House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Amends proposed GS 15A-145.8 to no longer require the person to file a petition in order to start the expunction process and no longer require a hearing. Makes conforming changes by removing references to the petition.  Amends the act's long title.

House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition. Amends GS 14-309.30 by deleting from the games that may be played at a game night event any other game specified in the permit application and approved by Alcohol Law Enforcement. 

Amends proposed GS 14-309.35 as follows. Adds the requirement that any gaming table or gaming equipment possessed or transported for use in a game night event must be registered with the Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch of the DPS and requires a sticker affixed with a unique number which is accompanied by a $50 fee that must be renewed annually. Makes possession or transportation of a gaming table or gaming equipment that violates this subsection a Class 1 misdemeanor. Makes conforming changes.

Enacts new GS 14-309.36 prohibiting receiving compensation for providing gaming tables or gaming equipment for use in a game night without obtaining a permit. Charges a $1,000 permit fee. Requires all gaming tables and gaming equipment owned or possessed by a game night vendor to be registered. Requires the Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch to inspect the gaming tables and equipment before a game night begins and requires a $250 fee to be paid for each inspection. Prohibits a person who has a felony conviction from being employed as a game night vendor. 

Enacts GS 105-153.11 to give a meat processor that contracts with a nonprofit organization to process legally harvested deer for donation to a charitable organization engaged in distributing food to the needy an income tax credit in the amount of $25 per deer carcass processed and donated. Sets out additional qualifications to be met in order to be eligible for the credit. Gives a taxpayer who donates a deer the taxpayer has legally harvested to a meat processor described above for distribution to the needy an income tax credit equal to $25 per deer carcass harvested and donated. Sets out additional qualifications to be met in order to be eligible for the credit. Sets limitations on the credit and allows the unused portion to be carried forward for five years. Requires, upon request, that the taxpayer also file a certification from the Wildlife Resources Commission stating the number of carcasses donated and the final disposition of the processed venison. Repeals this statute effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024. Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Amends GS 20-4.01 by amending the definitions of fuel cell electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles by adding that the vehicle does not have the ability to be propelled by a gasoline engine.

Amends GS 20-57 by removing the requirement that a vehicle registration card have space for the owner's signature.

Amends GS 20-7 by extending the expiration date of a full provisional drivers license issued to a person under the age of 18 to 60 days following the person's twenty-first birthday. Also amends the statute to allow the Division of Motor Vehicles to offer remote conversion of a full provisional license. Makes conforming changes and sets out requirements to be met when using remote conversion. Adds that when renewing or converting a license remotely, if the license holder does not reside at the address on the license, the holder may comply with the address requirement by providing the address at which the holder resides at the time of the renewal or conversion request. 

Amends GS 105-153.5 to allow a taxpayer to deduct from their adjusted gross income the amount received during the taxable year from one or more State, local, or federal government retirement plans. Sets out a chart phasing in the deduction beginning in 2019 for taxpayers vested on or before August 1992 through 2027 for those vested on or before August 2019. Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, and repealed for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2028.

Amends GS 105-153.5, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2028, to allow a deduction from adjusted gross income any of the following: (1) amount received during the taxable year under NC state and local government retirement plans and under federal government retirement plans and (2) amount received during the taxable year under a state or local government retirement plan of a state other than North Carolina to the extent the other state would not subject to individual income tax the equivalent amount received under a NC state or local government retirement plan. 

Amends GS 105-153.3 by defining the term retirement plan.

Includes various whereas clauses.

Amends the caption of GS 160A-360 to read Limits on planning powers (was, Territorial jurisdiction). Deletes all substantive language of GS 160A-360 regarding a city's ability to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction. Remaining language provides that a city can enforce its regulations after an area that is currently regulated by county planning and development regulations is annexed by the city and the city adopts such regulations or a period of 60 days has elapsed since the annexation.

Amends GS 160A-361(a) regarding duties of planning boards, to provide that any city can create or designate boards or commissions to perform studies of an area within the city's corporate limits (previously, could make studies of an area within its jurisdiction and surrounding areas).

Repeals GS 160A-362, concerning extraterritorial representation on the planning board.

