Reenacts Article 3J, Tax Credits for Growing Businesses, of GS Chapter 105 as it existed immediately before its repeal on January 1, 2014, except for GS 105-129.80, GS 105-129.82, GS 105-129.88, and GS 105-129.90. Retitles the Article Tax Credits for Agrimanufacturing. 

Adds to the defined terms set forth in GS 105-129.81. Defines agrimanufacturing to mean the subset of manufacturing that processes raw materials and intermediate products derived from the agricultural sector to make them usable as food, feed, fiber, fuel, or industrial raw material. Defines qualifying agrimanufacturer to mean a taxpayer primarily engaged in agrimanufacturing at one or more locations for which the Secretary of Commerce has made a written determination of the amount of private funds that has been invested by the taxpayer on or after January 1, 2019, and that amount is in excess of $1.5 million, excluding investments in real or business property prior to January 1, 2019. Deletes the following terms: agrarian growth zone, air courier services, aircraft maintenance and repair, company headquarters, customer service call center, electronic shopping and mail order houses, establishment, hub, information technology and services, motorsports facility, motorsports racing team, port enhancement zone, research and development, urban progress zone, warehousing, and wholesale trade.

Modifies GS 105-129.83 to now provide for a tax credit with respect to activities occurring at an establishment whose primary activity is agrimanufacturing (previously, enumerated several types of businesses covered under the Article's credit). Eliminates provisions restricting company headquarters's eligibility under the Article. Limits the credit to development tier two areas (was tier two and tier three areas) so long as the taxpayer meets the wage standard, and to development tier one areas without having to meet the wage standard. Establishes that jobs in a development tier two area satisfy the wage standard if they pay an average weekly wage that is equal to 90 percent of the lesser of the average wage for all insured private employers in the State and the average wage for all insured private employers in the county (previously the standard for certain businesses in a development tier one area). Maintains the eligibility requirements for the taxpayer to provide health insurance for all of the full-time jobs established with respect to the credit claimed. Now specifies that the taxpayer provides health insurance if it pays at least 50 percent of the premiums for health insurance coverage that equals or exceeds the minimum requirements for small group benefit plans under State or federal law. Eliminates provisions regarding credit installments or carry forward credits. Establishes that a taxpayer forfeits a credit if the taxpayer fails to timely create the number of required new jobs or required level of investment (was limited to forfeiture for investment in real property under GS 105-129.89, as repealed). Makes further conforming changes.

Makes conforming changes to GS 105-129.84 to provide for the credits allowed under the Article against income taxes levied under Article 4 only, and to eliminate provisions regarding carry forwards of credit. Makes conforming changes to GS 105-129.85 and GS 105-129.86, concenting fees and reports, and substantiation, respectively.

Enacts GS 105-129.90, establishing the credit for agrimanufacturing, upon satisfaction of the eligibility requirements set out in GS 105-129.83, to be the qualifying agrimanufacturer's cumulative amount of income taxes for the taxable year for a number of years, based on the job creation and investment threshold requirements in a development tier one or tier two area during the taxable year, with a three-year credit for 25 jobs and $1.5 million investment threshold, a five-year credit for 50 jobs and $2.5 million threshold, and a ten-year credit for 100 jobs and $5 million threshold. Provides detailed provisions regarding job threshold and investment threshold calculation, providing for situations where a taxpayer creates new jobs at more than one eligible establishment; job location qualification; ineligibility of transferred jobs in the calculation; and qualifications of business or real property under the credit.

Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Part I repeals GS 90-101(a1), which required physicians who prescribe buprenorphine to annually register with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Part II

Amends GS 90-113.22 and GS 90-113.22A, concerning the possession of paraphernalia and marijuana paraphernalia, explicitly providing that (1) it is not unlawful for a person who introduces a controlled substance into his or her body or intends to do so, to knowingly use or to possess with the intent to use testing equipment for identifying or analyzing the strength, effectiveness, or purity of the controlled substance or (2) a governmental or nongovernmental organization that promotes scientifically proven ways of mitigating health risks associated with drug use and other high-risk behaviors to possess such testing equipment or distribute such testing equipment to a person who intends to introduce a controlled substance into his or her body. 

Part III

Amends GS 90-113.27, adding to the objectives of authorized needle and hypodermic syringe exchange programs, the goal to reduce the number of drug overdoses in the State. Eliminates the prohibition against the use of State funds to purchase needles, hypodermic syringes, or other injection supplies.

Part IV

Amends GS 90-113.72 to define benzodiazepine. Amends GS 90-113.74C, adding prescriptions of benzodiazepine to those which a practitioner is required to review information in the controlled substances reporting system pertaining to the patient prior to initially prescribing the substance, and must review in subsequent three-month increments to determine that the substance should remain a part of the patient's medical care. Also allows the practitioner to review the information in the controlled substances reporting system prior to prescribing a benzodiazepine if the substance is to be administered in a health care setting, hospital, nursing home, outpatient dialysis facility, or residential care facility; the substance is prescribed for the treatment of cancer or associated condition; or the substance is prescribed to a patient in hospice or palliative care.

Provides that the above provisions are effective 30 days after the date the State Chief Information Officer notifies the Revisor of Statutes that the upgrades to the Controlled Substances Reporting System database have been completed and the upgraded database is fully operational and connected to the statewide health information exchange.

Amends GS 90-113.73, regarding reporting of prescriptions for all Schedule II through V substances, to now also include prescriptions for gabapentin and naloxone hydrochloride in the reporting requirements, as previously specified.  Effective January 1, 2020.

Part V 

Amends GS 122C-3, as amended, to add the defined terms opioid treatment program, Opioid Treatment Program Central Registry, and State Opioid Treatment Authority.

Enacts Article 2A, State Opioid Treatment Authority, to GS Chapter 122C, to require prospective opioid treatment programs to apply for and obtain approval by the State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA) prior to seeking licensure by DHHS. Defines opioid treatment program under the Chapter to mean a program or practitioner with a current and valid registration under specified federal law that is engaged in dispensing opioid agonist medication for the treatment of individuals with opioid use disorders. Defines SOTA under the Chapter to mean the section of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services that exercises the responsibility and authority within the State for governing the treatment of opioid use disorder with an opioid drug. Details eight criteria SOTA is to consider along with any rules adopted by the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (Commission) in reviewing applications by prospective opioid treatment programs, including capacity of state and federal law compliant treatment, prior experience, and history of professional discipline of persons proposed to be employed by the applicant's proposed program or of the proposed sponsor of the program. Provides for contesting the denial of an application as a contested case under Article 3 of GS Chapter 150B, requiring the petition to be filed within 20 day after the date SOTA mailed the notice of denial. Directs the Commission to adopt and amend rules to establish standards for SOTA's review, approval or denial of prospective opioid treatment programs, and the licensure and operation of SOTA-approved opioid treatment programs, which address nine specified factors, including minimum requirements for staffing positions, staffing ratios, and staff training; minimum operating hours; counseling requirements; and SOTA site visits. Exempts rule making under this statute from the requirements of GS 150B-21.4 (which requires a fiscal and regulatory impact analysis of proposed rules). 

