Contains whereas clauses. Enacts the Rights of the Dan River Ecosystem (DRE), new Article 11 to GS Chapter 77, to recognize and protect the rights of the DRE and the right of the people of the State to a healthy, thriving DRE.  Defines DRE and natural resource management agencies (Department of Natural and Cultural Resources [DNCR], Department of Environmental Quality [DEQ], and Wildlife Resources Commission [WRC] in GS 77-147. Lists six enumerated rights of the DRE including the right to naturally exist, flourish, regenerate and evolve and the right to full restoration, recovery, and preservation in GS 77-148.  Specifies that new Article does not abrogate the collective or individual rights of indigenous people residing in the State in GS 77-150. Requires DNCR, DEQ, and WRC to take action in furtherance of the act’s purpose in GS 77-151, including to:

• (1) not conduct, authorize, license, permit, or fund any public or private activities, practices, or operations that are inconsistent with, or which will or may violate or infringe upon, the rights or provisions of the article and (2) conduct agency rules and practices review and jointly conduct a complete baseline environmental assessment of the DRE to include those areas in need of restoration and prioritize those areas by June 30, 2025; 
• remedy any ongoing violations identified above and develop recommendations for remedying any potential or ongoing violation identified above and submit a report for recommendation to the NCGA by June 30, 2026; and
• completely restore all areas of the DRE by June 30, 2029.

New GS 77-152 provides for civil enforcement by the Attorney General, the DRE (both directly and through intervention), and by citizens on behalf of the DRE or individually. Places the burden of proof on the alleged violator in any action. Provides for injunctive relief, damages, and civil penalties of up to $10,000 for a single occurrence or up to $500 per day for a single occurrence for business or government violators. Penalties for willful violations are trebled. Waives sovereign immunity. Provides for strict liability for business entities. Contains severability provision. Provides for a measure of damages.

Appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to DNCR, DEQ, and WRC  to carry out the reviews assessment listed above.

Establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) as a cabinet-level department containing the Division of Operations, the Division of Community Development, the Division of Housing and the Policy and Legislative Office. 

Amends GS 143B-2 making the Department subject to the Executive Organization Act of 1973. Amends GS 143B-6 making the Department a principal department.

Amends GS 126-5 listing the Department among those which the Governor may designated positions that are exempt from the NC Human Resources Act.

Enacts new Article 17, Department of Housing and Community Development in GS Chapter 143B, providing as follows. Establishes the Departments and sets out its structure. States the Department's mission as: (1) partner with communities in this State to develop economic potential of communities and residents; (2) provide training and certification for building officials; and (3) invest in housing and community development projects in this State to assist low- to moderate-income residents. Establishes the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development as the head of the Department. Establishes the 9-member North Carolina Board of Housing and Community Development to advise the Secretary and to assist in the mission of the Department. Sets out membership appointment power, sets terms at two years and provides for filling vacancies.

Appropriates $30 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $993,600 in recurring funds and $3,152,748 in nonrecurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), State Highway Patrol (SHP), to be used for the purchase of body-worn cameras and associated video storage costs.

Appropriates $1.4 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to DPS, SHP, to be used for cloud storage of data obtained by SHP vehicle cameras.  

Effective July 1, 2024.

 

Section 1

Appropriates $960,429 in recurring funds and $1,006,488 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the State Highway Patrol for 2024-25 to fund 12 full-time Trooper positions for District H5 of Troop H. Effective July 1, 2024.

Section 2

Increases the minimum number of magistrates required by GS 7A-133 for Mecklenburg County from 38.5 to 43.5. Appropriates $389,660 in recurring funds for 2024-25 and $15,140 in nonrecurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to hire the five additional magistrates required by the act in Mecklenburg County. Effective July 1, 2024.