Repeals any provision in a local act which previously granted a city, town, or village the power to exercise extraterritorial planning jurisdiction pursuant to GS Chapter 160A, Article 19.

Provides that, effective January 1, 2020, jurisdiction over an area that a city is regulating pursuant to extraterritorial planning jurisdiction is relinquished. Provides that a city can relinquish such regulation prior to January 1, 2020, as long as the city complies with the provisions of GS Chapter 160A, Article 19.

Provides that upon relinquishment of an area of extraterritorial jurisdiction, city regulations will remain in effect until (a) the county has adopted regulations or (b) a period of 60 days since the effective date of the act has elapsed. Further provides that individuals that have acquired vested rights under a permit, certificate, or other evidence of compliance issued by the city can continue to exercise such rights as if no change of jurisdiction has occurred. Allows the county acquiring jurisdiction to take any action regarding such rights that could have been taken by the city that surrendered jurisdiction. Provides that buildings, structures, or other land use in a territory which a county has acquired jurisdiction are subject to the ordinances and regulations of the county.

Makes various conforming changes concerning the repeal of extraterritorial jurisdiction authority in the following sections: GS 113A-208 (Regulations of mountain ridge construction by counties and cities), GS 122C-403 (Secretary's authority over Camp Butner reservation), GS 122C-405 (Procedure applicable to rules), GS 122C-410 (Authority of county or city over Camp Butner Reservation; zoning jurisdiction by Town of Butner over State lands), GS 136-44.50 (Transportation corridor official map act), GS 136-55.1 (Notice of abandonment), GS 136-63 (Change or abandonment of roads), GS 136-66.3 (Local government participation in improvements to the State transportation system), GS 143-138 (North Carolina State Building Code), GS 143-215.57 (Procedures in issuing permits), GS 153A-317.14 (Extension of economic development and training districts), GS 160A-58.4 (Extraterritorial powers), GS 160A-176.1 (Ordinances effective in Atlantic Ocean), GS 160A-176.2 (Ordinances effective in Atlantic Ocean), GS 160A-199 (Regulation of outdoor advertising), GS 160A-296 (Establishment and control of streets; center and edge lines), GS 160A-299 (Procedure for permanently closing streets and alleys), GS 160A-383.4 (Local energy efficiency incentives), and GS 160A-459 (Stormwater control).

Amends GS 160A-366 to provide that a city ordinance adopted before January 1, 1972, is validated with respect to its application within the corporate limits of the city. Ordinances adopted since that date are validated notwithstanding the fact that such ordinances were not recorded pursuant to the specified statutes. 

Enacts new language to define the term extraterritorial jurisdiction as meaning the boundaries of an area over which a specified city was exercising extraterritorial planning jurisdiction prior to the city's relinquishment of jurisdiction on or before January 1, 2020. New language can be found in the following sections: GS 122C-3, GS 130A-317, GS 143-215.1, and GS 160A-340.2.

Specifies that the act has no effect on the extraterritorial jurisdiction of law enforcement officers as authorized under GS Chapter 77, specified statutes, or any local or general law.

Effective January 1, 2020.

Amends the duties of the Department of Information Technology (DIT) with respect to state information technology procurement in GS 143B-1350 as follows. Removes requiring convenience contracts to be rebid before termination without extensions and adds the establishment of procedures for state agencies and local government entities to use multiple award schedule contracts. Adds that the procurement of information technology may be conducted using multiple award schedule contracts; such contracts must be periodically updated to include addition or deletion of particular vendors, goods, services, or pricing. 

Amends GS 143B-1362 by deleting the provision requiring DIT to develop standards for determining whether it is more appropriate for an agency to hire an employee or use a vendor, the provision requiring DIT to identify or create positions when a contractor is performing a function that is determined to be more appropriately performed by a state employee, the provision requiring compliance audits, the provision requiring DIT to report on progress towards standardizing information technology personal service contracts, and the provision requiring DIT to adopt rules consistent with the statute. 

Amends GS 143-787 to require the State Chief Information Officer, instead of that Office, to ensure the specified access to the Government Data Analytics Center.

