Senate amendment makes the following changes to the 2nd edition. 

Amends new GS 58-3-8 as follows. Amends the definition of a medical direct primary care agreement to allow the contract to be between a primary care provider and a family, in addition to the already listed individual patient or an individual patient's legal representative. Requires a medical direct primary care agreement to be signed by the individual patient, an adult member of the family, or the individual patient's legal representative (was, by the patient or patient's legal representative only). Makes conforming changes.

Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Requires the North Carolina Division of Social Services (Division), by and through the Social Services Commission (Commission), to prepare and submit for review to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) a comprehensive report of all of its policies, guidelines, and other interpretive statements (was, its existing publications, policies, and procedures) by May 31, 2021 (was, May 31, 2020). Makes conforming changes throughout to refer to "policies, guidelines, and other interpretive statements," rather than "publications, policies, and procedures." Specifies that the report must include such policies, guidelines, or other interpretive statements that the Division or any of its subdivisions has sought to implement or enforce that may directly or substantially affect the procedural or substantive rights or duties of persons not employed by the Division or any of its subdivisions (was, such that are used by the Division or any of its subdivisions that may directly or substantially affect the described rights and duties). No longer requires identification of policies and procedures used by the Division that satisfy the definition of a rule. Requires the report to include an explanation for any policies, guidelines, and other interpretive statements not adopted as a rule the Commission believes are not in violation of statutory rule-making requirements (similar to previous language). More specifically excludes any emergency, temporary, or permanent rule adopted by the Division in accordance with statutory rule-making requirements (previously, excluded existing rules of the Division or its subdivisions published in the NCAC). 

Now requires the Commission and OAH to jointly review the report (rather than the findings of the report) to identify any policies, guidelines, or other interpretive statements in violation of the statutory rule-making requirements (rather than identifying rules that are subject to the statutory rule-making requirements). Makes conforming changes to the procedures set out for referral to the Rules Review Commission in the event of disagreement between the Commission and OAH. Adds that the Commission can file an action for declaratory judgement if the Commission disagrees with the determination of the Rules Review Commission upon referral.

Regarding interim rules, renders interim rules authorized by the statute void on July 1, 2022, rather than July 1, 2021, if the Commission has failed to adopt the interim rule as a permanent rule consistent with statutory rule-making procedures by that date. No longer provides for failure to publish interim rules proposed to be adopted as permanent rules in the Register. Provides for a reviewing court to extend the interim rule period pending review of a declaratory judgement action filed by the Commission. Deems any policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement issued by the Division after the date the act becomes law void one year after issuance, with authority granted to the DHHS Secretary to re-issue the policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement for an additional one-year period.

Amends GS 93B-8.1 to expand the defined term applicant to include a person who makes application for licensure from a State agency licensing board. Adds new subsection (c1) to specify that the statute does not authorize an occupational licensing board or a State agency licensing board to require an applicant to consent to a criminal history record check or use of fingerprinting or other identifying information required by the State or National Repositories of Criminal Histories as a condition of granting or renewing a license.

Expands GS 150B-23 to require a contested case petition to state facts tending to establish that the named agency has sought to implement or enforce against the petitioner a policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement in violation of GS 150B-18, if appropriate.

Amends GS 150B-33 to authorize an administrative law judge (ALJ) to determine that a policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement that a State agency has sought to implement or enforce is unenforceable due to violation of statutory rule-making procedures. Allows for the ALJ to order refunds of collections pursuant to the policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement, and stay the determination of unenforceability to allow the agency time to properly adopt the policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement as rule. Further, allows the ALJ to order the assessment of reasonable attorneys' fees and witnesses' fees against the agency where the ALJ finds the agency has sought to implement or enforce a policy, guideline, or other interpretive statement in violation of statutory rule-making procedures.

Amends 150B-1 to exempt DHHS from statutory rule-making procedures in adopting rules relating to the administration or operation of the State Medicaid or NC Health Choice program (was, in adopting new or amending existing medical coverage policies for the State Medicaid and NC Health Choice programs).

Repeals GS 150B-1(d)(20), which exempted DHHS from statutory rule-making procedures in implementing, operating, or overseeing new 1915(b)/(c) Medicaid Waiver programs or amendments to existing 1915(b)/(c) Medicaid Waiver programs.

Enacts GS 108A-54.1B(e) to establish the following procedures for rules adopted by DHHS, except those regarding changes to medical coverage under Medicaid and NC Health Choice as provided in GS 108A-54.2. Requires DHHS to publish the proposed rule on its website 30 days prior to adoption of a new or amended rule; to provide copies of proposed rules to persons upon request; and to accept comments on the proposed new or amended rule for 30 days following publication. Waives the notice requirement if immediate adoption is necessary in order to fully effectuate the purpose of the rule.

Changes the act's titles.

House committee substitute deletes the content of the 1st edition and now provides the following.

Part I

Section 1

Makes the following changes to GS Chapter 159G, Water Infrastructure.

