Conference report makes the following changes to the 3d edition.

Changes the long title. 

Directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to transfer to the Office of Administrative Hearings $50,000 for fiscal year 2014-15 to allocate to the Rules Review Commission to pay for any litigation costs incurred in the defense of North Carolina State Board of Education v. The State of North Carolina and the Rules Review Commission lawsuit filed November 7, 2014. Funds are to remain available during the 2015-16 fiscal year.

Makes a clarifying change to Section 2 of the bill.

Makes a clarifying change to Section 11(a) of the bill and provides that if any of the $2 million allocated for the health information exchange has not been expended or encumbered as of June 30, 2015, then the same will revert to the General Fund. 

Deletes provisions from Section 12A.2(b) of the bill, concerning the nonrecurring $2 million allocation to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the State Chief Information Officer (SCIO) to allocate to the NC Health Information Exchange (HIE) an amount reasonably necessary to fund the specified monthly expenses incurred. Now provides that the following specified amounts are to be used to fund expenses incurred or encumbered by the NC HIE between February 1, 2015, and June 30 2015: $436,010 for specified software vendor maintenance, hosting, and licensing costs; $356,920 for NC HIE payroll costs; and $92,160 for operational costs. Provides that DHHS must, within five days, process the payment for the expenses allowed above and incurred or encumbered between February 1, 2015, and June 30 2015.

Deletes provisions from Section 12A.2(b2) concerning debt payments made on behalf of the NC HIE which are determined by DHHS and the SCIO to be reasonably necessary to sustain operations of the software vendor. Now provides in addition to the $2 million in allocated nonrecurring funds, DHHS must transfer $150,000 to the SCIO. These funds must be used for the assessment of the existing functionality, structure, and operation of the HIE network.

Makes technical changes.

Deletes all of the provisions of Section 12A.2(d) concerning the submittal of assessments and recommendations to the specified Joint Legislative Committee.  Now provides that by June 1, 2015, DHHS, in conjunction with the SCIO, must submit to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, Information Technology, and the Fiscal Research Division the results of the assessment as specified above. 

Adds language providing that it is the intent of the General Assembly to continue efforts toward the implementation of a statewide HIE.

Deletes Section 11.5(d) of the bill, which transferred funds for a personal care services study to the State Auditor for the required audit.