention and monitoring State agency expenditures, deviations, and changes to the certified budget related to cybersecurity and data loss prevention; (3) requesting and receiving presentations and reports from State agencies on security incidents and information security assessments as well as audits, studies, and other reports; and (4) identifying opportunities for agencies to coordinate and collaborate to eliminate duplicative cybersecurity functions. Defines security incident as the term is defined in GS 143B-1320(a)(15). Defines information security assessment as (1) an organized method to determine a risk to or a vulnerability of a State agency's information system or a third-party information service to which the State subscribes and (2) an independent examination and review of records, logs, policies, activities, and practices used to: (a) access whether a State agency's information system is vulnerable to an information security incident; (b) ensure compliance with the rules, policies, standards, and procedures that the State Chief Information Officer or a State agency, under the State agency's independent authority, adopts or promulgates; and (c) recommend necessary changes to a State agency's rules, policies, standards, and procedures to ensure compliance and prevent information security incidents. 

Requires each member of the Committee to execute a nondisclosure agreement upon appointment and any subsequent nondisclosure agreements, as appropriate. Specifies that the nondiscloure agreement is to be provided by the Committee and include (1) a description of the parties to the agreement, (2) a definition of the types of information covered by the agreement, (3) the period of nondisclosure, (4) exclusions from the agreement, (5) description of how to handle information covered by the agreement that is received by the member, and (6) types of permissible disclosure. Provides that disclosure of information covered by the nondisclosure agreement constitutes grounds for the member's removal from the Committee, and willful or intentional disclosure of information covered by the nondisclosure agreement constitutes a Class I felony.

Authorizes the Committee to conduct its business in closed session and exclude the public under GS 143-318.11 when required in four circumstances, in addition to the permitted purposes provided in GS 143-318.11. Specifies the four circumstances to be (1) to receive reports, audits, studies, or testimony that could provide sensitive information relating to the State agency cybersecurity, data loss prevention measures, protocols, or related budgetary expenditures; (2) discuss information technology security incidents affecting State agencies; (3) discuss the provision or status of measures taken to prevent information technology security incidents by the departments and agencies of this State; and (4) discuss budgetary items and requests relating to the prevention and mitigation of security interests. Defines information technology security incident to be as defined by GS 143B-1320(a)(12), and includes any incident that creates a risk of harm to a State agency or the State agency's operations and in which: (1) access to or viewing, copying, transmission, theft, or usage of a State agency's sensitive information occurs without authorization from the State agency; (2) a failure of compliance with a State agency's security or acceptable use policies or practices occurs that results in access to a State agency's information system or information resources for viewing, copying, transmission, theft, or use without the State agency's authorization; or (3) a State agency's information system or information resources or a third party information service to which a State agency subscribes becomes available in a reliable and timely manner to authorized individuals or organizations, or is modified or deleted under circumstances that the State agency does not intend, plan, or initiate. Establishes that all minutes, documents, testimony, or other records relating to Committee proceedings occurring during closed session under this statute are subject to the nondisclosure provisions of GS 120-283.3 and are not public records. Authorizes the Committee to release information it has received pursuant to new Part 2 of Article 26 in the Committee's discretion and upon unanimous vote of the members. Requires the Committee to consider the potential impact upon private and proprietary interests in exercising its discretion. 

Amends GS 143B-1322(c) to add to the powers and duties of the State Chief Information Officer the power to enter into nondisclosure agreements with the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee and the chief information officers and department heads of participating agencies relating to the sharing of information on cybersecurity and data loss prevention practices and measures used by the Department of Information Technology and participating agencies. Amends GS 143B-1322(d) to direct the Office of State Budget and Management and the Office of State Controller to cooperate with the Department of Information Technology in the assignment of budget codes in a manner that protects the security of the State's information technology assets.

Enacts GS 143B-1380 to require the State CIO to at least quarterly thereafter report to the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee on: (1) known instances of and attempts at cyber attack or data breach within the Department of Information Technology or participating agencies, (2) quantifiable data on losses stemming from instances of cyber attack or data breach, (3) identification of issues surrounding cybersecurity and data loss prevention practices and measures in place at the time of the cyber attack or data breach, (4) steps taken to prevent future cyber attacks and data breaches of a similar nature, and (5) recommendation to the Committee on potential legislative action. Establishes that the report by the State CIO is not public record, but is subject to the provision of GS 120-238.3, as enacted.