Amends GS 143B-1420 to locate the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council within DIT instead of the Office of the Governor. 

Amends GS 143B-1353 prohibiting financial interest of officers in sources of information technology supply by adding that the provisions of GS 133-32 (regulation of gifts and favors) apply to the named classes of individuals.

Identical to S 141, filed 2/26/19.

Part I.

Enacts GS 58-19-38 to require the Commissioner of Insurance of North Carolina (Commissioner) to identify a single group-wide supervisor (supervisor) for an internationally active insurance group; allows the Commissioner to act as the supervisor but allows the Commissioner to otherwise acknowledge another official as the supervisor where the internationally active insurance group meets the specified criteria. GS 58-19-5 is amended to define internationally active insurance group as an insurance holding company system that includes a registered insurer and that meets all of the following: (1) the insurance holding company system writes premiums in at least three countries; (2) the percentage of gross premiums of the insurance holding company system written outside the US is at least 10% of the insurance holding company system's total gross written premiums; and (3) based on a three-year rolling average, the total assets of the insurance holding company system are at least $50 billion or the total gross written premiums of the insurance holding company system are at least $10 billion. 

Sets out factors that the Commissioner must consider when determining that the Commissioner is the appropriate supervisor for an internationally active insurance group that conducts substantial insurance operations concentrated in this state or acknowledges that an official from another jurisdiction is the appropriate supervisor. Allows a regulatory official identified as the supervisor to determine that it is appropriate to acknowledge another regulatory official to serve as the supervisor and sets out requirements for acknowledging such a change. 

Provides that when another regulatory official is acting as the supervisor of an internationally active insurance group, the Commissioner must acknowledge that official as the supervisor, but requires the Commissioner to make a determination or acknowledgment as to the supervisor when there is a material change in the internationally active insurance group that results in either the internationally active insurance group's insurers domiciled in this State holding the largest share of the group's premiums, assets, or liabilities, or this State being the place of domicile of the top-tiered insurers in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group.

Authorizes the Commissioner to collect information from any registered insurer in order to determine whether the Commissioner may act as the supervisor of an internationally active insurance group or if the Commissioner may acknowledge another regulatory official to act as the supervisor. Sets out notification requirements to be met before issuing a determination that an internationally active insurance group is subject to supervision by the Commissioner. 

Sets out activities the Commissioner may undertake in acting as the supervisor for an internationally active insurance group.

Provides that if the Commissioner acknowledges that another regulatory official from a jurisdiction that is not accredited by the NAIC is the supervisor, the Commissioner may reasonably cooperate with supervision undertaken by the supervisor, if: (1) the Commissioner's cooperation is in compliance with state laws and (2) the regulatory official acknowledged as the supervisor recognizes and cooperates with the Commissioner's activities as a supervisor for other internationally active insurance groups. 

Makes conforming changes to GS 58-19-40.

Part II.

Enacts GS 58-10-246 requiring an insurer or group of insurers to establish an internal audit function providing independent, objective, and reasonable assurance to the audit committee and insurer management regarding the insurer's governance, risk management, and internal controls. Sets out actions that provide such assurance. Requires that the internal audit function be organizationally independent (as defined in the statute). Requires a report at least annually by the head of the internal audit function to the audit committee on the specified issues. This statute does not apply if: the insurer has annual direct written and unaffiliated assumed premium, including international direct and assumed premium, but excluding premiums reinsured with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Federal Flood Program, less than $500 million and (2) if the insurer is a member of a group of insurers, the group has annual direct written and unaffiliated assumed premium including international direct and assumed premium, but excluding premiums reinsured with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Federal Flood Program, less than $1 billion. Makes conforming changes to GS 58-10-245.

Amends GS 58-10-190 to provide that audit committee means a committee, or equivalent body, established by the board of directors of an entity for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of an insurer or group of insurers, any internal audit function of the insurer or group of insurers, and external audits of financial statements of the insurer or group of insurers. Also amends the statute to add and define the term internal audit function.

