SUMMARIES OF SUBSTANTIVE RATIFIED LEGISLATION - 2001 1 SUMMARIES OF SUBSTANTIVE RATIFIED LEGISLATION 2001 GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2001 REGULAR SESSION RESEARCH DIVISION N.C. GENERAL ASSEMBLY MARCH 2002 2 500 copies of this document were published at an estimated cost of or about $8.95 per copy 3 March 2002 To the Members of the 2001 Session of the 2001 General Assembly: This publication contains summaries of all substantive legislation of general applicability and certain local legislation having general import of the 2001 Regular Session. Most local bills are not analyzed in this publication. Significant appropriations matters related to the subject area specified are also included. For an in-depth review of the appropriations and revenue process, please refer to Overview: Fiscal and Budgetary Actions, prepared by the Fiscal Research Division. The document is organized alphabetically by subject areas. Where feasible, the subject area is further divided into subgroups. Each subject area also includes a listing of legislative, independent, and agency studies. A bill/session law index listing the page number of each summary is at the end of the publication. This document is the result of a combined effort by the following listing of staff members of the Research Division in alphabetical order: Dee Atkinson, Cindy Avrette, Brenda Carter, Erika Churchill, Karen Cochrane-Brown, Kristen Crosson, Amy Currie, Tim Dodge, Frank Folger, Bill Gilkeson, George Givens, Wendy Graf-Ray, Trina Griffin, Jeff Hudson, Shirley Iorio, Dianna Jessup, Robin Johnson, Sara Kamprath, Esther Manheimer, Theresa Matula, Giles Perry, Barbara Riley, Walker Reagan, Steve Rose, Mary Shuping, Susan Sitze, and Richard Zechini. Also contributing are Martha Harris, Canaan Huie, and Gann Watson of the Bill Drafting Division, and Martha Walston of the Fiscal Research Division. Barbara Riley and Susan Sitze served as the chief editors of this year’s summaries. Amy Currie, Wilma Hall and DeAnne Mangum of the Research Division also helped with the editing of this document. The specific staff members contributing to each subject area are listed directly below the Chapter heading for that area. The staff members' initials appear after their names and after each summary they contributed. If you would like further information regarding any legislation in the various summaries, please contact the Research Division Office at (919) 733-2578. This document is also available on the World Wide Web. Go to the General Assembly’s homepage at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us. Click on “Legislative Publications”. It is listed under Research. Each summary is hyperlinked to the final bill text, the bill history, and any applicable fiscal note. It is hoped that this document will provide a useful source of information for the members of the General Assembly and the public in North Carolina. Yours truly, Terrence D. Sullivan Director of Research 4 TABLE OF CONTENT Agriculture ....................................................................................................................1 Enacted Legislation ........................................................................................................... 1 Agriculture .................................................................................................................... 1 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 3 Studies............................................................................................................................. 3 Legislative Research Commission.................................................................................... 3 Alcoholic Beverage Control........................................................................................... 4 Enacted Legislation ........................................................................................................... 4 Studies............................................................................................................................. 6 New Independent Studies/Commissions.......................................................................... 6 Anti-Terrorism .............................................................................................................. 8 Enacted Legislation ........................................................................................................... 8 Studies........................................................................................................................... 10 Legislative Research Commission.................................................................................. 10 Children And Families .................................................................................................11 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 11 Major Pending Legislation................................................................................................ 24 Studies........................................................................................................................... 24 Legislative Research Commission.................................................................................. 24 Civil Law and Procedure .............................................................................................26 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 26 Civil Procedure ............................................................................................................ 26 Domestic .................................................................................................................... 28 Evidence..................................................................................................................... 28 Liability.......................................................................................................................29 Miscellaneous.............................................................................................................. 30 Studies........................................................................................................................... 33 Legislative Research Commission.................................................................................. 33 Commercial Law .........................................................................................................35 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 35 Major Pending Legislation................................................................................................ 50 Constitution And Elections .........................................................................................51 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 51 Studies........................................................................................................................... 57 Criminal Law and Procedure.......................................................................................58 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 58 Studies........................................................................................................................... 70 Legislative Research Commission.................................................................................. 70 Referrals to Existing Commissions/Committees.............................................................. 71 Education ....................................................................................................................72 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 72 Public Schools ............................................................................................................. 72 1 Higher Education - Community Colleges ........................................................................... 82 Higher Education - Universities ........................................................................................ 84 Major Pending Legislation................................................................................................ 89 Studies........................................................................................................................... 89 Legislative Research Commission.................................................................................. 89 New Independent Studies/Commissions........................................................................ 90 Referrals to Existing Commissions/Committees.............................................................. 90 Referrals to Departments, Agencies, Etc. ...................................................................... 91 Employment................................................................................................................93 Enacted Legislation ......................................................................................................... 93 General Employment ................................................................................................... 93 Governmental Employment