House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows. 

Expands the Smart School Bus Safety Pilot Program (program) to be established by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), now providing for 21 (was 17) authorized local school administrative units to participate in the program, adding Burke County Schools, Chatham County Schools, Iredell-Statesville Schools, and Transylvania County Schools. Exempts the selection of qualifying vendors to contract with authorized units from the requirements of GS 115C-240(d) (regarding State Board of Education assistance with school bus operation). Increases the appropriation from the General Fund to DPI for 2021-22 from $11,039,330 to $13,752,000 to establish the program. Revises the allocations to be made in specified amounts to each unit authorized to participate in the program, as revised. 

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

Changes the act's long title. 

Changes the expiration of the proposed changes to the definition set forth for the defined term Code under GS 105-228.90(b)(7), now providing for expiration for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022 (was, January 1, 2021).

Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022 (was, January 1, 2021), reenacts GS 105-130.5(a)(32) and GS 105-153.5(c2)(20), which require corporate and individual taxpayers to add to the taxpayer's adjusted gross income the amount of any expense deducted under the Internal Revenue Code to the extent that payment of the expense results in forgiveness of a covered loan pursuant to section 1106(b) of the federal CARES Act (governing the Payment Protection Program/PPP) and the income associated with the forgiveness is excluded from gross income pursuant to section 1106(i) of the CARES Act, as they existed immediately before their repeal, as enacted and effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020.

Adds a new deduction to GS 105-153.5(b), allowing a taxpayer to deduct the amount excluded from the taxpayer's gross income for unemployment compensation received by the taxpayer under section 9042 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. 

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Amends amend GS 143-215.75M regarding the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund (Fund), by providing that the Fund also consists of money credited to it under amended GS 105-228.30 (which would credit 30% of the funds collected from taxing real property conveyance instruments to the Fund). 

House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows. 

Part II.

Revises the proposed changes to GS 115C-302.4, amending the definition of high-need retired teacher to require the beneficiary of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System who meets the existing criteria be a school personnel rather than a teacher as proposed in the previous edition. Makes conforming changes to eliminate the addition of teacher to the defined terms. Adds and defines school personnel to mean a licensed personnel who is classified as a teacher or an instructional. 

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

Revises proposed GS 131E-79.3, applicable to hospitals, and GS 131E-147.2, applicable to ambulatory surgical facilities, which establish required qualifications for surgical technologists employed by hospitals or ambulatory surgical facilities (facilities). Now bars facilities from employing or contracting for services of a surgical technologist unless the individual (1) provides evidence of successfully completing an accredited educational training program for surgical technology and holds and maintains an accredited surgical technologist certification credential (previously required evidence of successfully completing a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or another nationally accredited educational program for surgical technologists and holding and maintaining the Certified Surgical Technologist credential issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or its successor), (2) provides evidence of successfully completing an appropriate training program for surgical technology in the US military or the US Public Health Service, or (3) provides documentation of employment to practice surgical technology in a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical facility on December 31, 2021 (was, December 31, 2019), or documentation of employment to practice surgical technology during the three years immediately preceding December 31, 2021 (was, December 31, 2019).

House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows.

Further amends GS 14-404, enacting new subsection (e4) to explicitly require that when a sheriff notifies the potential holder of a mental health order in writing that a particular individual has completed an application for a pistol permit, the holder of any court orders that concern the mental health or mental capacity of an applicant for a permit must, upon request, release to the sheriff any and all mental health orders concerning the applicant. 

Amends GS 114-2.2 (duties of Attorney General - consent judgements) to require approval by the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate of consent judgements where they are jointly, in their official capacity, parties to a dispute challenging a North Carolina statute or provision of the North Carolina Constitution.
Amends GS 114-2.4 (duties of Attorney General - settlement agreements) to require approval by the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate of settlement agreements where they are jointly, in their official capacity, parties to a dispute challenging a North Carolina statute or provision of the North Carolina Constitution.
Also amends GS 114-2.4 to require that the State’s entire obligation for the current and future fiscal years under a settlement agreement be satisfied by funds available in the current fiscal year, including funds the Council of State allots from the contingency and emergency fund, and to require the Director of the Budget to report to the General Assembly’s appropriation committees on funds made available from the contingency and emergency fund for settlement agreements in the previous fiscal year.
Effective October 1, 2021, and applies to disputes, claims, and controversies arising on or after that date.