Amends GS 159G-20 to define distressed unit, operating deficit, and Viable Utility Reserve. Modifies the term local government unit to also include a metropolitan water and sewerage district. Makes organizational changes and updates GS Chapter 162A Article and GS Chapter 160A references.

Amends GS 159G-22 to establish the Viable Utility Reserve (Reserve) account within the Water Infrastructure Fund to receive appropriated State funds. Specifies that credited revenue to the account is neither received from the federal government nor provided as a match for federal funds. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to establish accounts within the Reserve to administer grants for public water systems or wastewater systems owned by local government units. 

Amends GS 159G-30 to include the administration of grants made from the Reserve, through the Division of Water Infrastructure (Division), in DEQ's responsibilities. Makes clarifying and technical changes.

Amends GS 159G-31 to establish that a local government unit, as now defined, is eligible to apply for a grant from the Reserve. Also authorizes the Local Government Commission (Commission) to submit an application on behalf of a distressed unit for an emergency grant to cover operating deficits of the unit's public water system or wastewater system; deems such applications approved by the Commission upon submission.

Amends GS 159G-32 to specify six authorized uses for grants from the Reserve, including rehabilitating existing public water or wastewater infrastructure, decentralizing an existing public water or wastewater system, funding a study of rates, asset inventory and assessment, merger and regionalization options, and providing emergency grants for operating deficits.

Enacts GS 159G-34.5, detailing four types of authorized Reserve grants: (1) an asset assessment and rate study grant, (2) a merger/regionalization feasibility grant, (3) a project grant, and (4) emergency grant for operating deficit. Conditions the emergency grant category upon the Commission exercising control over the affairs of the unit's public water system or wastewater system or the unit or authority that owns or operates the system pursuant to specified state law. Authorizes Reserve grants to be awarded to a regional council or government or a regional planning commission if DEQ and the Local Government Commission determine it is in the best interest of the local government unit. Requires separate accounts in the Reserve for each type of grant.

Amends GS 159G-35 to require the Local Government Commission and the State Water Infrastructure Authority (Authority) to jointly develop evaluation criteria to review grant applications and award grants from the Reserve as provided in GS 159G-39, as amended. Makes clarifying changes.

Amends GS 159G-36 to prohibit the amount of a Reserve grant from exceeding the construction costs of a project. Specifies that grant availability is limited to the extent that other funding sources are not reasonably available to the applicant. Caps grants from the Reserve to any single local government unit at $15 million, and at $30 million where two or more governmental units are merging into a single utility, except emergency grants are capped at $750,000 per local government unit with a duration limit of three consecutive fiscal year.

Expands the application provisions set forth in GS 159G-37 concerning loans and grants from other Reserves under the Chapter to include applications for grants from the Reserve.

Amends GS 159G-39 to require the Local Government Commission to approve the grant award and terms before a grant can be awarded. Deems any emergency grant application submitted by the Commission on behalf of a distressed unit to be approved by the Commission. Authorizes DEQ and the Local Government Commission to impose specific performance measures or conditions on a Reserve grant, in their discretion.

Enacts GS 159G-45 to require the Authority and the Local Government Commission to develop criteria for assessment and review of local government units to identify distressed units, defined as a public water or wastewater system exhibiting signs of failure to identify or address those financial or operating needs necessary to enable that system to become or to remain a local government unit generating sufficient revenues to adequately fund management and operations, personnel, appropriate levels of maintenance, and reinvestment that facilitate the provision of reliable water or wastewater services. Details five components which the criteria should address, including whether the public water or wastewater system has an established, operational, and adequately funded program for its repair, maintenance, and management. Requires distressed units to take certain actions, as described, including developing an action plan for short- and long-term infrastructure repair, maintenance and management, continuing education of the governing board and system operating staff, and long-term financial management. Also requires distressed units to conduct an asset assessment and rate study, and participate in a training and educational program. Provides that once the requirements are met, the local government unit is no longer identified as a distressed unit for the remainder of that assessment and review cycle. Requires the assessment and review cycle of local government units to be no less than every two years, with frequency to be established by the Authority and the Local Government Commission.

Effective October 1, 2020.

Section 2

Enacts Article 10, Dissolution and Merger of Units, to GS Chapter 162A. Defines unit as the same entities created under GS Chapter 162A that are included in the term local government unit under GS Chapter 159G, as amended. Details information which must be provided to the Environmental Management Commission (Commission) prior to any action under the Article to merge or dissolve any unit. Requires the Commission to provide a copy of the submitted information to DEQ and the Local Government Commission upon receipt of a request to dissolve or merge. Specifies notice requirements for district boards of affected units and any other governing boards affected upon confirmation of the time and place for a public hearing on dissolution or merger. 

Authorizes a unit to merge with any other unit, county, city, consolidated city-county, sanitary district, or  joint agency, as described, (1)  if the merger is a condition of receiving a grant from the Reserve or (2) upon approval of the Commission, in consultation with DEQ and the Local Government Commission. Provides for the the transfer of assets, liabilities, and obligations by resolution of the Commission, as specified, and details dissolving a unit upon satisfaction of certain criteria. 