Establishes the State Opioid Treatment Authority Fund (SOTA Fund) as an interest-bearing special revenue fund administered by DHHS, with restricted use only for the offset of the cost of operating the Opioid Treatment Program Central Registry (Registry), and only supplemental to existing state and local funding available. Provides that the SOTA Fund is to consist of fees collected for the Registry, legislative appropriations, and money received from the state, federal, private, or other sources for deposit into the SOTA Fund. Provides that interest earned is to be credited to the SOTA Fund, and that any balance does not revert but instead remains in the SOTA Fund at the end of any fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2019.

Directs SOTA to require mandatory participation of all opioid treatment programs in the Registry. Requires the programs to submit data to the Registry as directed by SOTA. Beginning January 1, 2020, directs DHHS to charge each program an annual fee of $1,600 for participation in the Registry, with 100% of the fee credited to the SOTA Fund. Provides for increasing the fee. Provides that the fee is due within seven days after the program is granted final certification by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to begin operation. Requires DHHS to prorate the amount on a calendar year basis during the first year of participation.

Directs the Commission to amend or adopt its rules as prescribed in GS 122C-50.1, as amended by the act, by May 1, 2020.

Amends GS 105-537 to modify the ballot question for a referendum on a county's proposed one-quarter percent local sales and use tax, to additionally specify in the question that the tax is to be used for inclusion in conformity with the options listed in GS 105-538, as amended.

Amends GS 105-538 to limit a county's use of the net proceeds of the local sales and use tax to any of the following options: public purpose, beach nourishment, economic development, public school capital outlay purposes, and/or promote travel and tourism. Provides corresponding ballot language for each purpose specified. Additionally, adds definitions for the terms beach nourishment, economic development, net proceeds, promote travel and tourism, and public school capital outlay purpose. Includes in the definition of beach nourishment expenditures for (1) costs directly associated with qualifying for projects either contracted through the US Army Corps of Engineers or otherwise permitted by appropriate state and federal agencies, (2) the nonfederal share of costs required to construct the projects, (3) the costs associated with providing enhanced public beach access, (4) the costs of associated nonhardening activities, and (5) dredging. Includes administrative expenses incurred in engaging in the qualifying activities in the definition of promote travel and tourism.

Part I.

Amends GS 122C-3 which includes the definitions of terms used in GS Chapter 122C (the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Act of 1985) by deleting the terms mental retardation and mentally retarded with accompanying behavior disorder, and adds the term intellectual disability, meaning a developmental disability characterized by significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested before age 22 (which is substantively the same as the previous definition of mental retardation). Makes changes throughout GS Chapter 122C to replace the term mental retardation with intellectual disability or intellectual or other developmental disability; State facility for the mentally retarded with State developmental center; mentally ill with client who has a mental illness; developmentally disabled individual with an individual who has a developmental disability; and related changes. Makes additional technical and clarifying changes and makes language gender neutral. Makes clarifying changes in GS 122C-263 by deleting unnecessary language.

Part II.

Makes the same updates to the terms above as they are used in the following statutes and also updates conditions to refer to individuals as having the condition instead of being the condition (for example replaces emotionally disturbed children with children with serious emotional disturbances): GS 7B-2502, GS 14-32.2, GS 90-106, GS 58-55-35, GS 108A-101, GS 131D-10.4, GS 131D-31, GS 131E-154.2, GS 131E-176, 131E-186, GS 131E-214.1, GS 136-18, GS 143-64.02, GS 143-117, GS 143-117.1, GS 148-19, GS 148-22, GS 153A-221, GS 153A-248, and GS 159-48.

Further amends GS 90-106 by making additional organizational and clarifying changes, changes to this statute apply to offenses committed on or after January 1, 2020. Further amends GS 58-55-35 by amending the definition of skilled nursing facility by setting out a definition instead of referring to the definition found in another statute, changes to this statute apply to contracts entered into on or after October 1, 2019.

Part III.

Provides that the act does not affect the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or provision of State or federal services or benefits for individuals who have been diagnosed with mental retardation and whose diagnosis has not been changed to a diagnosis of intellectual disability.

Effective October 1, 2019, and applies to proceedings commenced or services rendered on or after that date.

Part I

Amends GS Chapter 15A, Article 5 (expunction of records), by enacting new GS 15A-145.8 allowing expunction of records for offenders under the age of 18 at the time of conviction of certain misdemeanors and felonies.  Describes procedure for filing a petition for expunction after completion of sentence, period of probation, and payment of any restitution ordered.  Requires a court, after a hearing and upon finding certain facts, to restore the petitioner to their pre-conviction status.  Allows for expunction of multiple convictions.  Excludes expunction eligibility for impaired driving offenses as well as any offenses requiring sex offender registration.  Describes effect of expungement as allowing a successful petitioner to not be held liable for perjury or giving a false statement for failing to recite or acknowledge the existence of the related arrest, indictment, or trial.  Requires a court to order expunction from law enforcement and state agencies identified by the petitioner as having a record of the conviction(s).  Prohibits collection of a fee for the filing of a petition under this section and precludes a petitioner from having to pay costs of expunction.  Applies to offenses committed on or before December 1, 2019.

Part II

Amends GS 15A-151.5 (prosecutor access to expunged files), subsection (a), by adding new subdivision (7a) listing expunction of records pursuant to GS 15A-145.8 in the list of expunction statutes under which the Administrative Office of the Courts must maintain files for prosecutor access. Effective December 1, 2019.

Part III

Amends GS 15A-146 to permit any person charged with a crime or infraction dismissed prior to December 1, 2019, or prosecutor, to petition the court for expunction. Removes the hearing requirement. Requires the court to order the expunction upon finding the charge was dismissed. Concerning multiple charges, requires the court to hold a hearing upon finding that all of the charges were not dismissed, and permits the court to order the expunction of any of the dismissed charges.  Provides for identical changes regarding petitions concerning charges or infractions that resulted in findings of not guilty or not responsible prior to December 1, 2019. Provides for automatic expunction by operation of law for criminal charges or infractions dismissed by automatic court order for crimes or infractions resulting in a finding of not guilty or not responsible entered, on or after December 1, 2019. Provides for partial expunction orders concerning multiple offenses. Authorizes a court to grant a petition for expunction without a hearing. Clarifies the effect of expunction. Makes further conforming changes.

Effective December 1, 2019, and applies to petitions filed on or after that date.

Amends GS 15A-150 to require the clerk to send a certified copy of an expunction order to the person granted the expunction unless the expunction was granted pursuant to new subsections (a4) and (a5) of GS 15A-146 (providing for automatic expunction without petitioning).

Directs the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in conjunction with the Department of Justice and the Administrative Office of the Courts, by February 1, 2020, to jointly develop and submit a report to the specified NCGA committee on recommendations and associated costs to automate the expunction process for all State agencies with records subject to orders and ensure efficacy of the expunction. 

Effective December 1, 2019.