Enacts new Article 83A, Dignity for Women Who are Incarcerated Act, to GS Chapter 15A. Sets forth 11 defined terms. 

Prohibits Department of Public Safety (DPS) and correctional facility employees from using leg restraints, wrist restraints, restraints connected to other incarcerated persons, or waist shackles on pregnant female incarcerated persons during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and during the six-week postpartum recovery period. Defines correctional facility employee to include any person who is employed by a State or local government agency or unit who works at or in a correctional facility, defined to mean any unit of the State prison system, a local confinement facility, a juvenile detention facility, or other entity under the authority of any State or local law enforcement agency that has the power to detain or restrain a person under State law. Restricts use of wrist handcuffs during the postpartum recovery period to being held in front of her body, if the employee determines important circumstance exists, as defined, and the employee makes a written report to the warden or administrator within five days containing justification for the use of the restraints. Specifies that the provisions do not prohibit the use of wrist restraints held in front of the female incarcerated person's body when in transport outside of the facility, except during labor or suspected labor. Clarifies that the provisions do not affect licensed health care professionals' use of medical restraints to ensure the medical safety of a pregnant female incarcerated person.

Prohibits correctional facility employees, other than a certified health care professional, from conducting body cavity searches of female incarcerated persons who are pregnant or in the postpartum recovery period unless the employee has probable cause to believe the person is concealing contraband that presents a threat of harm to the person, fetus, or another person, and the employee submits a written report to the warden or the administrator within five days containing the justification for the search.

Requires DPS and administrators of correctional facilities to ensure pregnant female incarcerated persons are provided sufficient food and dietary supplements, and access to food at appropriate times of day, as ordered by a physician, physician staff member, or a correctional facility nutritionist as specified. Establishes similar requirements for pregnant female incarcerated persons and female incarcerated persons in the postpartum recovery period by requiring access to the full range of meal options provided by the hospital to meet the person's nutritional needs. 

Prohibits DPS and administrators of correctional facilities from placing pregnant female incarcerated persons or female incarcerated persons in the six-week postpartum recovery period in restrictive housing, as defined, unless the employee makes a determination that an important circumstance exists, as defined, and submits a written report to the warden or administrator within five days containing the justification for the placement.

Prohibits DPS and correctional facility administrators from assigning female incarcerated persons who are pregnant or in the postpartum recovery period to any bed that is elevated more than 3 feet from the floor of the facility.

Requires prenatal, labor, and delivery care to be provided to pregnant female incarcerated persons at no cost to the incarcerated person.

Directs the warden or administrator of the correctional facility to compile a monthly summary of all written reports received as required under the Article and submit the summary to the Chief Deputy Secretary of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. 

Requires DPS and correctional facility administrators to permit a newborn to remain with the female incarcerated person while the female incarcerated person is in the hospital following the delivery unless the medical provider has a reasonable belief that doing so poses a health or safety risk to the newborn. Requires DPS and administrators to make all necessary nutritional and hygiene products available during the postpartum recovery period, provided at no cost to the incarcerated person.

Mandates that DPS place female incarcerated persons in the custody of the State prison system who are mothers of minor children under the age of 1 within 250 miles of the child's permanent address to the extent practicable and after accounting for security and capacity. Requires DPS to authorize visitation of incarcerated persons with low- or minimum-security classifications who are parents to minor children under the age of 1 to allow for visitation by the minors at least twice a week by contact visit (except as specified).

Requires a limitation on inspections by male employees when a female incarcerated person is in a state of undress to the greatest extent practicable and consistent with safety and order, and availability of female employees. Requires male correctional employees to make a written report within five days containing the justification for inspection of a female incarcerated person while in a state of undress.

Requires DPS and administrators of correctional facilities to ensure availability of sufficient menstrual products for all female incarcerated persons as appropriate, at no cost to the incarcerated person.

Directs DPS to develop and provide all State prison system employees who have contact with pregnant female incarcerated persons training related to the physical and mental needs of pregnant female incarcerated persons and fetuses, as specified. Requires consultation with specified divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services. Also directs DPS to develop and provide educational programming for pregnant female incarcerated persons, as specified. Requires training and curricula to be made available to administrators of local confinement facilities.

Revises GS 143B-702 to make rules and regulations adopted by the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice subject to new Article 83A, GS Chapter 15A.

Enacts GS 153A-221.2 to subject local confinement facilities to the requirements of new Article 83A, GS Chapter 15A.

