Bills signed by Easley on Aug. 16

Gov. Mike Easley announced on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008, that he signed into law five bills, which focused on health and safety of children and families.

House Bill 2340, “An act to increase the protection of children who ride in the back of pickup trucks or open beds of vehicles by raising the minimum age, removing the exemption that makes allowance for small counties, and modifying the exemption that makes an allowance for agricultural enterprises, and increase the penalties.” The bill was sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Weiss (D - Wake), Garland Pierce (D - Scotland), Beverly Earle (D - Mecklenburg) and Rick Glazier (D - Cumberland). The law becomes effective October 1, 2008.

House Bill 2487, “An act to change the format of a drivers license or special identification card being issued to a person less than twenty-one years of age from a horizontal format to a vertical format to make recognition of underage persons more easy for clerks dealing in restricted age sales of products such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products as recommended by the Child Fatality Task Force.” The bill was sponsored by Reps. Dale Folwell (R - Forsyth), Garland Pierce (D - Scotland), Pat McElraft (R - Carteret), and Bill Faison (D - Orange). The law becomes effective October 1, 2008.

SB 132, “An act to expand the scope of certain pornography laws by amending the definition of sexual activity; to increase the penalty for first, second, and third degree sexual exploitation of a minor; to increase the penalty in certain circumstances where there is a solicitation by computer to commit an unlawful sex act and to provide for civil liability; to make it a felony for a registered sex offender to access a commercial social networking web site; and to prohibit a registered sex offender from obtaining a name change.” The bill was sponsored by Sen. Walter Dalton (D - Rutherford). Portions of the law become effective May 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2008.

SB 1736, “An act to add felony child abuse to the list of sex offender registry offenses when the offense involves prostitution of a juvenile or the commission of a sexual act upon a juvenile, to require that a sex offender register his or her electronic mail address or other online identifier in the Statewide Sex Offender Registry, to allow limited release of online identifier information in the Sex Offender Registry to certain entities that provide electronic mail services and other Internet services for the purpose of screening online users, to direct the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop procedures to ensure timely notification of the Division of Criminal Information and sheriffs of persons required to register who are not sentenced to active time, and to authorize funds for the Governor's Crime Commission to use to award as matching grants to eligible sheriffs' offices to enhance and support their efforts to enforce the state's sex offender laws.” The bill was sponsored by Sen. William Purcell (D - Scotland). Portions of the law become effective July 1, 2008, Dec. 1, 2008, and May 1, 2009.

SB 1924, “An act to authorize the North Carolina Building Code Council to study and adopt provisions in the building code pertaining to the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in certain single-family or multifamily dwellings; to require the installation of operational carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential rental property; to provide for mutual obligations between landlords and tenants regarding the installation and upkeep of carbon monoxide detectors; and to make conforming changes, as recommended by the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force.” The bill was sponsored by Sen. William Purcell (D - Scotland). Portions of the law become effective upon the governor’s signature and on Jan. 1, 2010.

(Information supplied by the Governor's Office.)