Part IV

Amends GS 15A-145.5 concerning expunction of nonviolent misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, as defined. Now allows a person to petition a court for expunction of one ore more nonviolent misdemeanor or nonviolent felony convictions from the person's criminal record if the person has not previously been convicted of a Class A1 misdemeanor offense or a felony offense that is not considered a nonviolent felony (was a petition for a nonviolent misdemeanor or nonviolent felony conviction if the person has no other misdemeanor or felony convictions other than a traffic violation). Allows for a petition for expunction of one or more nonviolent felony convictions to be filed no earlier than 10 years after the later of the date of the last conviction for a nonviolent felony or nonviolent misdemeanor, other than a traffic offense, or when any active sentence, period of probation, and post-release supervision has been served (previously a 10-year waiting period for nonviolent felony expunction petition did not include dating from the last conviction of a nonviolent misdemeanor). Allows for the petition for expunction of one or more nonviolent misdemeanor convictions to be filed no earlier than five years after the later of the date of the last conviction for a nonviolent felony or nonviolent misdemeanor, other than a traffic offense, or when any active sentence, period of probation, and post-release supervision has been served (previously the five-year waiting period for nonviolent misdemeanors did not include dating from the last conviction of a nonviolent felony). Makes conforming changes to the petition requirements. Allows for the expunction of one or more nonviolent misdemeanor convictions upon satisfying the required findings if the petition was filed no earlier than seven years after the later of the date of the petitioner's last conviction for a nonviolent felony or nonviolent misdemeanor, other than a traffic offense, or when any active sentence, period of probation, and post-release supervision has been served. Makes further clarifying, conforming, and technical changes.

Applies to petitions filed on or after December 1, 2019.

Part V

Provides that the act is effective December 1, 2019, unless otherwise provided. 

Part I.

Establishes the Department of Correction (DOC) as a cabinet-level department. Provides that all functions, powers, duties, and obligations vested in the following (currently located in the Department of Public Safety) are transferred to, vested in, and consolidated within DOC: (1) Community Corrections Section of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; (2) Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission; (3) Treatment for Effective Community Supervision Program; and (4) Justice Reinvestment Council. Amends GS 143B-2 to make the Executive Organization Act of 1973 applicable to DOC. Amends GS 143B-6 by adding DOC to those principal departments vested with executive and administrative powers, duties, and functions. Amends GS 126-5 to add DOC to those departments to which the Governor may designate exempt positions.

Repeals Part 1A of Article 13 of GS Chapter 143B (Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice).

Enacts new Article 16, Department of Correction, in GS Chapter 143B, with Part 1 devoted to organization. Establishes the DOC, to perform all functions of the executive branch of the State in relation to correction and the rehabilitation of adult offenders, including detention, parole, and aftercare supervision, and further including those prescribed powers, duties, and functions enumerated in the laws of this state. Sets the Secretary of the Department of Correction (Secretary) as the head of DOC. Enumerates four duties of DOC, including establishing the Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Treatment Program, and establish, in consultation with the Domestic Violence Commission, a domestic violence treatment program for offenders sentenced to a term of imprisonment in DOC’s custody and whose official record includes a finding that the offender committed acts of domestic violence Sets out and defines terms used in the Article.

Repeals GS 143B-701 (setting out the duties of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice); GS 143B-702 (directing the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules and regulations related to specified issues); GS 143B-704 (setting out functions of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety with respect to adults); and GS 143B-711 (concerning the organization of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety). Recodifies the statutes remaining in Subpart A (Division of Adult Correction general provisions) of Part 2 of Article 13 of GS Chapter 143B as Part 2 of new Article 16 of GS Chapter 143B. Recodifies Subpart C (Parole Commission) of Part 2 of Article 13 of GS Chapter 143B as Part 3 of new Article 16. Recodifies Subpart B (State Capitol Police Division; possibly intends Subpart Treatment for Effective Community Supervision Program located in Subpart B of Part 6) of Part 4 of Article 13 of GS Chapter 143B as Part 4 of new Article 16.

Makes conforming changes to the recodified statutes by replacing duties assigned to the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice with the Secretary and DOC. Also assigns Department of Public Safety responsibilities to the DOC in the recodified statutes. Makes additional clarifying and technical changes.

Amends GS 143B-1457 by making the Secretary responsible for establishing the Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Treatment Program, which is to consist of a continuum of treatment and intervention services for inmates, established in medium and minimum custody prison facilities, for probationers and parolees, established in community-based residential treatment facilities.

Amends GS 143B-1465, concerning medical costs for inmates and juvenile offenders, by removing references to juvenile offenders. Deletes outdated reporting requirement.

Amends specified statutes to replace Department of Public Safety with DOC; replace Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety with DOC; replace Secretary of Public Safety with Secretary of DOC; replace Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety with DOC; replace Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice with DOC; Section of Community Corrections with DOC; replace Section of Prisons of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety with DOC; Section of Prisons of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice with DOC; and Section of Prisons with DOC.

Part II.

Establishes the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) as a cabinet-level department. Provides that all functions, powers, duties, and obligations vested in the following (currently located in the Department of Public Safety) are transferred to, vested in, and consolidated within DJJDP: (1) Juvenile Justice Section in the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; (2) Teen Court; (3) Youth Development Center; (4) Juvenile Court Services; and (5) Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils. Amends GS 143B-2 to make the Executive Organization Act of 1973 applicable to DJJDP. Amends GS 143B-6 by adding DJJDP to those principal departments vested with executive and administrative powers, duties, and functions. Amends GS 126-5 to add DJJDP to those departments to which the Governor may designate exempt positions.

Adds new Article 17, Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in GS Chapter 143B. Repeals Subpart A of Part 3 of Article 13 of GS Chapter 143B, which created the Juvenile Justice Section of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety. Recodifies the following Subparts of Part 3 of Article 13 of GS Chapter 143B: Subpart B (general provisions related to the Section), Subpart C (Juvenile Facilities); Subpart D (Juvenile Court Services), Subpart E (Comprehensive Juvenile Delinquency and Substance Abuse Prevention Plan), and Subpart F (Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils).Places Parts 1-6 of new Article 17 under Part 1, concerning organization. Establishes the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to perform all functions of the executive branch of the State in relation to the provision of services to juveniles, both protective for those juveniles found to be undisciplined or delinquent and preventative to reduce the rates of delinquency. Sets the Secretary of DJJDP (Secretary) as the head of the Department.

Makes conforming changes to the recodified statutes by replacing duties assigned to the Juvenile Justice Section of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice with the Secretary and DJJDP. Also assigns Department of Public Safety responsibilities to the DJJDP in the recodified statutes. Makes additional clarifying and technical changes.

Enacts new GS 143B-1515 requiring DJJDP to reimburse providers and facilities providing approved medical services to juvenile offenders outside juvenile facilities the lesser of either (1) 70% of the provider’s then-current prevailing charge or (2) two times the then-current Medicaid rate for any given service. Exempts vendors providing services that are not billed on a fee-for-service basis. Require DJJDP to make every effort to contain medical costs for juvenile offenders by using its own hospital and health care facilities to care for offenders. If other facilities or service must be used, requires DJJDP to make efforts to use those with which it has a contract, or if none are reasonably available, then with hospitals with available capacity or other health care facilities in a region. Requires DJJDP to report quarterly to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the Chairs of the Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Committees on seven specified issues related to medical care of juvenile offenders.

Amends specified statutes to replace Department of Public Safety with DJJDP; replace Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety with DJJDP; replace Secretary of Public Safety with Secretary of DJJDP; and replace Juvenile Justice Section of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety with DJJDP.

Part III.

