AN ACT to authorize existing charter schools to elect to participate in the teachers' and state employees' retirement system and the north carolina teachers' and state employees' major medical plan.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding the time limitations contained in G.S. 135‑5.3 and G.S. 135‑40.3A, the boards of directors of (i) New Century High School in Saxapahaw; (ii) Lake Norman Charter School in Huntersville; (iii) Exploris Middle School in Raleigh, a charter school division of Exploris; (iv) Magellan Charter School in Raleigh; (v) American Renaissance Charter School in Statesville; and (vi) Healthy Start Academy in Durham may elect to become participating employers in the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System in accordance with Article 1 of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes and may also elect to become participating employing units in the North Carolina Teachers' and State Employees' Comprehensive Major Medical Plan in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 135. The elections authorized by this section shall be made no later than 30 days after the effective date of this act and shall be made in accordance with all other requirements of G.S. 135‑5.3 and G.S. 135‑40.3A.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 16th day of July, 2004.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

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		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2004