Authorizes a unit to be dissolved (1) if the merger is a condition of receiving a grant from the Reserve or (2) in order to merge with another unit, county, city, consolidated city-county, sanitary district, or joint agency, as described, and establish a new entity upon approval of the Commission, in consultation with DEQ and the Local Government Commission. Provides for the the transfer of assets, liabilities, and obligations by resolution of the Commission, as specified, and dissolving a unit.

Establishes the effective date for merger or dissolution upon the adoption of a resolution by the Commission to be fixed as of June 30 following the adoption or the second June 30 following the adoption of the resolution. Details the effect of a merger or dissolution upon adoption of a resolution by the Commission and authorizes all governing boards and district boards to take actions and execute the documents necessary to effectuate the described provisions. 

Effective October 1, 2020.

Section 3

Enacts Part 5, Water and Wastewater Systems, to Article 20, GS Chapter 160A. Sets forth defined terms. Authorizes interlocal cooperation between local government units for any purpose. Makes the joint exercise of powers provisions of Part 1 of Article 20 apply when two or more local government units agree to contract for one or more undertaking under new Part 5. 

Effective October 1, 2020.

Section 4

Directs DEQ to study the statutes and rules governing subbasin transfers. Details requirements of the study, including whether the costs of complying with specific statutory requirements are worth the benefits of the requirements. Requires DEQ to submit a report to the Commission by January 15, 2021.

Section 5

Directs the Department of State Treasurer to study the feasibility of authorizing historical charts for local government units that have become or may become defunct. Details requirements of the study, including the consequences of such charters. Requires the Department of State Treasurer to report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2021.

Section 6

Repeals Section 14 (Water/Wastewater Public Enterprise Reform) of SB 553 (Regulatory Reform Act of 2019) if that act becomes law.

Part II

Section 7

Directs the Department of Commerce to transfer, by August 15, 2020, $9 million in nonrecurring funds from the One North Carolina Fund to the Water Infrastructure Fund for 2020-21. Appropriates the transferred funds to the Viable Utility Reserve to implement the award of grants pursuant to GS 159G-32, as amended.

Part III

Section 8

Reenacts and incorporates by reference the State Budget Act, GS Chapter 143C. 

Section 9

Provides for the continued validity of 2019 legislation expressly appropriating funds to a State entity covered by the act unless expressly repealed or amended.

Section 10

Provides for Parts II and III of the act to become effective July 1, 2020.

Changes the act't titles.

House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 3rd edition.

Deletes the act's provisions in Section 2 about waiving the road test requirement for a regular drivers license or limited provisional licence and requiring the issuance of a temporary license. Instead, requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to waive the road test requirements for applicants for a limited provisional license if the applicant meets all other requirements for the license. Expires when DMV resumes administering regularly scheduled road tests but no later than 180 days from the act's effective date.

Appropriates $10,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2020-21 from the General Fund to the DMV to develop and maintain a list of individuals issued a limited provisional license following waiver of the road test. Effective July 1, 2020. 

House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Amends Section 3.15(c) of SL 2019-209 to adjust the State's employer contribution rates for retirement benefits for the 2020-21 fiscal year for the retirement systems for teachers and state employees from 14.36% to 14.78% of covered salaries, State law enforcement officers from 14.36% to 14.78% of covered salaries, the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System from 36% to 36.44% of covered salaries, and the Legislative Retirement System from 29% to 27.30%. Adjusts the State's employer contributions rates for disability benefits for teachers and state employees, State law enforcement officers, and the University and Community Colleges Optional Retirement Programs from 0.10% to 0.09% of covered salaries. Additionally, adjusts the State's employer contribution rates for retiree health benefits for teachers and state employees, State law enforcement officers, the University and Community Colleges Optional Retirement Programs, the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, and the Legislative Retirement System from 6.82% to 6.68%. Makes conforming changes. Repeals these proposed changes if House Bill 1136 becomes law, and instead makes identical changes to Section 3.15(c), as amended by House Bill 1136, effective July 1, 2020.

Amends Section 3.15(e) of SL 2019-209 to decrease the maximum annual employer contributions payable monthly for each covered employee or retiree for the 2020-21 fiscal year to the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees from $5,165 to $5,061 for Medicare-eligible employees and retirees, and from $6,647 to $6,512 for non-Medicare-eligible employees and retirees.

Directs the Office of State Budget and Management to adjust the applicable appropriations for State retirement and State Health Plan contributions to reflect the above changes, representing a decrease in General Fund net appropriations totaling $5,048,710 in recurring funds for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Appropriates these now available funds from the General Fund on a recurring basis for 2020-21 to meet the State's General Fund debt service obligations. Deems departmental receipts appropriated for 2020-21 to implement the act.

Reenacts and incorporates by reference the State Budget Act, GS Chapter 143C.

Provides for the continued validity of 2019 legislation appropriating funds to entities covered by the act, unless expressly repealed or amended.

Effective July 1, 2020.

Changes the act's titles.