Makes additional conforming changes by updating references to DOC and DJJDP in GS 66-58, GS 14-258.7, GS 17C-3, GS 120-70.94, GS 143-166.1, GS 143-166.2, GS 143-166.7, GS 143-166.13, and GS 143B-1100.

Part IV.

Appropriates $1.6 million for 2019-20 and 2020-21 from the General Fund to DOC for additional managerial positions.

Appropriates $1.6 million for 2019-20 and 2020-21 from the General Fund to DJJDP for additional managerial positions.

The act is effective July 1, 2019.

Part I.

Amends GS 90-181 by adding and defining the term impairment, for use in Article 11 (Veterinarians). Amends the grounds for disciplinary action under GS 90-187.8 so that one ground includes the impairment of an individual holding a license or registration when the impairment (now defined to include more causes of impairment than previously listed in the statute) interferes with that individual's ability to practice within the scope of the license or registration with reasonable skill and safety, and in a manner not harmful to the public or to animals under the individual's care. 

Part II.

Amends GS 90-181, by amending the term person, as it is used in Article 11 (Veterinarians) to include entities. Amends GS 90-181.1, concerning facility names and levels of service, to refer to veterinary facilities instead of veterinary practice facilities. Amends GS 90-186, concerning the powers of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board (Board), to refer to veterinary facilities instead of veterinary practice facilities. 

Amends GS 90-486 by adding that the Board may also (1) pursuant to administrative rule, establish all provisions and requirements for a veterinary facility permit, the issuance of which is required for any facility where veterinary medicine is practiced, except for those facilities exempted by law and (2) pursuant to administrative rule, establish all provisions and requirements for a supervising veterinarian for each veterinary facility maintaining a valid veterinary facility permit.

Amends GS 90-187.10 by removing the current provisions and instead prohibiting engaging in veterinary medicine without a veterinary license and prohibiting owning a veterinary facility without a veterinary facility permit. 

Repeals GS 90-187.11, which allowed conducting a veterinary medical practice as a sole proprietorship, by a partnership, or by a duly registered professional corporation, and required all partners to be licensed.

Amends GS 90-187.12, which makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to take the prohibited actions by no longer making each act of the unlawful practice a distinct and separate offense. Makes additional clarifying changes.

The act applies to permits and licenses granted on or after October 1, 2019, unless otherwise indicated.

Authorizes the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to add the Northern Peaks State Trail (the proposed trail connecting Rivers Park in downtown Boone to the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area) to the State Parks System as a State trail. Requires the Department to support, promote, encourage, and facilitate the establishment of trail segments on State park lands and on lands of other federal, State, local, and private landowners. Provides that the requirement that additions be accompanied by adequate appropriations does not apply to this authorization but allows the State to receive donations of land and allows the purchase of other needed land with funds in the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the federal land and Water Conservation Fund, and other available funding sources. 

Requires the State Board of Education (Board) to revise its policy CCRE-001, Course for Credit, to allow dual credit allowances for high school students who are earning college credit through a Workforce Continuing Education Pathway (WCEP) in the Career and College Promise Program to also receive high school course credit for those courses. Prohibits limiting the allowance of high school course credit to curriculum programs only in its policy. Requires entering into an articulation agreement with the State Board of Community Colleges to ensure acceptance of equivalency credit for high school courses with WCEP courses.

Requires the Board to also allow college and university courses of one and two credit hours to receive high school dual credit.

Requires the Board within 90 days of the date this act becomes law, to revise its policy, as required by this act, to be effective beginning with the 2020-21 school year. Requires a report by February 15, 2020, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the revision of its policy and the articulation agreement. 

Amends GS Chapter 15A, Article 5 (expunction of records) by enacting new GS 15A-145.8 allowing expunction of records for offenders between the age of 16 and 18 at the time of conviction of certain misdemeanors and Class H and I felonies.  Describes procedure for filing a petition for expunction after completion of sentence, period of probation, and payment of any restitution ordered.  Requires a court, after a hearing and upon finding certain facts, to restore the petitioner to their pre-conviction status.  Allows for expunction of multiple convictions.  Excludes expunction eligibility for impaired driving offenses as well as any offenses requiring sex offender registration.  Describes effect of expungement as allowing a successful petitioner to not be held liable for perjury or giving a false statement for failing to recite or acknowledge the existence of the related arrest, indictment, or trial.  Requires a court to order expunction from law enforcement and state agencies identified by the petitioner as having a record of the conviction(s).  Prohibits collection of a fee for the filing of a petition under this section and precludes a petitioner from having to pay costs of expunction.  Effective December 1, 2019, and applies to offenses committed between July 1, 2017, and November 30, 2019.

Amends GS 15A-151.5 (prosecutor access to expunged files), subsection (a), by adding new subdivision (7a) listing expunction of records pursuant to GS 15A-145.8 in the list of expunction statutes under which the Administrative Office of the Courts must maintain files for prosecutor access.  Effective December 1, 2019.

Amends GS 20-130.1 as the title indicates; requires the vehicle used by the member of Congress to have a special US Representative or US Senator registration plate. 

Adds electronic standup scooter to the defined terms in GS 20-4.01. Excludes electronic standup scooters from the defined terms motor vehicle and moped (passenger vehicle), but deems an electronic standup scooter a vehicle for purposes of GS Chapter 20 that are applicable to a driver of a vehicle. Makes organizational changes. 

Amends GS 20-51, exempting electronic standup scooters from the requirement of registration and certificate of title. 

Excludes electronic standup scooters from the term motor vehicle as used in GS Chapter 58 (Insurance).

Enacts Part 11D of Article 3, GS Chapter 20. Makes electric standup scooters subject to all provisions of GS Chapter 20 that apply to bicycles and makes operators subject the rights and duties of a bicycle rider. Allows scooters to be parked on a sidewalk, requires that they be equipped with a brake and lamps, and prohibits operation of a scooter at more than 15 miles per hour. Must be 16 or older to operate a scooter. Allows a local authority to to regulate the operation of scooters by (1) restricting the maximum operating speed in pedestrian zones and (2) assessing penalties against operators for moving or parking violations, which must not exceed those against bicycle riders for equivalent violations. Allows local authorities to regulate scooter-share programs in the following ways: (1) requiring operators to pay fees, not to exceed reasonable costs to local authorities of administering the programs; (2) requiring operators to indemnify the local authority for claims, demands, costs, and losses or damages arising out of any negligent act, error, omission, or willful misconduct by the operator or its officers or employees; (3) designating locations where operators are prohibited from staging shared scooters, provided at least one location is on each side of each city block in commercial zones and business districts. Defines scooter-share operator as a person offering shared scooters for hire and requires the operator to carry insurance coverage in the specified amounts according to insurance type. 

Allows a local authority to require a scooter-share operator to provide trip data for all trips starting or ending within the local authority's jurisdiction; sets out requirements governing such data, including privacy provisions. 

Prohibits local authorities from imposing any unduly restrictive requirement on a scooter-share program.

