This bill reorganizes the North Carolina community college statutes to clarify the system's purpose and designates the Community Colleges System Office as the lead agency for workforce and adult education. It introduces several specific changes, including a ban on using secondary school accreditation status to determine community college admissions and requiring the state board to competitively bid for a learning management system. The legislation also expands a career and college readiness program, allows Fayetteville Technical Community College to partner with private entities for facility construction, and adjusts requirements for AI school safety and special needs pilot programs. Additionally, the bill increases the classroom hour requirement for individuals seeking a massage therapy license.
This bill, titled the Health Care Omnibus, introduces several changes to North Carolina's healthcare regulations. It requires doctors and pharmacists to inform patients receiving opioid prescriptions about the risks of overdose, prevention methods, and the availability of reversal drugs. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that Medicaid benefits will continue for a limited time after individuals are released from prison or other incarceration facilities. The bill also expands access to mental health services by allowing reciprocal licensing for marriage and family therapists, reducing regulatory hurdles for master's level psychologists, and encouraging the use of tribal health facilities.
This bill introduces several changes to North Carolina's transportation laws, primarily affecting the Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicles. It shifts the appointment power of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles from the Secretary of Transportation to the Governor, requiring Senate approval. The legislation also allows the Department of Transportation to use various flexible contracting methods for federal electric vehicle infrastructure projects without counting them against existing spending limits. Additionally, it mandates an independent evaluation of the Division of Motor Vehicles' IT modernization efforts and sets a timeline for selecting a vendor to manage the new cloud-based system. Finally, the bill creates a new Rail Transportation Corridor Authority and makes adjustments to laws governing the North Carolina Railroad.
This bill adds the drug tianeptine to North Carolina's list of Schedule II controlled substances, meaning it will be regulated similarly to other opioids. By making this change, the law aims to increase oversight of the drug, which is already associated with potential for abuse and severe dependence. The new rules will apply to anyone who commits offenses involving tianeptine on or after September 1, 2024.
This bill removes a specific area of land from the corporate limits of the Town of Newport in Carteret County, North Carolina. The property in question is a detailed parcel of land within the Lake View Park subdivision, bounded by existing roads, railroad tracks, and neighboring lots. Once the bill takes effect on June 30, 2024, this land will no longer be subject to municipal taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024. The legislation also clarifies that any outstanding tax liens or special assessments against the town for this property before the effective date remain valid and enforceable.
This bill authorizes McDowell County, North Carolina, to levy an additional one percent occupancy tax on hotel and lodging rentals, which would be added to existing local and state taxes. The new tax revenue must be sent to a newly created Tourism Development Authority, which is required to use at least two-thirds of the funds for marketing and promoting tourism in the county. The Authority will be composed of seven voting members, including hotel owners and tourism promoters, who will oversee how the money is spent on travel promotion and tourism-related projects. This legislation also establishes the rules for appointing these members and requires the Authority to report its financial activities to the county board.
This bill modifies the boundaries of two municipalities in North Carolina by adding specific land to the Town of Mount Gilead and removing other land from the City of Kannapolis. The changes are defined by unique parcel identification numbers and take effect on June 30, 2025, for the annexation and June 30, 2024, for the deannexation. Once effective, the affected properties will shift from one municipal tax jurisdiction to the other, with existing tax liens for the departing area remaining valid until collected.
This bill establishes a Physician Assistant Licensure Compact in North Carolina to make it easier for licensed PAs to practice across different states. Under the new rules, a PA holding a valid license in one participating state can obtain a temporary privilege to work in another participating state without applying for a full new license. The system requires PAs to follow the laws of the state where the patient is located and allows state boards to discipline practitioners who move between states. Additionally, the compact includes specific provisions to help active-duty military personnel and their spouses obtain practice privileges quickly when relocating.
HB 1042 establishes a reimbursement program in North Carolina to help cover veterinary expenses for retired law enforcement and correctional dogs. To qualify, the dogs must have served in official capacities such as detection, apprehension, or search and rescue and hold certification from a national organization. Owners can apply for up to $1,500 annually for essential care like check-ups, vaccinations, emergency surgeries, and euthanasia, but not for elective procedures. The Department of Public Safety will manage a dedicated fund, initially seeded with $300,000, to process these claims and maintain records. The law applies to dogs retiring on or after July 1, 2024, and allows owners to participate voluntarily without affecting any other existing benefits.
This bill creates a new statewide Medicaid plan specifically for children and families, requiring the state to issue a request for proposals to select a provider by December 2024. The legislation defines this new plan as distinct from standard Medicaid plans and allows the state to require automatic enrollment in this specialty plan unless a social services official determines that a different plan is better for the child. Additionally, the bill establishes a closed network of providers for specialized services like residential treatment and intensive in-home care within this new plan, while also clarifying rules about when certain groups can leave their current Medicaid plans and what services must be covered.
This bill changes the election schedule for the City of Jacksonville so that regular municipal elections occur in even-numbered years instead of odd-numbered years. It amends the city charter to specify that all future regular elections will be held biennially in even years, aligning the timing with other North Carolina municipalities. To manage the transition, the law extends the current terms of some council members and the mayor by one year, ensuring that the next election takes place in 2026 rather than 2025.
This bill addresses vacancies on the Town Council of Stanley, North Carolina, by clarifying that any empty seats should be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term. It achieves this by updating a local ordinance to explicitly state that remaining council members must appoint individuals to these vacant positions. The law applies to any vacancies that occur on or after the date it becomes effective.
