GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999

HOUSE BILL 1779
RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DURHAM TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SWEATSHOPS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  The Charter of the City of Durham, being Chapter 671 of the 1975 Session Laws, as amended, is amended by adding a new section to read:
"Section 84.4. Anti-Sweatshop Requirements.  (a)	The City Council may establish, agree to, and comply with anti-sweatshop requirements by including the requirements in the specifications for contracts to purchase or rent apparel or textiles and awarding bids pursuant to G.S. 143-129 and G.S. 143-131, if applicable, to the lowest responsible bidders meeting these and other specifications.  Anti-sweatshop requirements may include:
(1)	Prohibitions against violations of applicable law or regulation, forced labor, or employment of children; and
(2)	The disclosure of:
a.	The locations and ownership of the manufacturing company where the apparel or textiles are made, finished, packed, or otherwise processed;
b.	Compensation to workers; and
c.	Any other information necessary and proper for the enforcement of other anti-sweatshop requirements and not in violation of any other State law.
(b)	The authority granted by this section is in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other authority granted by this Charter or any other law."
Section 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30th day of June, 2000.

	─────────────────── 
	Marc Basnight
	President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	─────────────────── 
	James B. Black
				eaker of the House of Representatives