Amends GS 20-54 to expand the grounds for which the Division of Motor Vehicles can refuse registration or issuance of a certificate of title, or any transfer of registration, to include unpaid county or municipal taxes and fees due on the vehicle, and registration of the owner's vehicle is blocked under GS 110-142.2 as a sanction for failure to comply with a child support enforcement order or other order. Adds a new requirement for the DMV's records to state the amount required to clear the title or registration stop on a vehicle, stopped for unpaid fees or penalties imposed by, or debt owed to, the Department of Transportation. Allows the owner to clear the stop by paying the required amount to the DMV or to a commission contractor. Authorizes the DMV to require payment in cash or debit card. Applicable to vehicle title and registration stops imposed by laws enacted on or after January 1, 2018, stops due to failure to pay an amount due to any entity for any reason is not effective until the DMV vehicle records state the amount that must be paid to clear the stop. Repeals GS 20-50.4, Division to refuse to register vehicles on which county and municipal taxes and fees are not paid and when there is a failure to meet court-ordered child support obligations (which does not require the amount due to clear a stop be reflected on vehicle records). Effective October 1, 2019.

Overall purpose.  Limits who can assist certain voters with absentee ballots by removing near relatives and verifiable legal guardians from multiple statutes that reference persons authorized to file an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter.  Authorizes instead a person working with a multipartisan team, defined as a team authorized and trained by a county board of elections to assist voters with absentee ballots, to file an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter.  Moves definition of near relative from GS 163A-1308(h) to GS 163A-1317(c).  Specific amendments are as follows.

Repeals GS 163A-1295(e) (which had allowed a verifiable legal guardian, defined as an individual appointed guardian under GS Chapter 35A, to vote an absentee ballot).

Amends GS 163A-1298 (certain acts declared felonies) by making it a felony for anyone except for a member of a multipartisan team to assist a voter with absentee voting (previously, a voter could be assisted by a near relative or guardian, or request someone else if neither of those was available).  Makes it a felony for anyone assisting a voter who is a patient in a hospital or similar facility, other than a member of a multipartisan team, to request an absentee ballot or to sign an application or certificate as a witness.  If a member of a multipartisan team is not available to provide assistance, voters are directed to contact the county board of elections for assistance.  Adds new subsection (a1) defining multipartisan team, previously included in subdivision (a)(4).

Amends GS 163A-1306 (Register of absentee requests, applications and ballots issued) by removing references to near relative and verifiable legal guardian and requiring voters whose address in a request for an absentee ballot differs from the residence address to provide the temporary address so the county board of elections can verify it.

Amends GS 163A-1308 by replacing references to a "voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian" with "member of a multipartisan team."  Removes subsection (h) (defining near relative as a spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, parent-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent or stepchild).

Amends GS 163A-1309(a) by replacing references to a "voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian" with reference to a "member of a multipartisan team assisting the voter."  Requires a request for an absentee ballot to include verification of the voter's address by the county board of elections, and allows the signature requirement to be fulfilled by a member of the multipartisan team if the request is on behalf of the requesting voter.

Amends GS 163A-1310(b)(1) by changing reference to "voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian" to "member of the multipartisan team providing assistance."

Amends GS 163A-1317(c) by removing reference to GS 163A-1308(h), and directly adding the definition of near relative that was previously stated in GS 163A-1308(h).

Directs the State Board of Elections and county boards of elections to take any steps necessary to comply with this act, including establishing policies and procedures and updating information and forms online.

Effective January 1, 2020, and applies to elections held on or after that date.

 

Enacts new Article 2B, Day Laborer Protection Act, in GS Chapter 95, providing as follows. 

Defines day labor as work performed by a day laborer at a third-party client, the duration of which may be specific or undefined, pursuant to a contract or understanding between the day labor agency and the third-party client (excludes labor or employment of a professional or clerical nature).

Requires that when a day labor agency agrees to send a person to work as day laborers that the agency provide the laborer a statement containing: the day laborer's name; the name and nature of the work to be performed and the types of equipment, protective clothing, and training that are required; the wages offered; the name and address of the destination; terms of transportation, and whether a meal or equipment, or both, are provided, either by the day labor agency or the third-party client; and the cost of the meal and equipment, if any. 

Requires that day labor agencies keep records of the specified information when it sends one or more persons to work as day laborers; records must be kept for three years and are open to inspection by the Department of Labor (Department) during normal business hours. Specifies record information that is to be available for review or copying by the day laborer. 

Prohibits a day labor agency or third-party client from charging a day laborer for any meal not consumed by the laborer, and if consumed prohibits charging more than the cost of the meal. Prohibits a day labor agency or a third-party client or a contractor or agent of either from charging a fee to transport a day laborer to or from the work site.  Allows the day laborer agency or third-party client to charge the day laborer the market value of any required safety equipment if it is not returned by the laborer. Prohibits charging more than the actual market value for any other equipment, clothing, accessories, or other items made available for purchase. 

Requires a day labor agency to provide a day laborer, at the time of payment of wages, with a detailed itemized statement that lists the six categories of information. Requires providing an annual earnings summary. Prohibits using vouchers or any other method of payment that is not generally negotiable. Prohibits a day labor agency from charging a day laborer for cashing a check issued by the agency for wages earned by a day laborer who performed work through that agency. Also prohibits charging for conducting any consumer report, any criminal background check of any kind, or any drug test of any kind.

Requires that day laborers be paid no less than the wage rate established by GS 95-25.3. Prohibits the amount deducted for meals and equipment from causing a day laborer's hourly wage to fall below the State or federal minimum wage.

Requires that a day laborer contracted by a day labor agency to work at a third-party client's work site who is not used by the third-party client to be paid for at least four hours of pay at the agreed-upon rate. 

Requires the Department to review a complaint filed by a licensed day labor agency. The Department shall review the payroll and accounting records of the day labor agency and the third-party client for the period in which the violation of this Article is alleged to have occurred to determine if wages and payroll taxes have been paid to the agency and that the day laborer has been paid the wages owed him or her.

Requires adequate seating in the day labor agency's public access areas, which is where required notices must be posted; also requires access to restrooms and water. 

Prohibits a day labor agency from restricting the right of a day laborer to accept a permanent position with a third-party client to whom the day laborer has been referred for work or restrict the right of such third-party client to offer such employment to a day laborer.

Requires day labor agencies that are located, operate, or transact business within the state to register with the Department. Requires the list of agencies to be included on the Department's website, along with any actions taken against those agencies. Sets out additional requirements to be eligible for registration. Requires posting notices on how to file wage dispute complaints and other alleged violations. 

Provides for administration and enforcement of the new Article. 

Creates private rights of action for a person aggrieved by a violation of this Article or any rule adopted under this Article by a day labor agency or a third-party client or a day labor agency aggrieved by a violation of this Article or any rule adopted under this Article by a third-party client. Allows a day laborer whose rights have been violated under this Article by a day labor agency or a third-party client or a day labor agency whose rights have been violated under this Article by a third-party client to collect the specified types of compensation. Sets the statute of limitations. Provides for attorneys' fees in specified circumstances. 

Includes a severability clause. 

Amends GS 95-241 to prohibit retaliating against an employee for filing a claim or complaint under the new Article 2B.

Effective January 1, 2020. 

 

Appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety, State Highway Patrol Division, $8.3 million for 2019-20 and $8.3 million for 2020-21 to increase the annual compensation for members of the State Highway Patrol. Requires the raises to be made according to the specified pay schedule. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends GS 143-166.3 by increasing the amount of the death benefit to be paid when a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty from $100,000 to $1 million. Appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of State Treasurer $18 million in recurring funds for 2019-20 and $18 million in recurring funds for 2020-21 to pay these benefits. Effective July 1, 2019.