Section 3

Amends GS 20-217, which requires motor vehicles to stop for properly marked school buses when stopped in certain described instances, increasing the minimum fines as follows: for violation of the statute, from $500 to $1,000; for willful violation of the statute and also striking any person, from $1,250 to $4,500; and for willful violation of the statute and also striking a person that results in their death, from $2,500 to $7,000. Enacts a new subsection, establishing that it is prima facie evidence that the vehicle was operated by the person in whose name the vehicle was registered at the time of the violation whenever evidence is presented in any court or administrative hearing of the fact that a vehicle was operated in violation of the statute. Provides a similar provision with regard to operation by a renter of a rented vehicle. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2024. 

Section 4

Requires that $20 million in nonrecurring funds of the funds appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Transportation (Department) for 2024-25 and $15 million in recurring funds of the funds appropriated from the General Fund to the Department for 2024-25 is to be allocated for the Department to record and store video from the Department's highway cameras.

Amends GS 132-1.1 to prohibit highway camera video records stored by the Department  from being disclosed except as provided in new GS 132-1.7B.

Enacts new GS 132-1.7B, providing as follows. Sets out and defines terms, including defining highway camera as a Department of Transportation (Department) video or digital camera, located on highway rights-of-way, for the purpose of monitoring vehicle traffic. Specifies that recordings under this statute are not public records. 

Allows a person to request disclosure of a recording through a written request to the Department that includes the name of the person making the request, date and approximate time of the activity, or otherwise identify the activity with reasonable particularity sufficient to identify the recording. Allows disclosure of a recording to only: (1) a person whose image or voice is in the recording; (2) a personal representative of an adult person whose image or voice is in the recording, if the adult person has consented to the disclosure; (3) a personal representative of a minor or of an adult person under lawful guardianship whose image or voice is in the recording; (4) a personal representative of a deceased person whose image or voice is in the recording; (5) a personal representative of an adult person who is incapacitated and unable to provide consent to disclosure. Requires disclosing only the portions of the recording relevant to the person's request. Prohibits a person receiving disclosure from recording or copying the recording. Requires the Department to make the disclosure or deny the request as promptly as possible. Sets out six factors the Department is to consider when deciding whether to grant or deny the request. Sets out the procedure under which the person seeking disclosure may apply to the appropriate superior court for a review of the denial of disclosure when disclosure has been denied or disclosure has not been made more than three business days after the request. Sets out conditions under which the court may order disclosure. Sets out individuals that must be notified and given an opportunity to be heard at the hearing.

Provides that recordings are to be released only pursuant to court order. Allows any person requesting release of a recording to file an action in the appropriate superior court for an order releasing the recording. Requires the request to state the date and approximate time of the activity captured in the recording or otherwise identify the activity with reasonable particularity sufficient to identify the recording to which the action refers. Sets out factors the court is to consider in determining whether to order the release of all or a portion of the recording. Limits the release to only those portions of the recording relevant to the person's request and allows placing conditions or restrictions on the release. Sets out individuals that must be notified and given an opportunity to be heard at the hearing.

Requires the Department to disclose or release a recording to a district attorney (1) for review of potential criminal charges, (2) to comply with discovery requirements in a criminal prosecution, (3) for use in criminal proceedings in district court, or (4) for any other law enforcement purpose and allows disclosure or release of a recording for suspect identification or apprehension or to locate a missing or abducted person.

Provides that the Department is not required to retain any recording subject to this statute for more than 30 days, unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders otherwise.

Provides that no civil liability arises from compliance with the statute, so long as the acts or omissions are made in good faith. 

Allows the Department to charge a fee for making a copy of a recording for release, not to exceed the actual cost. Prohibits the court from awarding attorneys' fees.

Prohibits using recordings subject to the statute for fines or private investigation. Provides that no elected official may review recordings subject to this statute, unless they meet the statute's disclosure criteria; excludes a county sheriff or district attorney if review of the recordings is within the scope of a criminal investigation. 

Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $3 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation to be used to expand the operational hours of the iMap and North Carolina Department of Transportation Metrolina Transportation Management Center in Charlotte to 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $643,150 in nonrecurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to be used at the State Highway Patrol Station in Huntersville in the specified amounts for fuel infrastructure, an air compressor for filling tires, and a vehicle vacuum. Requires DPS to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Transportation for the creation, use, and maintenance of the items funded in the act. Effective July 1, 2024. 

Defines state employee to mean a full-time or part-time permanent employee employed in a State agency, department, or institution of the legislative, judicial, or executive branches of State government (including The University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community Colleges System) employed on June 30, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Directs that the term does not include employees of (1) local boards of education; (2) local community colleges; or (3) schools operated by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Public Safety, or Adult Correction, or by the State Board of Education who are paid based on the Teacher Salary Schedule.

Establishes a Reserve for Appreciation Increases in the General Fund (Appreciation Reserve) in recognition of the valuable contribution made by State employees.  Directs the Appreciation Reserve to fund the following in two phases over the next two fiscal years: (1) a one-time bonus in the amount of $5,000 to be awarded to each State employee in Phase I, in appreciation for their continued  commitment and efforts, effective July 4, 2024, and (2) a moderate and equitable 5% across-the-board pay raise for State employees, effective on July 4, 2024, for Phase I and on July 4, 2025, for Phase II. Specifies that appreciation increases are in addition to any salary adjustment otherwise allowed or provided by law.  Provides for salary and pay schedule adjustments by the Office of Statement Budget and Management or by the employing unit to reflect the salary changes enacted by the act. Specifies that eligible employees will receive an appreciation increase notwithstanding any maximum salary ranges. Provides that the increase will be prorated and equitable for part-time State employees. 

Effective July 1, 2024, appropriates to the Appreciation Reserve the sum of $766,878,331 in recurring funds and the sum of $443,069,680 in nonrecurring funds for the 2024-25 fiscal year, to be funded as follows: (1) Requires the State Controller to transfer to the Appreciation Reserve from the unappropriated balance remaining in the General Fund for the 2024-25 fiscal year the sum of $221,000,503 and (2) requires the State Controller to transfer to the Appreciation Reserve, for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the sum of: (1) $125 million from the Savings Reserve and (2) $863,947,508 from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund. Directs that funds in the Appreciation Reserve are not subject to GS 143C-1-2(b) (pertaining to appropriations reversions) and will remain available for Phase II payments in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Provides for the Appreciation Reserve to be eliminated when the funds are fully expended.

Effective July 4, 2024, amends GS 135-5 (concerning the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System [TSERS]), GS 135-65 (concerning the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System [JRS]), and GS 120-4.22A (concerning the Legislative Retirement System [LRS]) to provide a 2% increase in the retirement allowance to or on account of beneficiaries whose retirement commenced on or before July 1, 2023, or a prorated amount for those whose retirement commenced after July 1, 2023 (TSERS and JRS] or January 1, 2024 (LRS), but before June 30, 2024, as determined by the respective Board of Trustees. Appropriates $100 million from the General Fund to the Reserve for Retiree Cost-of-Living Adjustments for the 2024-25 fiscal year to implement the increases.

Effective July 1, 2024, except as otherwise provided.  

Appropriates $4,918,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management to provide a directed grant to the Town of Lewisville, as title indicates. Effective July 1, 2024.

GS 93B-8.1 governs the use of criminal history records by state agency and occupational licensing boards. A board may not deny an applicant based on a determination that the person has been convicted of a crime of “moral turpitude,” nor may a board automatically deny an applicant based on their criminal record, unless required to do so under federal law. A board can only deny licensure based on a criminal conviction “only if the board finds that the criminal conviction history is directly related to the duties and responsibilities for the licensed occupation or the conviction is for a crime that is violent or sexual in nature.” 

Amends GS 93B-8.1 by adding newly defined term, deny licensure or denies licensure, meaning to refuse to issue a license to an applicant, to refuse to renew the license of a licensee, or to revoke the license of a licensee. Also amends the definition of criminal history record to no longer require that the crime bear upon an applicant's or licensee's fitness to be licensed or disciplined.

