A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to clarify that regional public transportation authorities and regional transportation authorities are included in the state tort claims act.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143‑291 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(e)	Regional public transportation authorities created pursuant to Article 26 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes and regional transportation authorities created pursuant to Article 27 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes are State agencies for purposes of this Article, and their liability in tort shall be only under this Article. Regional public transportation authorities and regional transportation authorities shall be obligated for payments under this Article, through the purchase of commercial insurance or otherwise in lieu of any responsibility of the State for this payment. Regional public transportation authorities and regional transportation authorities shall be similarly obligated to reimburse or have reimbursed the Department of Justice for any expenses in defending any claim against a regional public transportation authority and regional transportation authority under this Article."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 160A‑626 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f)	Tort claims against the Authority brought pursuant to this section shall be brought in accordance with G.S. 143‑291(e)."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.