Gov. Bev Perdue signs 38 bills

Things have been pretty quiet in the governor’s office since the legislature left town last week. But on Friday there was a flurry of activity as she signed 38 bills.

There are 20 bills still on her desk awaiting action. If she doesn’t sign or veto them by Aug. 2, they become law.

Most aren’t controversial, although a coalition of environmental groups is pushing Gov. Bev Perdue to veto three bills: HB819, the controversial sea-level rise bill on coastal development; HB953, delaying cleanup of polluted lakes and streams, including Jordan Lake; and SB229, a bill they say weakens the state’s ability to deal with water pollution.

Perdue singled out SB444 as one of Friday’s favorites. It authorizes construction of several UNC projects, with employment estimates of 4,500 to 4,700 people during construction.

Here’s what else she did Friday:

Public safety legislation:

·         HB 54: Habitual Misdemeanor Larceny clarifies that if an offender is guilty of misdemeanor larceny and has four or more prior convictions, the misdemeanor larceny becomes a felony.

·         HB 494: Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Law Changes allow the use of continuous alcohol monitoring systems in connection with punishments for impaired driving offenses, and to ensure compliance with child custody and visitation orders.

·         HB 737: Strengthen Child Safety Laws/Care Facilities prevents individuals with a history of child abuse, child neglect, and sex offenses from serving as child care providers, and requires comprehensive pre-employment and subsequent criminal history record checks on individuals employed or seeking employment in licensed or regulated child care facilities.

·         HB 1173: Suspension of Public Benefits for Parole Violators Avoiding Arrest grants authority to North Carolina courts to suspend public assistance benefits to probationers for whom the court has issued an order for arrest for violating parole but is awaiting arrest.

·         SB 105: Increase Penalty/Murder and DWI Deaths increases the penalty for Felony Death by Vehicle from a class E to a class D felony.

·         SB 707: School Violence Prevention Act provides that those school personnel who take reasonable action in good faith to end a fight shall not be held civilly or criminally liable because of the actions taken.

·         SB 910: Sale of a Minor/Felony Offense makes it a Class F Felony to engage in the acceptance, solicitation, offer, payment, or transfer of any compensation, in money, property, or thing of value, in connection with the unlawful acquisition or transfer of the physical custody of a minor, except as ordered by the court.

The other bills Gov. Perdue signed are:

·         SB 42: Mech. Liens/PVT Lien Agent

·         SB 133: Modernize Jury List Procedures

·         SB 141: Law Enforcement/Various Other Changes

·         SB 191: LME Governance

·         SB 227: School Bus Crash Reports Name Disclosure 

·         SB 426: Public Finance Laws/Municipal Service Districts

·         SB 521: Rule in Dumpor’s Case/Broker Price Opinions

·         SB 525: Critical Access Behavioral Health Agencies

·         SB 635: Minors/Sentencing for First Degree Murder

·         SB 647: Mutual Insurance Holding Companies

·         SB 699: Courts and Investigations

·         SB 738: Sole Source Ed. Requirements/Bail Bondsmen

·         SB 755: Education Employee Assoc./Equal Access Act

·         SB 803: Retirement Administrative Changes

·         SB 836: Improve Property Insurance Rate Making

·         SB 951: Cleveland City. Prop Transfer/ABC Def

·         HB 203: Mortgage Satisfaction Forms/No False Liens

·         HB 320: Water Resources 

·         HB 457: Municipal Electric Utilities/ Rate 

·         HB 462: Contingency Contracts for Audits/Assessment

·         HB 572: Accountability for Publicly Funded Nonprofits

·         HB 614: Enact Volunteer Health Services Act

·         HB 853: End Ct. Orders/Est. Local Intake Procedures

·         HB 989: Permanent License Plates

·         HB 1044: Motorcycle Insurance Discount/Military

·         HB 1052: Mechanics Liens/Payment Bonds 

·         HB 1073: Modify UNCHCS Board

·         HB 1085: State Health Plan/Statutory Changes.-AB

·         HB 1105: Modify Taxation of HOA Property

·         HB 1114: NCEMPA/Use of Rate Revenue