Effective October 1, 2021.

Substantively identical to S 520, filed 4/5/21.

Includes whereas clauses. Makes the following changes to Article 38, Respiratory Care Practice Act, of GS Chapter 90. Adds and modifies defined terms as follows. Adds advanced respiratory care practitioner, advanced respiratory care procedures, endorsement, practice of advanced practice respiratory therapy, and prescriptive and dispensing authorization to the Article's defined terms.

Expands licensure to include advanced respiratory care practitioners who have met the requirements and have been issued a certificate by the NC Respiratory Care Board (Board). Revises the practice of respiratory care to specify the term is as defined by the written order of a licensed physician for respiratory care practitioners, as specified, and the performance of diagnostic testing and therapeutic application of the use of associated respiratory care equipment for medical gases, humidity, and aerosols, except anesthesia. Revises support activities to mean tasks that do not require formal academic training, including the delivery, setup, and routine maintenance and repair of respiratory care equipment, and includes giving instructions on the use, fitting, and application of respiratory care equipment, excluding therapeutic evaluation and assessment for an individual patient as defined by Board rules. 

Modifies membership of the Board set forth in GS 90-649 to include one member who must be a state resident to represent the Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association (replaces the member to represent the NC Association of Medical Equipment Services). Amends GS 90-650 to provide for appointment of this member by the Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Association.

Revises and adds to the Board's powers and duties set forth in GS 90-652. No longer requires the Board to submit a signed form of the licensure applicant consenting to a criminal record check or the use of fingerprints or other identifying information to the Department of Public Safety. Grants authority to establish and adopt rules defining the education and credential requirements for persons seeking endorsement, defined to mean a designation issued by the Board recognizing the person named as having met the requirements to perform advanced respiratory care procedures as defined by the Board's rules. 

Enacts GS 90-652.1 to authorize the Board to waive the Article's requirements in order to permit the provision of drugs, devices, and professional services to the public in the event of a gubernatorially declared state of emergency; a locally declared state of emergency; or to protect the public health, safety, or welfare of citizens under specified state law. 

Distinguishes licensure requirements for respiratory care practitioner licenses and advanced respiratory care practitioner licenses under GS 90-653. Revises respiratory care practitioner licensure requirements to require applicants to submit a completed application that includes a signed form consenting to a criminal background check and the use of fingerprints and other identifying information; submit verification of completion of entry-level degree requirements of a respiratory care education program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor through submission of an official transcript to the Board; and submitting written evidence, verified by oath, that the applicant passed the exam requirements defined by Board rules given by the National Board for Respiratory Care Inc. (National Board) or its successor for entry-level care practitioners. Eliminates previous provisions regarding provision of the entry-level exam throughout the year. Establishes licensure requirements for advanced respiratory care practitioners, mirroring those for respiratory care practitioners, except as follows. Requires verification of successful completion of the postgraduate requirements of respiratory care education for the advanced practice respiratory therapist approved by CoARC or its successor through submission of an official transcript to the Board, requires verification of successful completion of the minimal requirements for Basic Cardiac Life Support recognized by the specified national entities, and requires verification that the applicant passed the exam requirements defined by Board rules given by the National Board or its successor for advanced-level respiratory care practitioners defined by Board Rules. Adds a new requirement for the Board to state the terms and conditions of use of the license to the licensee upon issuance. 

Revises parameters for issuance of a provisional license under GS 90-656 to provide for issuance to any applicant who has completed the education requirements for respiratory care practitioners set forth in GS 90-653(a)(3), as amended, and passed the written exam required under GS 90-653(a)(5), as amended (was upon making application to take the exam). No longer specifies a 12-month maximum term for the license. 

Eliminates the statutory fee set in GS 90-660 for exams. No longer distinguishes a fee for a provisional or temporary endorsement. 

Expands the unlawful practices of unlicensed persons under GS 90-661 to include the use of advanced respiratory care practitioner title, letters, or indications. 

Repeals GS 90-665, which provides that the Article does not require direct third party reimbursement to licensees. 

Makes the above provisions effective October 1, 2022.

Further amends GS 90-652 to grant the Board the authority to appoint and maintain a subcommittee to develop rules to govern the performance of medical acts by advanced respiratory care practitioners. Provides for subcommittee membership and consultation with the NC Medical Board in developing the rules. Conditions the effect of the rules recommended by the subcommittee upon both the Medical Board and the Board adopting the rules, provided adoption complies with GS Chapter 150B.