Amends GS 15A-2001 by adding that if a defendant enters a guilty plea to first degree murder in a case involving the murder of a law enforcement officer, employee of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety, jailer, firefighter, judge or justice, former judge or justice, prosecutor or former prosecutor, juror or former juror, or witness or former witness against the defendant, while engaged in the performance of the person's official duties or because of the exercise of the person's official duty, the State must not agree to accept a sentence of life imprisonment and requires the jury to make a recommendation as to the appropriate sentence. Makes conforming changes. Effective December 1, 2019.

Includes a severability clause.

Amends GS 115C-64.25, which established the B-3 Interagency Council (Council) as a joint agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Increases membership of the Council from 12 to 20 voting members and maintains four nonvoting advisory members. Removes the qualification of one of each of the four public members appointed by the Speaker and the President Pro Tempore that required one member appointed by the Speaker to be a representative of Smart Start and one member appointed by the President Pro Tempore to be a representative of the NC Partnership for Children. Adds the following ex officio members to the Council to serve with the same rights and privileges, including voting rights, as other members: (1) the Director of the Division of Child Development and Early Education of DHHS or his or her designee, (2) the Director of the Office of Early Learning of DPI or his or her designee, (3) the President of the NC Partnership for Children or his or her designee, (4) the Director of the Government Analytics Center of the Department of Information Technology or his or her designee, (5) the President of the NC Head Start Association or his or her designee, (6) the Director of the NC Head Start State Collaboration Office of DPI or his or her designee, (7) the Director the Academic Programs Section of the Community College System or his or her designee, and (8) the Program Coordinator for the NC B-K Higher Education Consortium or his or her designee. Applies to appointments for Council members on or after November 1, 2019.

Identical to H 574, filed 4/3/19.

Includes whereas clauses.

Part I.

Subject to approval by voters at the primary election in March 2020, makes the following changes to Article II of the NC Constitution. 

Adds new Sec. 25 establishing the 15-member Citizens Redistricting Commission (Redistricting Commission) that will prepare and adopt plans for revisiting the districts and apportioning the members of districts for the House of Representatives of the US Congress and the Senate and House of Representatives of the General Assembly. Requires that plans be adopted by a vote of at least three members form each of the following: (1) the members affiliated with the political party having the highest number of registered affiliates; (2) the members affiliated with the political partying having the second highest number of registered affiliates; and (3) the members not affiliated with either of the two political parties having the highest number of registered affiliates. Sets out requirements for appointing members to the Redistricting Commission, which must consist of four persons affiliated with the political party with the highest number of registered affiliates and four affiliated with the political party with the second-highest number of affiliates, appointed by the specified NCGA leaders, and an additional five persons not affiliated with either of the two parties with the highest and second-highest number of registered affiliates, one person affiliated with the political party with the highest number of registered affiliates, and one person affiliated with the party with the second-highest number of registered affiliates, all selected by the six members who were appointed by legislative leadership. Term of office is four years. Prohibits the following from serving on the Redistricting Commission: (1) an individual, or their relative, who has been appointed to, elected to, or been a candidate for any elective public office; been appointed to a State board or commission; has served as an officer or executive committee member of a political party, or as an officer, paid employee, or paid consultant of a candidate's campaign committee, or has been a registered lobbyist; (2) an individual who is or has ever been an employee of the General Assembly or Congress, or is or has ever been a consultant or under contract with those entities; (3) an individual who has ever had a financial relationship with the Governor; or (4) an individual who has ever contributed more than $1,000 to any candidate for public office. Prohibits members of the Redistricting Commission, while serving, or within five years after service, from being appointed to a state board or commission; serving as an officer or executive committee member of a political party; or as an officer, paid employee, or paid consultant of a candidate's campaign committee; or registering as a lobbyist. Requires the Redistricting Commission, as soon as practicable after the return of the decennial census, to appoint a special master who will draw a final plan that the Redistricting Commission must adopt in the event that the Redistricting Commission is unable to adopt a plan. Requires dismissing members if they are unable to adopt a plan and select a special master. 

The above provisions are effective January 1, 2020.

Makes conforming changes to Section 3 and Section 5, regarding the election of senators and representatives, and amends the requirements for districts to now require that they meet the following goals: (1) one person, one vote; (2) minimizing the number of split counties, municipalities, and other communities of interest; and (3) compactness. Effective beginning with the redistricting done upon the return of the 2020 decennial census.

If the constitutional amendments are approved, then effective January 1, 2020, enacts Article 1B, Redistricting, in GS Chapter 120, which provides as follows. Sets out definitions for terms used in the Article. Specifies the duties of the Redistricting Commission, which in addition to those discussed in the constitutional amendment above, include maintaining meeting notes, plans, and data used to develop the plans, and maintaining a website to disseminate information about the Redistricting Commission, which must allow the public to view meetings and hearings and submit plans and comments. Requires the position of chair to rotate every two months and sets out additional requirements for the rotation. Sets out requirements for staffing. Sets out requirements for recording information submitted to the Redistricting Commission, and requires adopting a procedure for members to document verbal conversations between members and individuals holding public office or declared candidates for public office, that includes a least the specified information.

Sets out redistricting standards related to district populations, district boundaries, contiguous territories, and compactness. Prohibits (1) drawing a district for the purpose of favoring a political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or other person or group; (2) drawing a district for the purpose of augmenting or diluting the voting strength of a language or racial minority group; (3) making any use of political affiliations of registered voters; previous election results; demographic information, other than population head counts; or the location of incumbents' residences.

Sets out steps the Redistricting Commission must take in preparation for redistricting, including holding at least 21 public hearings throughout the state.

Sets out the process for adopting the legislative and congressional district plans, as discussed above in the constitutional changes, with plans to be adopted by April 1 of each year ending in one. Provides that if an adopted plan is held invalid, then a new district plan is to be adopted under the same process, modified as necessary to reflect the timing and nature of the holding. 

Makes a conforming repeal of GS 120-133, which concerned the confidentiality of redistricting communications with legislative employees. 

Part II.

Enacts new Article 28 to GS Chapter 163A, Nomination and Election of Appellate Justices and Judges, providing the following. 

New GS 163A-1700 provides for the applicability of Article 28 to the nomination and election of justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals (hereafter, justices and judges).

New GS 163A-1701 provides for a nonpartisan primary election method for the nomination of justices and judges when there are more than two candidates for a single office or the number of candidates for a group of offices exceeds twice the number of positions to be filled when the filing period closes. Provides for the canvass of the primary and determination of nominations in the primary and election winners. 

New GS 163A-1702 provides for the form for notice of candidacy, the withdrawal of candidacy, and the certification of the candidate as a registered voter. Requires justices and judges to file their notices of candidacy with the State Board no earlier than noon on the second Monday in February and no later than noon on the last business day in February preceding the election. Prohibits any person from filing a notice of candidacy for more than one office or group of offices governed by Article 28 or GS 163A-974, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, all State executive officers, superior and district court judges, US Congress members, and district attorneys. Requires designation of candidacy at the time of filing when there are two or more vacancies for the office of justice or judge.

