DOT/DMV CHANGES - MEGAPROJECT FUNDING (NEW).

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View NCGA Bill Details2017-2018 Session
House Bill 110 (Public) Filed Wednesday, February 15, 2017
AN ACT TO MAKE CHANGES TO STATE LAW RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND TO ESTABLISH A MEGAPROJECT FUND TO FUND HIGHER-COST AND LARGER-SCALE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND LONG TERM FUNDING SOLUTIONS.
Intro. by Torbett, Iler, Shepard.

Status: Failed 2nd Reading (Senate Action) (Jun 1 2017)

SOG comments (1):

Short and Long Title Changes

House committee substitute to the 2nd edition made changes to the short and long titles. The original titles are as follows:

DOT/DMV CHANGES.

AN ACT TO MAKE CHANGES TO STATE LAW RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

Bill History:

H 110

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Apr 19 2017 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Adds new Part III, Establishment of Megaproject Fund to Fund Higher-Cost and Larger-Scale Transportation Projects. Enacts Article 14C, Megaproject Fund, to GS Chapter 136, establishing the Megaproject Fund (Fund) within the Highway Trust Fund. Provides that the Fund consists of revenue from appropriations or transfers by the General Assembly, and requires the amounts deposited in the Fund to be used as provided in Article 14C. Establishes that the provisions of Article 14B of GS Chapter 136 (Strategic Prioritization Funding Plan for Transportation Investments) do not apply to the application of the Fund.

    Directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to use the Fund to fund transportation projects of statewide and regional significance that exceed $200 million in total project cost. Provides that projects will be selected by a workgroup overseen by DOT that will establish selection criteria based on the provisions of Article 14C. 

    Directs DOT to develop and annually update a report containing a completion schedule for all projects funded by the Fund, including the selection criteria and reasoning used for each project, the projects or portions of projects completed during the preceding year, changes in completion schedules and the reasons for the changes, and anticipated schedules for future projects. Requires submission of the report and annual updates to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee by November 1 of each year. 

    Amends GS 136-189.11(b), which sets out funds excluded from the Transportation Investment Strategy Formula, to exclude funds appropriated or transferred to the Megaproject Fund under Article 14C from the Strategy Formula.

    Effective when the act becomes law, directs DOT to establish a workgroup for developing selection criteria and selecting projects in accordance with GS 136-189.13, as enacted by this act, within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Sets forth six parameters for the megaproject selection criteria. Establishes that DOT is to select members of the workgroup consisting of seven members representing organizations as specified. Designates the workgroup's cochairs and sets parameters for the workgroup's meetings. Requires the workgroup to report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee (Committee) within 45 days from the date the workgroup is convened on its progress in creating project selection criteria. Requires the workgroup to report to the Committee on the selection criteria created by the workgroup prior to the end of the three-month period from the date the workgroup is convened.

    Makes conforming changes to the act's title. 


  • Summary date: Apr 4 2017 - View Summary

    House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition. Deletes Section 10 of the act, which amended continuing education requirements for independent motor vehicle dealers in GS 20-288(a1). Makes organizational changes.


  • Summary date: Feb 15 2017 - View Summary

    Identical to S 3, filed 1/25/17.

    Part I: DOT Changes

    Adds a new subsection to GS 136-19, which includes provisions concerning the acquisition of land and deposits of materials, condemnation proceedings, and federal parkways, to provide for the disposal of remainder property acquired in connection with acquisition of right-of-way by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Provides 11 parameters that govern the disposal of remainder properties acquired in connection with acquisition of right-of-way, including that the sale of all residues will be by public sale, except as otherwise specified in the new subsection. Sets out provisions dictating the form of sale, advertising requirements, and situations warranting sale by negotiation rather than by public sale. States that all sales of surplus lands require the approval of the Board of Transportation. Grants authority to the DOT to adopt, amend, or repeal rules to implement the new subsection.

    GS 136-28.4 makes it state policy to encourage and promote the use of disadvantaged minority-owned and women-owned businesses in transportation contracts led by the DOT for the planning, design, preconstruction, alteration, or maintenance of state transportation infrastructure and in the procurement of materials for these projects. Currently, the sunset provision for GS 136-28.4 is August 31, 2017. The act extends the sunset provision for the program to August 31, 2019.

