House amendments makes the following changes to the 3rd edition.

Sec. 7.4 IT Reporting Changes

Amendment 23 deletes the provision that repealed: (1) GS Chapter 116E, Education Longitudinal Data System; (2) GS 105-259(b)(43), allowing disclosure of tax information in order to furnish requested workforce data to the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System; (3) GS 120-123(81), which prohibits members of the General Assembly from serving on the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System Board; (4) GS 143B-1321(a)(31), making it the Department of Information Technology's duty to support the operation of the Longitudinal Data Systems Board; and (5) GS 143B-1322(c)(21), making it the State CIO's duty to support the operation of the Longitudinal Data Systems Board.

Sec. 7.14 LRC Study

Amendment 23 (as amended by Amendment 26) requires the Legislative Research Commission to study options to replace the Longitudinal Data Systems Board, including examining five specified issues. Requires a report to the 2017 General Assembly upon its convening.

Sec. 8.12 Report for Schools for Students with Visual and Hearing Impairments/Foreign Exchange Students

Amendment 25 replaces the content of proposed GS 115C-150.15 (local superintendent to report deaf and blind children) with the following. Requires local superintendents to require that the specified request for written consent concerning the release of contact information and regarding the child and his or her impairment be presented to parents, guardians, or custodians of any hearing impaired or visually impaired children by October 1 of each school year. Requires local superintendents to report by November 30 of each year the names and addresses of parents, guardians, or custodians of any hearing impaired or visually impaired children who have given written consent to the directors of the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, and the North Carolina School for the Deaf. Specifies items that must be included in the report and requires that the report also be made to the Department of Public Instruction. Treats any information reported to the schools by a local superintendent as confidential, with an exception allowing a director or the director's designee to contact the parents, guardians, or custodians of any hearing impaired or visually impaired children whose information was included in the report. Also amends proposed GS 115C-150.14(b) to add that a school seeking to enroll foreign exchange students under the statute must submit a plan to the State Board of Education for approval before enrolling any of those students.

Sec. 12C.1 Child Welfare System Changes

Amendment 24 adds the requirement that the Division of Social Services, when implementing the requirements of the federal Program Improvement Plan (Plan), to collaborate with county departments of social services to develop a model of oversight that supports program outcome and a county's ability to meet performance standards as outlined in the Plan. Specifies that oversight may include support for continuous quality improvement, staff training, and data analysis. Requires the Division, during the first two years of implementing the Plan, to ensure the three new positions funded by the act are used to carry out the activities detailed in the plan. Requires the positions to be used in child welfare services to continually improve outcomes for children and families.

Sec. 38.3.(c) Reduce Taxation of Mill Machinery

Amendment 27 amends GS 105-164.13 by adding a new subdivision (5n) adding an additional exemption to the general exemption from sales and use tax for mill machinery and mill machinery parts or accessories.  New subdivision (5n) exempts from sales and use tax sales of mill machinery and mill machinery parts or accessories (excluding electricity) to large manufacturing and distribution facilities.  A large manufacturing and distribution facility is defined as a facility used primarily for manufacturing or assembling products and distributing products certified by the Secretary of Commerce as investing at least $80 million in the facility and employing at least 550 workers within five years and maintaining that level of employment throughout the facility’s operation.  Failure to achieve the required level of investment or employment results in forfeiture of the tax exemption and liability for avoided past sales and use tax plus interest.  Payment of the tax liability is due within 30 days after the date of forfeiture.  In the event of forfeiture, privilege taxes already paid shall be credited against the sales and use tax owed.  The credit expires for sales occurring on or after July 1, 2018.