A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require a consultation with county Boards when permits for land application of waste within that county are issued by the environmental Management commission; to increase the threshold for Department of Transportation informal bid procedures; to study State payments in lieu of taxes for public lands; and to study the E911 system and its relationship with local 911 systems.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143‑215.1(d) reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑215.1.  Control of sources of water pollution; permits required.
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(d)	Applications and Permits for Sewer Systems, Sewer System Extensions and Pretreatment Facilities, Land Application of Waste, and for Wastewater Treatment Facilities Not Discharging to the Surface Waters of the State. –
(1)	All applications for new permits and for renewals of existing permits for sewer systems, sewer system extensions and for disposal systems, and for land application of waste, or treatment works which do not discharge to the surface waters of the State, and all permits or renewals and decisions denying any application for permit or renewal shall be in writing. The Commission shall act on a permit application as quickly as possible. The Commission may conduct any inquiry or investigation it considers necessary before acting on an application and may require an applicant to submit plans, specifications, and other information the Commission considers necessary to evaluate the application. If the Commission fails to act on an application for a permit, including a renewal of a permit, within 90 days after the applicant submits all information required by the Commission, the application is considered to be approved. Permits and renewals issued in approving such facilities pursuant to this subsection shall be effective until the date specified therein or until rescinded unless modified or revoked by the Commission. Prior to acting on a permit application for the land application of sludge resulting from operation of a wastewater treatment facility, the Commission shall provide notice and an opportunity for comment from the governing board of the county containing the land application site proposed in the permit application. Local governmental units to whom pretreatment program authority has been delegated shall establish, maintain, and provide to the public, upon written request, a list of pretreatment applications received.
(2)	An applicant for a permit to dispose of petroleum contaminated soil by land application shall give written notice that he intends to apply for such a permit to each city and county government having jurisdiction over any part of the land on which disposal is proposed to occur. The Commission shall not accept such a permit application unless it is accompanied by a copy of the notice and evidence that the notice was sent to each such government by certified mail, return receipt requested. The Commission may consider, in determining whether to issue the permit, the comments submitted by local governments."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 136‑28.1(b) reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑28.1.  Letting of contracts to bidders after advertisement; exceptions.
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(b)	For contracts let to carry out the provisions of this Chapter in which the amount of work to be let to contract for transportation infrastructure construction or repair is two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) or less, and for transportation infrastructure maintenance, excluding resurfacing, that is two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) per year or less, at least three informal bids shall be solicited. The term "informal bids" is defined as bids in writing, received pursuant to a written request, without public advertising. All such contracts shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The Secretary of Transportation shall keep a record of all bids submitted, which record shall be subject to public inspection at any time after the bids are opened."
SECTION 3.1.  There is established the State Payment in Lieu of Taxes Study Commission. The Commission shall consist of 13 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Three members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	The Secretary of Revenue or the Secretary's designee.
(4)	Three members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives based on the recommendation of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
(5)	Three members of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate based on the recommendation of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
SECTION 3.2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a cochair. The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. A quorum of the Commission shall be a majority of its members.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Director of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical support staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 3.3.  The Commission shall study issues relating to the development of a State payment in lieu of taxes for State properties, including wildlife and games lands. The Commission may consider any other issues deemed relevant.
SECTION 3.4.  The Commission may make an interim report, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2013 Regular Session of the General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2014 and shall submit a final report, including any legislative recommendations, prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the General Assembly in 2014. The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of its final report or on January 1, 2015, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 4.1.  There is established the e911 Study Commission. The Commission shall consist of 13 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Three members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3)	The Secretary of Public Safety or the Secretary's designee.
(4)	Three members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives based on the recommendation of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
(5)	Three members of the public appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate based on the recommendation of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.
SECTION 4.2.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a cochair. The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. A quorum of the Commission shall be a majority of its members.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Director of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical support staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
Members of the Commission shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 4.3.  The Commission shall study issues relating to the e911 fee structure, its use to support local 911 activities, and the structure of statewide e911 oversight. The Commission may also consider any other issue that it deems relevant to this study.
SECTION 4.4.  The Commission may make an interim report, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2013 Regular Session of the General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2014 and shall submit a final report, including any legislative recommendations, prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the General Assembly in 2014. The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of its final report or on January 1, 2015, whichever occurs first.
SECTION 5.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2013, and applies to land application permit applications received on or after that date. Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2013, and applies to transportation project bids solicited on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.