New GS 163A-1703 establishes a filing fee of 1% of the annual salary of the office sought. Provides for fee refunds for the withdrawal of candidacy or upon death of the candidate, as specified.

New GS 163A-1704 provides for the filing of a written petition in lieu of payment of the filing fee, as specified.

New GS 163A-1705 provides for the certification of notices of candidacy by the State Board and subsequent notification of local boards of elections.

New GS 163A-1706 authorizes the State Board to extend the filing period for five days for any offices for which candidates have not filed that are to be filled under Article 28. Details the process to be followed when a candidate is disqualified or dies before the primary, a candidate is alive and fails to withdraw after close of filing, or a candidate dies, is qualified, or fails to qualify after the person is elected. 

New GS 163A-1707 provides for elections to fill a vacancy in an office that is created after the primary filing period opens but more than 60 days before the general election. Provides that the State Board must designate a special filing period of one week for candidates for that office. Provides for a second primary election if two or more qualified candidates file and the vacancy occurs more than 63 days before the date of the second primary for members of the General Assembly, and a general election if two or more qualified candidates file and the vacancy occurs more than 64 days before the date of the second primary which must be held on the same day as the general election for members of the General Assembly. 

New GS 163A-1708 permits any person who will become qualified by age or residence to register to vote in the general election for which the primary is held, even though not so qualified by the date of the primary, to register for the primary and general election prior to the primary and then to vote in the primary after being registered. Prohibits such persons from registering earlier than 60 days nor later than the last day for making application to register for primary elections pursuant to GS 163A-865(d) prior to the primary. 

New GS 163A-1709 sets the primary date for the same date as established for primary elections under GS 163A-700(b), which provides for primaries to be on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in May preceding each general election to be held in November.

New GS 163A-1710 provides for the form of official ballots. Requires official ballots to be printed by the county board of elections, as specified. Provides requirements for the distribution of official ballots.

New GS 163A-1711 provides for counting ballots in primaries and elections to be in the same manner for nonpartisan municipal elections under Part 2 of Article 27 of GS Chapter 163A.

New GS 163A-1712 establishes that the conduct of elections are governed by Article 20 of GS Chapter 163A (Conduct of Primaries and Elections), except as provided by Article 28.

Makes conforming changes to GS 18C-112(e)(1), GS 163A-700(b), GS 163A-743, GS 163A-873, GS 163A-974(a), GS 163A-975, GS 163A-979(a), GS 163A-980(b), GS 163A-984(c)(1), and makes a technical change to GS 163A-1114.

Amends GS 163A-1005 to exempt elections under new Article 28 of GS Chapter 163A from the provisions for unaffiliated candidates nominated by petition. Amends GS 163A-1006 to exempt nonpartisan elections, except for elections under new Article 28 of GS Chapter 163A, from the statute's provisions concerning declaration of intent and petitions for write-in candidates in partisan elections.

Effective January 1, 2020, and applies to elections held on or after that date.

Part III.

Amends GS 163A-308, extending the amount of time that a former legislator must wait before registering as a lobbyist to two years. Previously the waiting period was either the close of session or six months after leaving office, whichever was later. Extends the amount of time a public servant or former public servant must wait before registering as a lobbyist to two years after leaving office or end of employment (was, six months). Extends the amount of time an employee of any State agency must wait before registering to lobby the State agency that previously employed them to two years (was, six months). 

Effective October 1, 2019.

Part IV.

Amends GS 163A-864 by adding the requirement that the State Board of Elections make the voter registration application forms available for completion and submission on a secure website.

Enacts new GS 163A-864.1 allowing an individual to register to vote or change voter registration online if the individual: (1) is eligible to register to vote and (2) possess a current and valid North Carolina driver's license (including a learner's permit or provisional license) or a special identification card for nonoperators. Requires the State Board to establish a secure website for the completion and submission of voter registration applications. Specifies information that the website must allow an individual to submit, including information to establish eligibility and the individual's email address. Requires the county board of elections, upon receipt of an online application, to verify specified applicant information. Requires the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to transfer the applicant's digital signature in the DMV records to the State Board if the State Board verifies the driver's license or Social Security number. Requires the State Board to notify the applicant if the State Board cannot verify the driver's license or Social Security number.

Amends GS 163A-871 to add specified identifying information submitted during the online voter registration application process to the information that is confidential.

Effective December 1, 2019.

Part V.

Amends GS 163A-862 and GS 163A-865 authorizing county boards of elections to accept automatic voter registration.

Amends GS 163A-883 to require, beginning January 1, 2020, the Division of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, to develop and implement a method by which eligible individuals shall be automatically registered to vote.  Requires DMV officials taking driver's license applications to affirmatively inquire whether the applicant wishes to register to vote or update their registration, note the applicant's response, and register the applicant to vote if the applicant wishes.  The applicant must attest to the information provided for voter registration. Confidentiality of voter information must be maintained by the State Board of Elections.

The above provisions are effective January 1, 2020.

Amends GS 163A-884 to require, beginning January 1, 2021, voter registration agencies (which include state offices that accept applications for public assistance, services for persons with disabilities, and unemployment benefits) to provide, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, an application process for automatic voter registration with each recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to the service or assistance of the agency.  Specifies certain procedural requirements substantially similar to those provided for in GS 163A-883, as amended. Does not require an agency to provide automatic voter registration to a person with disability at the person's home. Requires electronic transmittal of applications to the appropriate board of elections.

Amends GS 163A-885 to authorize automatic voter registration at the time of restoration of citizenship, effective January 1, 2020. Further amends the statute to authorize online voter registration at the time of restoration of citizenship, effective January 1, 2021.

Amends GS 115D-5 and GS 116-11 to require, beginning January 1, 2021, the State Board of Community Colleges and the UNC Board of Governors, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, to provide each person enrolled and registering for courses as a student at a State community college or a State college or university in the UNC System the option for automatic voter registration. Specifies certain procedural requirements substantially similar to those provided for in GS 163A-883 and GS 163A-844, as amended. Provides that applications to register accepted by a State community college or constituent institution of UNC entitles a registrant to vote in any primary, general or special election unless the registrant made application later than the 25th calendar day immediately preceding the election; permits continuing acceptance of applications during that period.

The above provisions are effective January 1, 2021.

Requires the State Board of Elections to develop education and outreach programs to inform voters of automatic registration procedures established by the act.

Part VI.

Adds new Part 4, Fair Elections Program, to Article 23 of GS Chapter 163A.

Establishes the Fair Elections Fund (Fund) as a separate, nonreverting account in the General Fund, administered by the State Treasurer. Requires investment earnings credited to the assets of the Fund to become part of the assets of the Fund.

Establishes the Fair Elections Program (Program) under which the candidate campaign committee of a candidate for nomination or election to office in this state may receive a grant from the Fund for the candidate's primary campaign or general election campaign. The Part defines primary campaign as the period beginning on the day following the close of the filing period under GS 163A-974 and ending on the day of a primary held for the purpose of nominating a candidate for such office. General election campaign is defined as, in the case of a candidate nominated at a primary, the period beginning on the day following the primary and ending on the date the treasurer files the final statement for the campaign or, in the case of a candidate nominated without a primary, the period beginning on the day following the day on which the candidate is nominated and ending on the date the treasurer files the final statement for the campaign.

