A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT IF A COUNTY CHOOSES TO EXTEND HEALTH AND OTHER FRINGE BENEFITS TO PERSONS NOT RELATED BY BLOOD OR marriage TO THE EMPLOYEE OR RETIREE, IT MAY NOT DENY SUCH BENEFITS BASED on such STATUS WHICH IS NOT IN ITSELF UNLAWFUL.
Whereas, counties are authorized under G.S. 153A‑92 to provide life insurance, health insurance, and other fringe benefits for its employees; and
Whereas, such benefits often are extended to dependents of those employees; and
Whereas, modern personnel administration has often extended these benefits to persons not married to or related by blood or adoption to the employee; and
Whereas, concern has arisen about whether certain criminal statutes bar extension of benefits in such circumstances; and
Whereas confusion has apparently arisen about the elements of several criminal statutes, leading to the erroneous interpretation that living in the same abode as another person is inherently criminal; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly notes that neither G.S. 14‑184 nor G.S. 14‑177 make it a crime to live with another adult of the same or opposite sex.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.