    Repeals GS 143-215.107C(d), which required the DOT to annually report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Environmental Review Commission on the development and implementation of a plan to reduce vehicle miles traveled by state employees and vehicle emissions resulting from job-related travel by State employees. Repeals GS 143-215.107C(e), which required the DOT to annually report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Environmental Review Commission the plan to reduce vehicle miles traveled by private-sector employees and vehicle emissions from job-related travel.

    Part II: DMV Changes

    Amends GS 20-4.01, which holds the definitions for terms used throughout GS Chapter 20 (Motor Vehicles), to clarify the definitions of fuel cell electric vehicle and plug-in electric vehicle, as the terms are used in the Chapter, to provide that they are four-wheeled motor vehicles that do not have the ability to be propelled by a gasoline engine, and meet the existing specified requirements. Previously, the definitions for a fuel cell electric vehicle and plug-in vehicle did not clarify that the vehicle must lack the ability to be propelled by a gasoline engine.

    Amends GS 20-17.1, concerning the revocation of driver's licenses for those who are mentally incompetent, alcoholics, and habitual users of narcotic drugs. Provides that, upon receipt of notice that any person has been legally adjudicated incompetent or has been involuntarily committed to an institution for the treatment of an alcohol or substance abuse disorder (previously, for the treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction), the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (Commissioner) must conduct a factual inquiry to determine whether the person is competent to operate a motor vehicle. Current law provides that the Commissioner must consider the clerk of court’s recommendation regarding whether the incompetent person should be allowed to retain his or her driving privilege if the person has been adjudicated incompetent under GS Chapter 35A (Incompetency and Guardianship). This act replaces that language, and instead requires the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to immediately revoke a person’s driving privilege when a clerk of court recommends that any person’s driving privilege be revoked in any incompetency adjudication order under GS Chapter 35A. Additionally, if the clerk of court recommends that the person retain their driving privilege or makes no recommendation in any incompetency adjudication order under GS Chapter 35A, the DMV must determine whether the person can retain his or her driving privilege, based upon a factual inquiry. Current law allows a person who has had their license revoked under this provision to request a hearing in writing, retain his or her license until after the hearing, and, if the revocation is sustained, pursue a right to review by the review board upon written request filed with the DMV under GS 20-9(g)(4) within 10 days of the notice of revocation. This act removes the right to request a hearing after revocation, and instead allows any person whose driving privilege is revoked under the provision to have a right to a review by the review board upon written request filed with the DMV under GS 20-9(g)(4) within 10 days of the notice of revocation. Makes language gender-neutral. Effective February 1, 2018, and applies to adjudications on or after that date.

    Amends GS 20-16.5 (Immediate civil license revocation for certain persons charged with implied-consent offenses), GS 20-49 (Police authority of Division), GS 20-49.1 (Supplemental police authority of Division officers and agents), GS 20-53 (Application for specially constructed, reconstructed, or foreign vehicle), and GS 20-108 (Vehicles or component parts of vehicles without manufacturer’s numbers) to replace all references to DMV license and theft inspectors to instead refer to them as DMV license and theft agents. Additionally, makes language gender-neutral. Amends GS 20-49.1 to expand the existing supplemental police authority granted to DMV officers to DMV agents. Amends GS 20-108 to expand the existing authority granted to DMV officers to DMV agents to take into custody a motor vehicle or a component part if its engine number, vehicle identification number, or manufacturer’s serial number has been altered, changed, or obliterated if the officer has probable cause to believe the person has violated subsection (a) (concerning buying, selling, or possessing stolen vehicles or parts without manufacturer’s numbers for concealing or misrepresenting its identity).

    Amends GS 20-50(b), which authorizes the DMV to issue a temporary license plate for a vehicle, to bar the DMV from issuing more than two 10-day temporary license plates to a person for a particular vehicle during an annual registration period, except for a vehicle that is model year 1980 or older and is being transported directly to or from a vehicle show or exhibition. Effective January 1, 2018, and applies to applications received on or after that date.

    Amends GS 20-57(b), which sets out the requirements of a vehicle registration card, by removing the requirement that there be a space for the owner’s signature on the registration card.

    Currently, GS 20-288(a1) requires used motor vehicle dealers to submit proof of completion of a course approved by the DMV with their application for a license, which requires a 12-hour licensing course, or renewal of their license, which requires a six-hour course. Current law excepts from this course requirement persons age 62 or older as of July 1, 2002, who are seeking a renewal license. This act eliminates this exception, and instead excepts from the course requirement any person who is seeking a renewal license who is age 60 or older, and who has been licensed for at least 10 consecutive years beginning on or after the person’s 50th birthday. Effective January 1, 2018, and applies to renewals on or after that date.