Amends GS 58-10-260 by adding that the requirements of new GS 50-10-246 become effective January 1, 2020. Insurers exempt from GS 58-10-246 that no longer meet the exemption threshold have one calendar year after the year the threshold is exceeded to comply with the statute. 

Part III.

Adds new Part 11, Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure, in Article 10 of GS Chapter 58, providing as follows. 

Sets out the purpose of the part and establishes that it applies to all insurers domiciled in this state.  Requires an insurer, or the insurance group of which the insurer is a member, to annually by June 1 submit to the Commissioner a CGAD (Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure) that contains the information described in new GS 58-10-775, including the insurer's corporate governance structure, policies, and practices. Sets out signatures and attestations that must appear on the CGAD. Allows an insurer to provide information on corporate governance at the ultimate controlling parent level, an intermediate holding company level, or the individual legal entity level, depending on how the insurer has structured its system. Encourages the insurer to make the CGAD disclosures at the specified levels. Requires an amended version of the initially filed CGAD each year, with changes indicated; must indicate if no change has been made.

Gives the insurer discretion over the responses to the CGAD inquiries, so long as the CGAD contains the material information necessary to give the Commissioner an understanding of the insurer's or insurance group's corporate governance structure, policies, and practices. Allows the Commissioner to request additional information. 

Requires the CGAD to describe the insurer's corporate governance framework and structure, including consideration of the specified topics. Requires the insurer to describe the policies and practices of the most senior governing entity and its significant committees, including a discussion of the five specified factors. Requires the insurer to describe the polices and practices for directing senior management, including a description of the four specified topics. Requires a description of the process by which the board of directors, committees, and senior management ensure the appropriate amount of oversight to the critical risk area impacting business activities, including a discussion of the three specified issues. 

Recognizes documents, materials, or other information, including the CGAD, in the possession or control of the Department that are obtained by, created by, or disclosed to the Commissioner or any other person under this new Part, as proprietary and containing trade secrets; makes the information confidential and privileged, not considered to be a public record, not subject to subpoena, and not subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. Sets out conditions under which the Commissioner may share documents, materials, or other CGAD-related information, and receive documents, materials, or other CGAD-related information from regulatory officials of other state, federal, and international financial regulatory agencies. 

Allows the Commissioner to retain at the insurer's expense third-party consultants and experts not otherwise a part of the Commissioner's staff as may be reasonably necessary to assist the Commissioner in reviewing the CGAD-related information or the insurer's compliance with this Part; makes NCAIC and third-party consultants subject to the same confidentiality requirements as the Commissioner. Sets out provisions that must be included in a written agreement with the NAIC or a third-party consultant concerning sharing and use of information.

Failure to timely file the CGAD is punishable by a penalty of $100 for each day's delay, not to exceed a total of $1,000.

Includes a severability clause.

Effective January 1, 2020, with the first CGAD filing to be made by June 1, 2020.

Part IV.

Amends GS 58-58-50 by amending the definition of company as it is used in the Standard Valuation Law to specify that it includes a fraternal benefit society. 

Amends GS 58-7-21, concerning credit allowed a domestic ceding insurer, by amending the factors that may be considered as the Commissioner assigns a rating to each certified reinsurer by making an addition to the table used to calculate the maximum financial strength rating that a certified reinsuer may be assigned.

Identical to S 133, filed 2/26/19.

Amends GS 58-36-10 concerning the method of insurance rate making. Requires that due consideration be given to investment income from capital and surplus by the NC Rate Bureau in making and using rates. 

Makes organizational and clarifying changes to GS 58-36-43(a) regarding the authorization of optional program enhancements which do not alter coverage under the NC Rate Bureau's jurisdiction. Adds a new prohibition against a company conditioning any rating criteria upon the acceptance by the policyholder of any authorized optional automobile or homeowners' enhancements. Repeals GS 58-36-43(b), thereby eliminating the requirement for insurers to utilize certain statistical codes in reporting premiums and losses resulting from program enhancements filed under the statute. 