Amends the following occupational licensing statutes to remove language that refers to denial of licensure based on a crime of moral turpitude and makes conforming changes to account for requirements of GS 93B-8.1B in rejecting an applicant for criminal history, if the statute covers rejection: GS 53-244.050 (registration application requirements for persons wanting to engage in the mortgage business or act as a mortgage loan originator); GS 53-244.060 (grounds for rejection of license or registration for persons wanting to engage in the mortgage business or act as a mortgage loan originator); GS 58-33-46 (insurance producers: suspension, probation, revocation, or nonrenewal of licenses); GS 58-58-215 (viatical settlement providers or brokers: license revocation or denial); GS 58-71-80 (bail bondsmen and runners: grounds for denial, suspension, probation, revocation, or nonrenewal of licenses); GS 143-151.56 (home inspector/inspections licenses: suspension, revocation, and refusal to renew license); GS 66-234 membership camping operators: registration requirements); GS 66-237 (salespersons of membership operating contracts: registration requirements); GS 74D-2 (Alarm Systems Licensing Act: license requirements); GS 74D-10 (Alarm Systems Licensing Board: appeals of suspension or revocation of licenses or registrations); GS 85B-3.2(auctioneer, apprentice auctioneer, or auction firm: criminal history record checks of licensure applicants); GS 85B-4 (license for auctioneer, apprentice auctioneer, or auction firm); GS 85B-8 (auctioneer, apprentice auctioneer, or auction firm: grounds for civil penalty, denial, suspension, or revocation of license); GS 89C-21 (disciplinary action by the Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors); GS 90-14 (disciplinary authority of the Medical Board); GS 90-41 (dentists: disciplinary action); GS 90-229 (dental hygienists: disciplinary measures); GS 90A-64 (Board of Environmental Health Examiners: suspensions and revocations of certificates); GS 90-113.44 (substance use disorder specialists: grounds for disciplinary action); GS 90-121.2 (Board of Examiners in Optometry: rules, discipline, suspension, revocation and regrant of certificate); GS 90-154 (Board of Chiropractic Examiners: grounds for professional discipline); GS 90-187.8 (Veterinary Medical Board: discipline of licensees);GS 90-202.8 (Board of Podiatry Examiners: revocation or suspension of certificate); GS 90-210.25 (Board of Funeral Service: licensing and permitting); GS 90-210.69 (Board of Funeral Service: enforcement of Article 13d of GS Chapter 90); GS 90-210.123 (Board of Funeral Service: licensing and inspection); GS 90-249.1 (Board of Opticians: disciplinary actions); GS 90-270.60 (Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board: discipline, including denial, revocation or suspension of license); GS 270.76 (Board of Occupational Therapy: suspension, revocation, and refusal to renew license); GS 90-270.103 (Board of Physical Therapy Examiners: grounds for disciplinary action); GS 90-270.148 (Psychology Board: disciplinary and remedial actions); GS90-340 (Board of Licensed Mental Health Counselors: protection of the public); GS90-363 (Board of Dietetics/Nutrition: suspension, revocation, and refusal to renew license); GS 90-390 (Board of Examiners of Fee-Based Pastoral Counselors: refusal, suspension, or revocation of certificate); GS 90-633 (Board of Massage and Body Work Therapy: disciplinary action); GS 90-659 (Respiratory Care Board: suspension, revocation, and refusal to renew a license); GS-742 (Behavior Analysis Board: denial, suspension, relinquishment, or revocation of licenses and other disciplinary and remedial actions); GS 90B-11 (Social Work Certification and Licensure Board: disciplinary procedure); GS 93A-6 (Real Estate Commission: disciplinary action); GS 93A-38 (Real Estate Commission: suspension, revocation, or denial of certification); GS 93A-54 (Real Estate Commission: disciplinary action under the NC Timeshare Act); GS 93D-13 (Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board: discipline, suspension, revocation licenses and registrations); GS 93E-1-12 (Real Estate Appraisal Board: disciplinary action); GS 106-65.26 (Pest Control Applicators, Structural Pest Control Committee, Department of Agriculture: qualifications for certified applicator and licensee); and GS 106-610 (Grain dealers, Department of Agriculture: grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of license).