Directs that the initial appointment of members to the Legislative Cybersecurity Committee to be made on or before January 1, 2018, with initial members serving a one-year term during the 2018 Regular Session of the 2017 General Assembly, unless reappointed by the appointing official.

Identical to H 340, filed 3/14/17.

Enacts new GS Chapter 143, Article 12I (Special Separation Allowances for State and Local Firefighters).

Applies to firefighters employed both by State departments, agencies, or institutions, and by employers participating in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System.

Provides firefighters who meet specified criteria with an annual separation allowance equal to .85% of the annual equivalent of the base rate of compensation most recently applicable to the firefighter for each year of creditable service, to be paid in equal installments on the payroll frequency used by the employer, beginning in the month in which the firefighter retires under basic service retirement. To qualify, the firefighter, must have either completed 30 or more years of creditable service or attained 60 years of age with 25 or more years of creditable service, must have not attained 62 years of age, and must have completed at least five years of continuous service rendered on or after July 1, 2017, as a firefighter immediately preceding a service retirement. Payment ceases upon either the death of the firefighter, the last day of the month in which the firefighter attains 62 years of age, or the first day of reemployment by any State department, agency or institution, or local government employer in any capacity, with certain exceptions required by other statutes. Does not affect other State, local, federal, or private retirement benefits. Directs the head of each state department, agency, or institution, or the governing body of a local employer, to determine the eligibility of employees for the benefits of this statute. Authorizes the Director of the Budget to authorize the transfer of funds within the budgets of each State department, agency, or institution to carry out the statute. Directs the head of each State department, agency, or institution, or governing body of a local employer, to make the payments described above.

Amends GS 96-1 to provide that service performed by direct sellers, as defined in the IRS Code, is not employment for the purpose of unemployment insurance. Applies to claims for benefits filed on or after July 1, 2017, and to tax calculation on or after that same date.

Identical to H 486, filed 3/27/17.

Amends GS 116-209.54 to make the tuition benefits package for North Carolina National Guard members also available to students in professional certification programs recommended by the Director of the North Carolina National Guard Education and Employment Center and approved by the North Carolina National Guard Education Services Officer. Applies beginning with the 2017 fall academic semester.

Identical to H 483, filed 3/27/17.

Amends GS 15A-1340.16(e) concerning aggravated and mitigated sentences, enacting new subdivision (14a), which provides that it is a mitigating factor that the defendant has been diagnosed as suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his or her military service and is undergoing treatment for that condition. Sets out and defines PTSD for use in this section. Requires documentary evidence to be submitted to the court to verify military service and PTSD diagnosis. Effective October 1, 2017.

Identical to H 487, file 3/27/17.

Amends Article 16 of GS Chapter 157A, National Guard Reemployment Rights, as follows.

Enacts GS 127A-201.1, defining the terms benefit of employment, qualified, and seniority.

Amends GS 127A-202, amending and adding to previous provisions and making organizational changes. New subsection (a) requires an employee's previous employer to reemploy the employee in the employee's previous position within five days of the employee's release from state duty. Defines state duty as (1) in the case of a member of the NC National Guard, State active duty under an order of the Governor pursuant to GS Chapter 127A; or (2) in the case of a member of the National Guard of another State, service under an order of the governor of that state, which is similar to State active duty. Amends existing language to provide that, if the employee's state duty lasted more than 30 days, the employee is required to make written application to the employee's previous employer for reemployment within 14 days of the employee's release from state duty, and requires the employee to be restored to the employee's previous position or placed in another position as previously specified. New subsection (b) establishes that if an employee is hospitalized for, or convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in or aggravated during the performance of state duty, the employee is required to make written application for reemployment within the period of recovery. Defines the period of recovery to be the period necessary for the employee to recover from the illness or injury. Limits the period of recovery to not exceed two years, unless the Commissioner of Labor (Commissioner) extends the period. Allows the Commissioner to extend the period only if the employee files a written requires for extension at least 15 days prior to the expiration of the two-year period of recovery and the Commissioner finds that reemployment during the two-year period would place an undue burden on the employee. Directs the Commissioner to notify the employee's previous employer of the amount of the extension. Allows a party who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Commissioner to commence a contested case under Article 3 of GS Chapter 150B.

Makes clarifying change to GS 127A-203, requiring an employer denying employee rights under GS 127A-202 to compensate the employee for any loss of wages or benefits of employment suffered by reason of the employer's unlawful failure or refusal. 

Makes technical changes.

Applies to state duty commencing on or after the date that the act becomes law.