Enacts GS 90-18.8, authorizing any advanced respiratory practitioner who is licensed under GS 90-648(9a) (as enacted, effective October 1, 2022) to perform medical acts, tasks, and functions to use such title; provides any other use of the title or indication as such to be a violation of Article 1 (practice of medicine) and 38. Establishes conditions under which advanced respiratory care practitioners are authorized to practice advanced respiratory care as defined by GS 90-648(9a) (as enacted, effective October 1, 2022) under the supervision of a physician, including adoption of governing rules by the Board and the Medical Board, approval of both Boards, and assignment of an identification number that is shown on written prescriptions. Establishes conditions under which advanced respiratory care practitioners that have prescriptive and dispensing authorization under GS 90-648(10a) (as enacted, effective October 1, 2022) can order medications, tests, and treatments, including adoption of governing rules by both Boards, current approval of both Boards, and provision of specified instructions from the supervising physician. Deems written prescriptions or orders of an advanced respiratory care practitioner authorized by the physician approved by the Board as the supervisor, with liability on the supervisor. Authorizes registered nurses or licensed practical nurses to perform orders received from advanced respiratory care practitioners as if received from a licensed physician. 

Amends GS 90-8.2 to direct the Medical Board to appoint and maintain a subcommittee to work jointly with the Board to develop rules to govern the performance of medical acts by advanced respiratory care practitioners. Provides for membership and mirrors procedure and effect for rulemaking provided in GS 90-652(15), as enacted. 

Makes the above provisions effective October 1, 2021. 

Directs the Medical Board and the Board to make subcommittee appointments by January 1, 2022, with initial appointees from the Board required to be licensed health care providers currently serving the Board. Further charges the joint subcommittee with developing rules to implement the act, with the approval of both Boards and in compliance with GS Chapter 150B.

Substantively identical to S 673, filed 4/7/21.

Section 1

Current law, GS 95-25.3(a), sets the minimum wage that every employer must pay to each employee who performs any work during any workweek at the higher of $6.15 per hour or the minimum wage set forth in 29 USC 206(a)(1) (the Fair Labor Standards Act, which may change with time), except as otherwise provided in the statute.

This act increases the state's minimum wage in three phases. Effective January 1, 2022, sets the minimum wage at the higher of $10.35 per hour or the minimum wage set forth in 29 USC 206(a)(1). Effective January 1, 2023, sets the minimum wage at the higher of $15.00 per hour or the minimum wage set forth in 29 USC 206(a)(1). Beginning September 1, 2023, requires an annual adjustment by the Commissioner of Labor, calculated as specified. 

Eliminates the remaining content of GS 95-25.3, except existing subsection (f), which permits tipped employees to have tips counted as wages up to a certain federally specified limit. 

Section 2

Further amends GS 95-25.3, setting a statutory cap on the amount of tips earned by tipped employees that can be counted as wages at $6.50 per hour. Eliminates employee notice and employer record keeping requirements. Effective January 1, 2022, until December 31, 2022. Gradually increases the statutory cap, further amending the statute effective for the following specified terms: $9.50 per hour, effective January 1, 2023, until December 31, 2023; $12.50 per hour, effective January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2024; and $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2025. Further amends the statute, effective January 1, 2026, setting the minimum wage rate of a tipped employee at the amount set by the Commissioner of Labor as annually adjusted, with no tips counted as wages. Bars reducing an employee's wages under a tip pooling arrangement. 

Section 3

Amends GS 95-25.14 to no longer exclude the following individuals from the provisions of GS 95-25.3 (Minimum Wage); GS 95-25.4 (Overtime); GS 95-25.5 (Youth Employment); and GS 95-25.15(b) (Record Keeping): (1) any persons employed in agriculture, as defined by federal law; and (2) any person employed as a domestic, including baby sitters and companions, as defined by federal law. Makes clarifying and technical changes.

