SUMMARIES OF SUBSTANTIVE RATIFIED LEGISLATION - 2003 SUMMARIES OF SUBSTANTIVE RATIFIED LEGISLATION 2003 GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2003 REGULAR SESSION RESEARCH DIVISION N.C. GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 2003 400 copies of this document were published at an estimated cost of or about $9.30 per copy. September 2003 To the Members of the 2003 Session of the 2003 General Assembly: This publication contains summaries of all substantive legislation of general applicability and certain local legislation having general import of the 2003 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: Sandra Alley, Dee Atkinson, Cindy Avrette, Brenda Carter, Drupti Chauhan, Erika Churchill, Karen Cochrane-Brown, Amy Compeau, Judy Collier, Tim Dodge, Bill Gilkeson, George Givens, Kory Goldsmith, Wendy Graf Ray, Tim Hovis, Jeff Hudson, Shirley Iorio, Dianna Jessup, Robin Johnson, Sara Kamprath, Theresa Matula, Jennifer McGinnis, Hal Pell, Giles Perry, Barbara Riley, Walker Reagan, Steve Rose, and Mary Shuping. Also contributing are Martha Harris and Canaan Huie of the Bill Drafting Division, and Martha Walston of the Fiscal Research Division. Trina Griffin is the chief editor of this year’s summaries, and Theresa Matula is the co-editor. Dickie Brown 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 Guide to Staff Initials (SA) Sandra Alley (DB) Dickie Brown (AC) Amy Compeau (BC) Brenda Carter (BG) Bill Gilkeson (BR) Barbara Riley (CA) Cindy Avrette (CH) Canaan Huie (DA) Dee Atkinson (DC) Drupti Chauhan (DJ) Dianna Jessup (EC) Erika Churchill (GG) George Givens (GSP) Giles S. Perry (HP) Hal Pell (JC) Judy Collier (JH) Jeff Hudson (JM) Jennifer McGinnis (KCB) Karen Cochrane-Brown (KG) Kory Goldsmith (MH) Martha Harris (MS) Mary Shuping (MW) Martha Walston (RJ) Robin Johnson (SI) Shirley Iorio (SK) Sara Kamprath (SR) Steve Rose (SS) Susan Sitze (TD) Tim Dodge (TH) Tim Hovis (TG) Trina Griffin (TM) Theresa Matula (WGR) Wendy Graf Ray (WR) Walker Reagan Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: AGRICULTURE..................................................................................... 1 ENACTED LEGISLATION................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 2: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL ............................................. 4 ENACTED LEGISLATION................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 3: ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE................................................................. 6 ENACTED LEGISLATION................................................................................................. 6 STUDIES ........................................................................................................................ 8 Referrals to Existing Commissions/Committees ....................................................... 8 CHAPTER 4: CHILDREN AND FAMILIES............................................................... 9 ENACTED LEGISLATION................................................................................................. 9 MAJOR PENDING LEGISLATION ................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 5: CIVIL LAW AND PROCEDURE....................................................... 23 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 23 MAJOR PENDING LEGISLATION ................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 6: COMMERCIAL LAW AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ........... 33 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 33 VETOED LEGISLATION................................................................................................. 46 MAJOR PENDING LEGISLATION ................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 7: CONSTITUTION AND ELECTIONS ............................................... 48 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 48 CHAPTER 8: COURTS, JUSTICE, AND CORRECTIONS.................................... 53 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 53 STUDIES ...................................................................................................................... 58 Referrals to Existing Commissions/Committees ..................................................... 59 CHAPTER 9: CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE............................................. 60 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 60 CHAPTER 10: EDUCATION ...................................................................................... 73 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 73 Public Schools......................................................................................................... 73 Higher Education.................................................................................................... 84 Community Colleges ........................................................................................... 85 Universities.......................................................................................................... 87 VETOED LEGISLATION................................................................................................. 91 STUDIES ...................................................................................................................... 91 i Referrals to Existing Commissions/Committees ..................................................... 91 Referrals to Departments, Agencies, Etc. ............................................................... 91 MAJOR PENDING LEGISLATION ................................................................................... 92 Charter Schools ...................................................................................................... 92 Governance............................................................................................................. 93 Safe Schools ............................................................................................................ 93 Student Achievement ............................................................................................... 93 Student Health and Disabilities .............................................................................. 94 Teacher Recruitment and Retention........................................................................ 95 Testing & Accountability ........................................................................................ 95 CHAPTER 11: ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES........................ 96 ENACTED LEGISLATION............................................................................................... 96 Air Quality .............................................................................................................. 96 Coastal Development.............................................................................................. 98 Environmental Health............................................................................................. 98 Fisheries.................................................................................................................. 98 Parks and Public Spaces....................................................................................... 100 Solid Waste............................................................................................................ 102 Underground Storage Tanks................................................................................. 102 Water Quality/Quantity/Groundwater.................................................................