    Amends GS 20-7(f)(1) by extending the duration of a provisional license issued to a person under age 18, to the sixtieth day following the person's 21st birthday (was, expires on the person's 21st birthday). Amends GS 20-7(f)(6), which authorizes remote renewal of a driver's license issued by the DMV. Expands the existing requirements and waiver of requirements in GS 20-7(f)(6) to include the remote conversion of a full provisional license. Defines remote renewal or conversion as the renewal or conversion of a driver's license or full provisional license by mail, telephone, electronic device, or other secure means approved by the Commissioner. Makes the following changes to the requirements to be eligible for remote renewal and conversion. Requires the license holder to (1) possess a valid Class C drivers license or (2) posses a valid full provisional license and be at least 18 years old at the time of the remove conversion request (previously, required the license holder to possess a valid, unexpired Class C driver's license that was issued when the person was at least 18 years old). Allows the license holder to comply with the address verification requirement by providing the address where the license holder resides at the time of the remote renewal or conversion request (previously, required to verify holder is a state resident and currently resides at the address on the license, with no option to provide a new current address to comply with the requirement). Limits the requirement that the most recent renewal was an in-person renewal and not a remote renewal to only remote renewals, not remote conversions. Effective March 1, 2018.

    Amends GS 20-79.1(d)(3), concerning temporary registration plates or markers by purchasers of motor vehicles, to expand the time limit under which a dealer must deliver the application and fees for a temporary registration plate or marker to the DMV or local license agency for processing from 10 working days to 20 working days. Applies to sales made on or after when the act becomes effective.

    Amends GS 20-37.7, which contains the provisions for special identification cards. Deletes the provisions in subsection (d) relating to the expiration of special identification cards and instead provides that a special identification card must be issued and renewed pursuant to the new provisions of subsection (d), which provide: (1) for persons under age 18, a special identification card expires on the birthday of the holder in the fifth year after issuance; (2) for persons age 18 or older, a special identification card expires on the birthday of the holder in the eighth year after issuance; (3) for persons holding valid documentation issued by or under authority of the United States that demonstrates the person’s legal presence of limited duration, a special identification card expires no later than the expiration of the authorization of the person’s legal presence in the United States; and (4) for renewal, a person must apply to the DMV to renew a special identification card during the 180-day period before the card expires. Moves the existing fee language with its seven exceptions in current subsection (d) to subsection (d1), and makes the fee applicable to new or renewed special identification cards. Creates a new subsection (d2), effective December 1, 2017, to provide for remote renewal of special identification cards issued by the DMV, which tracks the provisions relating to the requirements of the remote renewal of a driver's license in GS 20-7(f)(6), as amended by this act. Moves existing language in subsection (d1) to new subsection (d3) relating to the requirement of the DMV to adopt rules allowing for application for or renewal of special identification cards by means other than personal appearance for a person who has a severe disability causing the person to be homebound. Creates new subsection (d4) that requires the DMV to issue a temporary identification certificate valid for 60 days that is only valid for identification purposes for conducting business with the DMV and not prohibited by federal law. Requires the DMV to send the special identification card by first-class mail or post office box, as specified. Effective December 1, 2017, and applies to initial applications and renewals on or after that date. Makes conforming changes to statutory references to GS 20-37.7 and its specific subsections in GS 20-9.2 and GS 163-275, effective December 1, 2017.

    Amends GS 20-49.1 to expand the list of situations where the Commissioner and the officers and inspectors of the DMV whom the Commissioner designates have the authority to enforce criminal laws. Adds that, when the Commissioner, its officers, or inspectors are responding to an emergency situation that is occurring in their immediate vicinity and that would likely result in bodily harm or loss of property without immediate intervention, the Commissioner, the officers, and the inspectors of the DMV have the authority to enforce criminal laws.

    Repeals GS 20-37.01 and GS 20-37.02(e), which established the Drivers License Technology Fund and authorized sources of funding for the Fund.

    Makes a technical correction to GS 58-37-1(6), which defines motor vehicle as it is used in Article 37 (North Carolina Motor Vehicle Reinsurance Facility) of GS Chapter 58.

    Part III: Effective Date

    Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective July 1, 2017.