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

Changes the long title.

Amends proposed GS 7A-4.1, making clarifying and organizational change to subsections (a) and (b). Makes a clarifying changes to subsection (c). Adds provisions establishing a filing fee for justices or judges of 1% of the annual salary of the office sought, paid to the State Board of Elections (SBE). Adds language requiring the SBE to certify results of retention elections. Deletes provision which required retention elections to be placed on the ballot in the same place as other nonpartisan judicial elections. Makes clarifying changes to the question as it should appear on the ballot. Makes a clarifying change to proposed subsection (g).

Amends proposed GS 7A-4.2, making a clarifying change.

Deletes proposed GS 7A-4.3, Governor to issue commissions to justices and judges. 

Deletes proposed changes made to GS 7A-10(a) and adds language which provides that the specified election will be under GS Chapter 163, Article 25, or GS Chapter 163, Article 1A. 

Makes clarifying changes to proposed language in GS 7A-16. Also deletes additional language which stated that on or after December 15, 2000, the Governor will appoint three additional judges.

Amends GS 163-165.6(b), concerning the order of precedence for candidate ballot items, providing a new guideline that ballot items for retention elections under GS 7A, Article 1A, must be grouped with like state offices but should be listed after offices for which an election is conducted under GS Chapter 163, Article 25.

Makes conforming changes to GS 163-182.16, Governor to issue commissions for certain offices.

Amends GS 163-335, Other rules, making organizational changes and adding new language which provides that duly elected justices of the Supreme Court or judges of the Court of Appeals can opt for a retention election pursuant to GS Chapter 7A, Article 1A. 

Amends GS 163-278.6(4), the definition for candidate, making conforming and technical changes. 

Amends GS 163-278.38Z(2), the definition for candidate, making conforming changes. 

Deletes proposed changes to GS 163-324(a), concerning fee schedules.