Amends Article 15A, New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act, of GS Chapter 20 as follows. Adds that for a new motor vehicle that is an emergency vehicle, this Article requires the manufacturer, co-manufacturer, and post-manufacturing modifier to correct defects covered under warranty that are identified and reported within a specified period. Adds and defines the term emergency vehicle as a fire department vehicle, law enforcement vehicle, or ambulance designed and equipped with specialized equipment for responding to an emergency and owned, leased, or used by an authorized entity (an agency of the State, a municipality, or a county, or a volunteer fire department or volunteer rescue squad) for responding to an emergency. Adds and defines the terms co-manufacturer, post-manufacturing modifier, and warranty. Amends the definition of manufacturer by adding that with respect to an emergency vehicle, this term includes within its meaning a co-manufacturer and post-manufacturing modifier. Makes conforming changes to the definition of motor vehicle. Makes additional technical and clarifying changes throughout the Article; makes language gender-neutral. Effective July 1, 2021.

Amends GS 115C-218.3 (Fast track replication of high-quality charter schools) to change the requirements a charter applicant must satisfy in the fast track replication process adopted by the State Board of Education. Charter applicants must either (1) demonstrate that the majority of the charter schools in the state governed by the board of directors seeking fast track replication have had student outcomes over the previous three school years equal to or greater than the student outcomes of the local school administrative unit in which each charter school is located and provide three years of financially sound audits for each of the schools it governs; or (2) contract with a education or charter management organization that can demonstrate that the majority of the charter schools in the state managed by the organization have had student outcomes over the previous three school years equal to or greater than the student outcomes of the local school administrative unit in which each charter school is located and provide three years of financially sound audits for each of the schools it manages.

States legislative findings. 

Directs clerks of superior court to seal the court file for summary ejectment proceedings filed on or after March 10, 2020, except those initiated under Article 7 of GS Chapter 42, Expedited Eviction for Drug Traffickers and Other Criminals. Sunsets this directive 90 days after the expiration or rescission of the Governor's Executive Order No. 116 (2020).

Enacts GS 42-36.4 as follows, effective upon the expiration or rescission of the Governor's Executive Order No. 116 (2020), and applies to summary ejectment proceedings filed before, on, or after that date. Directs clerks of superior court to cause all records of all summary ejectment proceedings to be sealed and removed from publicly accessible records in the following circumstances: (1) after three years from the date the judgement was entered; (2) a pending proceeding where no decision has been entered; (3) a pending proceeding that has been dismissed or where judgement was entered in favor of the respondent tenant; and (4) a proceeding that names a respondent that is under 18. Defines seal or sealed. Clarifies that the statute does not limit the docketing or execution of a judgement for monetary damages in connection with a summary ejectment proceeding filed under GS 42-26. Excludes summary ejectment proceedings filed under Article 7 of GS Chapter 42. Effective upon the expiration or rescission of the Governor's Executive Order No. 116 (2020), and applies to summary ejectment proceedings filed before, on, or after that date.

Expands GS 41A-4, making it an unlawful discriminatory housing practice to deny an applicant on a rental agreement based upon a proceeding for summary ejectment that has been sealed pursuant to GS 42-36.3 (appears to intend new GS 42-46.4). Effective upon the expiration or rescission of the Governor's Executive Order No. 116 (2020), and applies to summary ejectment proceedings filed before, on, or after that date.

Amends GS 7A-754 (qualifications, standards of conduct, and removal of administrative law judges) to change the code of conduct for administrative law judges to the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Conduct for State Administrative Law Judges dated August 2018, except with respect to private practice or political activity, in which case the statute applies instead of the specified rule and provides that GS 126-13 controls as to political activity in lieu of Canon 4 (was, in lieu of Canon 5).

Designates $5 million of the funds allocated to the Department of Transportation from the Highway Fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 in recurring funds to be allocated to AeroX as a grant to develop the nation’s first electric unmanned vertical take-off and landing system. Effective July, 2021.

Identical to S 470, filed 4/1/21.

Enacts new GS Chapter 169, to be known as the North Carolina Regulatory Sandbox Act of 2021. Sets out and defines terms as they are used in the Chapter, including defining regulatory sandbox, sandbox, or sandbox program as the program established by this Chapter that permits a person or entity to temporarily test an innovative financial or insurance product or service (as defined in the act) and make it available to consumers on a limited basis without being subject to certain licensing or other regulatory obligations imposed under applicable State law. Includes numerous NCGA findings related to the banking and insurance  industry as well as emerging technology.

Allows a person who makes an innovative product or service available to consumers in the regulatory sandbox to be granted a waiver of specified requirements imposed by statute or rule, if these statutes or rules do not currently allow the product or service to be made available to consumers. Specifies that the waiver is to be no broader than necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in this Act. Sets the duration of the wavier as the duration of participation in the regulatory sandbox, not to exceed 24 months from the date of admission into the regulatory sandbox program unless granted an extension.