Provides that a candidate campaign committee is eligible to receive grants for a primary campaign and a general election campaign if each of the five specified conditions are met, including that the candidate agrees to limit the campaign expenditures of the candidate’s candidate campaign committee in accordance with new GS 163A-1510.3(c). Under (c), a candidate in the Program is required to limit the expenditures of the candidate’s candidate campaign committee before a primary campaign and a general election campaign to the amount of qualifying contributions allowed under Part 4 and any personal funds provided by the candidate. For a primary, campaign expenditures are limited to the sum of (1) the amount of qualifying contributions and personal funds that have not been spent before the primary campaign and (2) the amount of the grant for the primary campaign. For a general election campaign, limits expenditures to the sum of (1) the amount of qualifying contributions and personal funds that have not been spent before the general election campaign, (2) any unexpended funds from any grant for a primary campaign, and (3) the amount of the grant for the general election campaign.

Requires each candidate for nomination or election to State executive office or State legislative office in the state to file an affidavit with the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement (State Board) certifying in writing whether or not the candidate intends to abide by the expenditure limits. If the candidate intends to abide by the limits, the affidavit must also include additional specified written certifications concerning funding from the Fund. Sets out further requirements for filing the affidavit. Provides that a candidate who does not intend to participate in the Program and certifies as such is not required to file the affidavit. Candidates who do not file the affidavit as well as those who certify their intent not to abide by the limits are referred to as nonparticipating candidates and those who certify the candidate’s intent to abide by the expenditure limits are referred to as participating candidates. Requires the State Board to prepare a list of participating and nonparticipating candidates, which is to be available for public inspection.

Provides a procedure under which a participating candidate may withdraw from the Program.

Sets out the amount of qualifying contributions the candidate campaign committee of a candidate is required to receive in order to be eligible for grants from the Fund with the required amount set according to the office being sought. Sets out the following additional requirements applicable to candidates making qualifying contributions: (1) the candidate campaign committee must return the portion of any contribution from any individual, including the candidate, that exceeds $100 and any excess portion is not considered in calculating the aggregate contribution amounts; (2) regarding contributions from individuals residing in municipalities in the candidate's district (for candidates for State Senator or Representative), no contribution will be counted unless the contribution is at least $5; (3) all contributions received by an exploratory committee established by the candidate that meet the criteria for qualifying contributions to candidate campaign committees must be considered in calculating the aggregate amounts.

Requires each individual contributing more than $50 to a candidate campaign committee established to aid or promote the success of a participating candidate for nomination or election to also include a certification containing the same information required by GS 163A-1422(a)(1). Sets out three types of contributions that are not deemed to be qualifying contributions that must be returned to the contributor or transmitted to the State Board to be deposited in the Fund. Requires that any additional contributions received after a candidate campaign committee receives the applicable aggregate amount of qualifying contributions to be transmitted to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the Fund.

Sets the grant amounts from the Fund as follows: (1) for candidates for Governor, $1.25 million for a primary and $10 million for a general election; (2) for candidates for State executive office other than Governor, $375,000 for a primary and $1 million for a general election; (3) for candidates for State Senator, $35,000 for a primary and $85,000 for a general election; (4) for candidate for State Representative, $14,000 for a primary and $34,000 for a general election. Sets out additional provisions governing the grant amount in the case of special elections, failure to expend the entire grant for the primary campaign, and lack of opponent in the general election. Sets out amounts of grant funds available to third-party candidate and petitioning candidates.

Sets out the process for applying for a grant from the Fund.

Prohibits depositing any contribution, loan, or the candidate's own moneys or any other moneys received by the candidate or the treasurer on behalf of the candidate campaign committee into the depository account after the initial deposit of moneys from the Fund into the qualified candidate campaign committee’s depository account.

Provides that a qualified candidate campaign committee that received moneys from the Fund for a primary campaign and whose candidate is the party nominee will receive a grant for a general election campaign; sets out the process and timing of that payment.

Allows the candidate campaign committee for a candidate intending to participate in the Program to borrow moneys on behalf of a campaign for a primary or a general election in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000. Prohibits an individual or political committee, except the candidate or, in a general election, the State executive committee of a political party, from endorsing or guaranteeing a loan in an aggregate amount in excess of $500. Requires all loans to be repaid in full before the date the candidate campaign committee applies for a grant; a candidate who fails to repay any loans or to certify the repayment of any loans to the State Board will not receive grants from the Fund. Allows candidates intending to participate in the Program to provide personal funds for the candidate's campaign for nomination or election, not to exceed the following: (1) for a candidate for Governor, $20,000; (2) for a candidate for State executive office other than the Governor, $10,000; (3) for a candidate for State Senator, $2,000; and (4) for a candidate for State Representative, $1,000.

Sets out penalties and repayment when an expenditure is made or incurred in excess of applicable expenditure limits by a qualified candidate campaign committee that received a grant.

Sets out procedures for filing required weekly supplemental campaign finance statements, and filing a declaration of excess expenditures when a participating candidate campaign committee makes expenditures or incurs an obligation to make expenditures that exceeds 100% of the applicable expenditure limits. Sets out penalties for failure to file the required statement or declaration.

Requires the State Board to give each participating candidate a copy of the voter registration list for the state or applicable district.

Prohibits a local committee, legislative caucus committee, or legislative leadership committee from making an organization expenditure for the benefit of a participating candidate or the candidate campaign committee of a participating candidate for the office of State Senator in an amount exceeding $10,000 for a general election campaign or for the office of State Representative in an amount exceeding $3,500 for a general election campaign; prohibits making an organization expenditure for State legislative office for a primary campaign.

Requires the State Board to compile and analyze the five categories of information and report its analysis biennially, along with any recommendations for adjustments to the grant amounts, to the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee.

Allows any person, business entity, organization, or political committee to contribute to the Fund.

Effective December 1, 2019, and applies to election grants sought on or after that date.

Part VII.

Amends GS 143-318.14A to specify that reasonable public notice (might intend to require adequate public notice, as defined below) of all commission, committee, and standing subcommittee meetings must be given to all General Assembly members; members of the commission, committee, or subcommittee; and to the Legislative Services Office (was, only that reasonable public notice must be given without specifying the recipient of the notice). Requires that the notice be posted on General Assembly’s website by the Legislative Services Office.  Defines adequate public notice as written or electronic notice that is posted and mailed or e-mailed to those who requested notice at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting.  Requires that the notice include the time, date, location, and to the extent known, the agenda of the meeting. Requires that the agenda for a noticed meeting be readily available for public inspection no less than 24 hours in advance of the time of the meeting and prohibits changing the agenda except for items of an emergency nature, after the notice has been made available to the public. Requires that commission, committee, or standing subcommittee members receive the text of all bills, proposed committee substitutes, and amendments that will be considered during the scheduled meeting no later than 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Prohibits considering or acting on a bill, proposed committee substitute, or amendment that has not been made available to the members as required.

Requires the Legislative Services Office to develop a plan to install equipment providing live video and audio in both chamber and all committee rooms. The plan must be submitted to the chairs of the Legislative Services Commission and the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government by April 1, 2020.