Amends GS 58-36-65, Classifications and Safe Driver Incentive Plan (Plan) for nonfleet private passenger motor vehicle insurance. Amends subsection (j), requiring subclassification plan surcharges for convictions for which four or more points under the Plan are assigned to be applied to a policy for a period of five policy years (all other subclassification plan surcharges are to be applied to a policy for a period of three policy years, as currently provided in the statute). Excludes convictions for speeding violations. Effective October 1, 2020.

Amends subsection (k) of GS 58-36-65, allowing for the subclassification plan to provide for premium surcharges for insureds having less than eight years' driving experience as licensed drivers, applicable to insureds receiving a drivers license for the first time on or after October 1, 2019 (currently permits premium surcharges for insureds having less than three years' driving experience as licensed drivers). Makes conforming changes.

Enacts new subsection (k1) in GS 58-36-65, providing licensed drivers subject to premium surcharges pursuant to subsection (k) for a period of eight years eligibility for an inexperienced safe driver discount after three full years of driving if the driver has no at-fault accidents or conviction on their driving record. Provides further parameters for the inexperienced safe driver discount. Requires the discount be filed by the NC Rate Bureau for approval with the Commissioner of Insurance. Effective October 1, 2019.

Identical to S 162, filed 2/27/19.

Amends GS 24-1.1 to set the maximum origination fee for a loan or credit extension with a principal amount of $100,00 or greater at 1/4 of 1% of the principal. Sets out maximum origination fees of $100-250 depending on the principal amount for loan or credit extensions with a principal amount less than $100,000. Prohibits a loan or extension of credit with a principal amount of less than $5,000 from having an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36%, inclusive of the charge permitted by subsection (e) and the interest rate provisions of subsection (c). Specifies that annual percentage rate as used here is calculated using the standards established by the federal Truth In Lending Act (15 USC 1601, et seq.) and all regulations and rulings issued pursuant to that Act. Limits the application of new subdivision (e)(3) to situations where the borrower is a natural person and the debt is incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Makes additional technical and clarifying changes.

Amends GS 24-10.1 to set the following limitations on late payment charges, which under current law are capped at 4% of the amount of the payment past due. A late payment charge must not exceed (1) the amount disclosed with particularity to the borrower under the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, if applicable; (2) for a loan or extension of credit that meets all of the following conditions: the greater of $35 or 4% of the amount of the payment past due, the loan or extension of credit is made by a bank or savings institution organized under the law of this state or the United States, the loan or extension of credit is not secured by real property, the loan or extension of credit is governed by GS 24-1.1, and loan or extension of credit has an original balance greater or equal to $1,500. Limits the charge to 4% of the amount of the payment past due for any other type of loan or extension of credit governed by GS 24-1.1 (concerning a loan, purchase money loan, advance, commitment for a loan or forbearance) or GS 24-1.1A (concerning home loans). Makes additional organizational, clarifying, and technical changes.

 

Identical to S 127, filed 2/25/19.

Amends GS 126-84, expanding the state policy set out in Article 14 regarding the protection of state employees for reporting improper government activities. Now includes that state employees be free of intimidation or harassment when providing testimony or statements to agents or employees of legislative panels designated to conduct inquiries on behalf of legislative panels. 

Amends GS 126-85, regarding protections from retaliation for reporting improper government activity described in GS 126-84 or refusing to carry out a directive that constitutes a violation of State or federal law. Expands the protections of Article 14 set out in GS 126-85 to include State employees who report any activity described in GS 126-84 to a legislative panel or an agent or employee of a legislative panel authorized by GS 120-19 (requires State officers, agents, and entities to furnish data and information to legislative committees or commissions upon request).

Amends GS 120-19, expanding the clarifying provision which specifies those with authority to request State officers, agents, and entities to furnish all information and data within their possession or ascertainable from their records. Adds any legislative panel or an agent or employee of a legislative panel to those who may request such data or information be furnished to the General Assembly, as specified (currently specifies any individual member, a standing committee, or a standing committee chair).

Appropriates $1.5 million in recurring funds for 2019-20 from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation to be used as title indicates. Effective July 1, 2019.