Amends GS 20-294 by expanding the grounds for suspending motor vehicle dealer and manufacturer licenses to include convictions under GS 14-160.4 and GS 20-79.2 while removing GS 20-107; removes felonies involving moral turpitude. Makes conforming changes to GS 20-79.2.

Removes requirement that applicant for Athlete Agents share whether they have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude and instead requires the applicant to share whether they have been convicted of any misdemeanor involving theft, fraud, or dishonesty or any felony in submitting an application under GS 78C-89. Makes conforming changes under GS 78C-90 (issuance, denial or renewal of applications for Athlete Agents by Secretary of State).

Removes reference to crime of moral turpitude as grounds for denial of licensure and clarifies that GS 74D-6 (pertaining to the denial of a license or registration by the Alarms System Licensing Board) is subject to the requirements of GS 98B-8.1 and the other hearings requirement of the APA.

Amends GS 83A-15 to remove reference to the Board of Architecture and Interior Designers’ power to deny a license or certificate of registration of an architect or a registration of an interior designer as well as references to crimes of moral turpitude as grounds constituting unprofessional conduct warranting in imposition of action against license, reprimand or civil penalty.

Removes reference to conviction of crime of moral turpitude in GS 87-47 as grounds for disciplinary action for persons subject to the requirements of the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and Surveyors and replaces that ground with conviction of a crime that is violent or sexual in nature. 

Amends GS 90-30 (pertaining to examination and licensing of applicants before the Board of Dental examiners) to (1) allow for clinical examinations either on live persons or an approved alternative method, including manikins that simulate human subjects (currently, just live persons) and (2) removes power of the dental board to refuse to grant a license to any person found guilty of a crime of moral turpitude, or gross immortality, or to any person addicted to the use of alcoholic liquors or narcotic drugs to such an extent, as, in the Board’s opinion, would render them unfit to practice dentistry.  

Amends GS 90-102.1 as follows. Removes reference to crime of moral turpitude as relevant to registration as a dog handler with limited use of controlled substances with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and clarifies that DHHS or the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services can deny, suspend, or revoke a registration issued under GS 90-102.1 so long as it complies with the requirements of GS 98B-8.1, the other hearings requirement of the APA, and the other statutory requirements.

Makes technical, organizational, conforming, and clarifying changes. Makes language gender neutral and removes outdated language. Effective October 1, 2024.  

Requires the Department of Public Instruction to study of the impact of school-based mental health services on student outcomes. Requires a report to the specified NCGA committee by January 1, 2025, that includes as least: (1) the public school units studied; (2) the job title and qualifications, including education and experience, of the mental health service providers in the public school units studied; (3) any impact on daily attendance or participation during instructional hours observed once the school-based services were offered versus that observed before offering services; and (4) any other relevant information.

Appropriates $75,000 for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to conduct the study and issue the report.

Effective July 1, 2024.

Enacts new GS 12-13.2 adopting the Working Definition of Antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, as a tool and guide for training, education, recognizing, and combating antisemitic hate crimes or discrimination and for tracking and reporting antisemitic incidents in North Carolina. Specifies that this is not to be construed to diminish or infringe upon any rights protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution or the NC Constitution. 

Appropriates $10,000 for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department of Administration to fund implementation of and education about this act. Effective July 1, 2024.

Of funds appropriated for 2024-25 from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation, $2.5 million is to be used as title indicates. Effective July 1, 2024.

Appropriates $2,084,000 in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to be used for Voices Together, as title indicates. Effective July 1, 2024.