AN ACT conforming rule 103 of the north carolina rules of evidence to the corresponding federal rule.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 8C‑1, Rule 103(a), reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Effect of erroneous ruling. – Error may not be predicated upon a ruling which admits or excludes evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected, and
(1)	Objection. – In case the ruling is one admitting evidence, a timely objection or motion to strike appears of record. No particular form is required in order to preserve the right to assert the alleged error upon appeal if the motion or objection clearly presented the alleged error to the trial court;
(2)	Offer of proof. – In case the ruling is one excluding evidence, the substance of the evidence was made known to the court by offer or was apparent from the context within which questions were asked. Once the court makes a definitive ruling on the record admitting or excluding evidence, either at or before trial, a party need not renew an objection or offer of proof to preserve a claim of error for appeal."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2003, and applies to rulings on evidence made on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of May, 2003.

	_____________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2003