Repeals the following, allowing municipalities to operate charter schools and setting out related provisions: SL 2018-3; SL 2018-5, Section 38.8 (allowing a city to use property tax revenues and other unrestricted revenues to supplement funding for elementary and secondary public education); SL 2018-97, Section 11.1; and SL 2018-145, Section 20. Requires the State Board of Education, when the act becomes effective, to terminate the charter of any charter school operated by a municipality.

Titles the act as the Harrison Kowiak Act.

Amends GS 14-35 by making it unlawful for any person to engage in hazing or to aid or abet another in doing so. Violations are a Class D felony if the hazing results in the serious bodily injury or death of the victim, or if the hazing involves forced or coerced alcohol consumption that results in the victim having a blood alcohol concentration of .30 or higher. Requires the court to sentence the defendant to an active sentence of no more than 60 months for a first offense and allows for a fine of up to $10,000. Makes any other violation a Class H felony, which may include a fine of up to $1,000. Allows for additional penalties. 

Defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with other people that is directed against another person when (1) the person knew or should have known that the act endangered the physical health or safety of the other person or caused severe emotional distress and (2) the act was associated with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization (any fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, service group, social group, band, spirit group, athletic team, or similar group, whose members are primarily students at, or former students of, an educational institution). Defines educational institution as any elementary or secondary school in this state, and any postsecondary educational institution in this state.

Makes it a Class A1 misdemeanor for a person serving as a representative or officer of an organization who knew and failed to report to law enforcement that one or more of the organization's members hazed or were hazing another person. Sets out penalties that may be imposed on the organization.

Sets out requirements for an organization receiving a hazing report to investigate the allegation before making a report to law enforcement. 

Specifies that it is not a defense that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing.

The above provisions are effective December 1, 2019.

The following are applicable beginning with the 2019-20 school and academic years.

Amends GS 115C-238.66 (applicable to regional schools); GS 115C-218.75 (applying to charter schools); GS 116-239.8 (applying to laboratory schools); and SL 2018-32, Section 6 (applying to those operating under a renewal school system plan) to encourage adoption of a policy against hazing. 

Enacts new GS 115C-407.16A (applicable to local school administrative units), GS 115D-77.1 (applicable to the State Board of Community Colleges), and GS 116-40.13 (applicable to the UNC Board of Governors) requiring the adoption of a policy prohibiting hazing. Sets out nine minimum components that must be included in the policy. Sets out requirements for providing notice of and disseminating the policy. Requires that information on the policy against hazing be incorporated into employee training. 

Amends GS 143C-6-23 to require a non-state entity that receives state funds to post the number of the state auditor's hotline. Makes clarifying changes.

Amends GS 147-64.6 to allow the State Auditor to determine the length of time, ranging from 15 to 30 days, that a state agency may have to respond to an audit of economy and efficiency or an audit of program results.

Amends GS 147-64.6 to expand the type of records the office of the state auditor may share with state and federal agencies, to include materials related an to investigation.

Amends GS 147-64.7 by adding that the production of documents to the office of the state auditor does not waive the attorney-client or attorney work-product privileges.

Amends GS 14-64.9 to clarify that the office of the state auditor is required to adopt only rules that are reasonably necessary. Makes language gender-neutral.

Amends GS 20-398 concerning the marking of vehicles transporting household goods to make the provisions applicable to attempts to operate. Adds that any law enforcement officer with territorial jurisdiction is authorized to enforce the statute.  

Amends GS 62-3 by amending the definitions used in GS Chapter 62 (Public Utilities) as follows. Provides that a certificate of public convenience and necessity can be issued to a person. Provides that public utility does not include any person or company whose sole operation consists of sewer service to less than 15 residential customers. Also excludes from public utility the State, Department of Information Technology, or the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina in the provision or sharing of broadband telecommunications services (was, switched broadband telecommunications services) with non-state entities or organizations of the kind set out in GS 143B-1371 (was, in GS 143B-426.39).

Amends GS 62-15 to require that the Utilities Commission's public staff be hired (was, appointed) by the executive director. Amends the duties of the public staff to: (1) include petitioning to initiate proceeds to review and take appropriate actions with respect to the operations and management of public utilities; (2) delete investigating and making recommendations with respect to application for certificates by radio common carriers; and (3) add appearing before courts and agencies in matters affecting public utility service when deemed necessary by the executive director.