Establishes the 11-member North Carolina Innovation Council (Council) to support innovation, investment, and job creation within the state by encouraging participation in the regulatory sandbox. Gives the Council the power to set standards, principles, guidelines, and policy priorities for the types of innovations that the regulatory sandbox program will support. Makes the Council responsible for admission into the regulatory sandbox program and for assigning selected participants to the applicable State agency. Sets out membership on the Council, including expertise requirements for the public members; prohibits paying members compensation except reasonable travel expenses.

Allows a designated nonprofit organization that has been authorized by the Office of the Secretary of State to be recognized as partners that may help sandbox applicants navigate the application process. Also allows certain participating nonprofit organizations to assist sandbox participants with the design and implementation of products and services during the regulatory sandbox program period. Sets out the application process for nonprofits. Also allows those nonprofit partners to explore, provide input, analyze, and make recommendations with respect to innovations and the application of innovative technologies that would benefit the state, its consumers, and its industry.

Allows entities to apply to participate in the regulatory sandbox by submitting an application to the Council. Sets a $50 application fee and a $450 fee to participate in the 24-mnth sandbox period. Allows for additional participation fees. Require applicants to be a corporation or other organized entity with a physical presence in North Carolina. Sets out six items the Council is to consider when determining admission, including the nature of the innovation product or service proposed, including the potential risk to consumers; whether the entity's management has the necessary expertise to conduct a pilot of the innovative product or service during the sandbox period; and whether any person substantially involved in the development, operation, or management of the innovative product or service has been convicted of or is currently under investigation for fraud or State or federal securities violations. Allows the Council to deny an application in its discretion, but requires defined reasons to be given. Sets out the process by which an applicant may resolve the denial; denies judicial review.

Upon approval, gives an applicant 24 months to test the innovative product or service; allows the period to be extended by agreement of the applicable State agency. Requires innovations to be offered only to customers who are state residents, with a qualified exception for products or services associated with money transmitters; allows the applicable State agency to cap the number of participants, which may be increased by agreement. Allows the Council or State agency to publish a list of participants or innovation waivers. Allows requiring participants to post a consumer protection bond, or alternatively, a deposit of cash or marketable securities. Require a final report at the end of the sandbox period. Provides that if the sandbox participant cannot obtain regulatory compliance within 90 days following the expiration of the sandbox period, the participant must wind down operations with existing consumers within 90 days after the conclusion of the sandbox period; sets out actions that may be taken after that period. Sets out notice requirements to be met when a participant's business objectives fail before the end of the testing period.

Require a participant to make four specified disclosures to consumers before offering an innovative product or service, including that the innovative product or service is authorized under the regulatory sandbox for a temporary testing period and that neither the State nor any of the State agencies endorse or recommend the innovative product or service and is not subject to any liability for losses or damages caused by the product or service. Requires specified records, documents, and data to be kept for five years. Allows the applicable State agency to set reporting requirements.

Sets out provisions governing the confidentiality of various personal information and documents and materials; provides for when certain information may be disclosed.

Allows the Council to explore, receive input, analyze, and make recommendations, with respect to blockchain initiatives and their application. Defines blockchain technology as an electronic method for storing cryptographically secure data in a database or distributed ledger technology that is decentralized, consensus-based, mathematically verified, and distributed across multiple locations.

Deems a participant to possess an appropriate license under the State's laws for purposes of any provision of federal law that requires State licensure or authorization. Allows the Council to enter into agreements with other State, federal, or foreign regulators to advance the purpose of the regulatory sandbox. Specifies that this Chapter allows persons, applicants, or entities authorized in other jurisdictions or that hold a license in other jurisdictions to be recognized as sandbox participants in this state.

Effective October 1, 2021.

Amends GS 143B-1200 to bar a medical facility or medical professional that performs a forensic medical examination from billing the victim of rape or sexual offenses, the victim's personal insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or any other collateral source for the examination and other eligible expenses, with violations punishable by a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation (currently prohibited with no civil penalty specified). Revises the definition given for the term forensic medical examination to require (was encouraged) at minimum an exam of physical trauma, a patient interview, a determination of penetration or force, a collection and evaluation of evidence, and any other act or procedure listed in the federal definition of the term (previously not specified). Adds that the term includes any costs associated with items listed under the definition, including equipment or supplies. Effective October 1, 2021.