Editor’s Preface
The 1999 edition of North Carolina Legislation is the thirty-sixth periodic summary of legislation published by the Institute of Government. From 1955 through 1973 these summaries were published in a special issue of Popular Government. Since 1974 the summary has been published annually as a separate publication.
North Carolina Legislation 1999 is a comprehensive summary of legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is intended to cover all legislation of interest and importance to state and local government officials. The book is organized by subject matter and divided into twenty-seven chapters. In some instances the same legislation is discussed in more than one chapter in order to provide differing emphases or points of view. Each chapter in this book was written by an Institute of Government faculty member with expertise in that particular field. The only exception is Chapter 25, State Taxation. It was written by members of the General Assembly’s professional staff.
The final text of all bills discussed in this book may be viewed on the Internet at the General Assembly’s Web site: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us. This site also includes a detailed legislative history of all action taken on each bill and, for some bills, a summary of the fiscal impact of the bill.
While comprehensive, this book does not summarize every legislative enactment of the 1999 General Assembly. For example, some important topics that do not have a substantial impact on state or local governments, such as business regulation or insurance, are not discussed at all. Local legislation of importance to a single jurisdiction is often given only brief coverage. Readers who may need information on public bills not covered in this book may wish to consult Summaries of Substantive Ratified Legislation, 1999 General Assembly, which contains brief summaries of all public laws enacted during the 1999 session. That compilation is published by the General Assembly’s Research Division and is posted on the Internet at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/
html1999/ncinfo/directories/rd/reports/99summaries.html. An on-line list of General Statutes affected by 1999 legislation, prepared by the General Assembly’s Bill bill Drafting drafting staff, can be viewed at: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html1999/billInfo/bill_reports/gsaffect99.html.
The Institute of Government also publishes two separate reports, Final Disposition of Bills and the Index of Legislation, that provide additional information with respect to public and private bills considered in 1999. These publications can be purchased through the Institute’s Publications and Marketing Division (phone 919-966-4119, e-mail khunt@sog.unc.edu).
Each day that the General Assembly is in session, the Institute’s Legislative Reporting Service publishes the Daily Bulletin. It includes summaries written by Institute of Government faculty members of every bill and resolution that is introduced in the state House or Senate, summaries of all amendments and committee substitutes adopted by the House or Senate, a daily report of all actions taken on the floor of both chambers relative to legislation, and a calendar of legislative committee meetings and agenda for floor action for the next legislative day. The Daily Bulletin is available by paid subscription, with delivery via U.S. mail, telefax, or the World Wide Web. For information on subscriptions, contact the Institute’s Publications and Marketing Division (phone 919-966-4119, e-mail khunt@sog.unc.edu).
Throughout this book, references to legislation enacted during the 1999 legislative session are cited by the Session Law number of the act (for example, S.L. 1999-237), followed by a parenthetical reference to the number of the Senate or House bill (for example, H 168) that was enacted. As a general rule, the effective date of new legislation is not noted if it is prior to the production of this book. References to the General Statutes of North Carolina are abbreviated as G.S. (for example, G.S. 160A-385).
David W. Owens