Amends GS 62-60 by providing that only upon request must the Utilities Commission give the Attorney General copies of all applications, petitions, pleasings, orders, and decisions filed with or entered by the Commission. 

Amends GS 62-34 by adding that the Public Staff has the right to examine confidential information in exercising any power or performing any duty authorized by GS Chapter 62. Prohibits the Public Staff from disclosing confidential information except as authorized by specified entities. Subjects any information not designated in writing as confidential to disclosure. 

Amends GS 62-39 concerning crossings of telephone, telegraph, electric power lines and pipelines and right of way of railroads and other utilities by another utility by no longer specifying that the statute does not limit the right and duty conferred by law with respect to railroad crossing railroads.

Amends GS 62-49 to no longer require the biennial supplements to the publication of utility laws. 

Amends GS 62-74 to clarify that public utilities have the right to file a complaint against any other public utility or another person. 

Amends GS 62-79 to require that copies of final orders or decisions be served in the manner prescribed by the Commission (was, by registered or certified mail).

Amends GS 62-81 by requiring that all cases or proceedings that are general rate cases or which will substantially affect any utility's overall level of earnings or rate of return, be set for trial or hearing by the Commission which must be set to commence within 180 days (was six months) of the institution or filing thereof. Deletes the required timing of the issuance of a final order. Requires a public utility applying for an increase in rates for sewer service to notify customers within the specified timeline and through the listed procedure.  Updates statutory references. No longer sets out the requirements for determining applications for permission to adjust utility rates and charges based only on the cost of fuel used in general or production of electric power. 

Amends GS 62-110.1 to require that the Commission confer and consult with the specified entities when developing a long-range need for facility expansion analysis only as the Commission deems necessary. Adds the Public Staff to those that may attend any formal conference on developing a plan for the future requirements of electricity in the state or region.

Amends GS 62-111 by clarifying that a person may not obtain a franchise certificate for the purpose of transferring the  same to another and that an offer of such transfer within one year after the same was obtained, prima facie evidence that such franchise or certificate was obtained for the purpose of sale.

Repeals GS 62-130(c), which allowed the Commission to make, require or approve, after public hearing, for intrastate shipments what are known as milling-in-transit, processing-in-transit, or warehousing-in-transit rates on grain, lumber to be dressed, cotton, peanuts, tobacco, or such other commodities as the Commission may designate.

Amends GS 62-140 by deleting outdated language.

Amends GS 62-280.1 to make it a Class 3 misdemeanor to knowingly aid and abet another person in taking to the specified actions to falsely represent a household goods carrier certificate. Gives any law enforcement officer with territorial jurisdiction authority to enforce the statute. 

Amends GS 62-300 to increase from $25 to $250 the application fee for a person (other than Class A, B, C, or D utilities) seeking a certificate of public convenience and necessity.

Amends GS 143-166.13 by no longer making Utilities Commission Transportation Inspectors and Special Investigators subject to the Criminal Justice Training and Standards.

Amends GS 143B-963 to allow the Utilities Commission to provide the information obtained under subsection (a) of the statute (concerning the criminal history of any applicant for or current holder of a certificate to transport household goods) to the Public Staff for use in proceedings before the Commission and requires the Public Staff to keep that information confidential.

Amends GS 156-91 by deleting the provision addressing when the superintendent of construction and the railroad company are able to agree as to the exact time at which such work can be done, leading to an investigation and determination by the Commission.

Gives the Utilities Commission and Public Staff, for 2019-20, sole authority and discretion to take the specified actions concerning the classification of positions of and the salaries for employees of the Utilities Commission and Public Staff. Allows the Commission to use available funds to contract with a qualified consultant to study the appropriate job classifications and salaries for employees of the Commission and Public Staff to determine whether current employees are classified and compensated appropriately. Requires study completion by October 1, 2019. Requires a report by March 1, 2020, to the specified NCGA committee and division on the study and actions taken.

Authorizes the Revisor of Statutes substitute "Public Staff" for "public staff" wherever the term appears in GS Chapter 62.