A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require registers of deeds to maintain regular office hours.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 161‑8 is repealed.
SECTION 2.  Article 1 of Chapter 161 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 161‑8.1.  Office hours; notice of hours.
(a)	The register of deeds shall ensure that the office is open for the conduct of public business during county office workdays and hours as set by the board of county commissioners pursuant to G.S. 153A‑94(b) and shall attend at the office during those periods in person or by deputy. The register of deeds may set the hours for the registration of real estate instruments to begin not more than 30 minutes after the office opens to the public and end not more than 30 minutes before the office closes.
(b)	Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the register of deeds may temporarily close the office for a limited time with the prior approval of the board of county commissioners or county manager.
(c)	The register of deeds shall ensure that the schedule of workdays, holidays, and office hours, including the hours of real estate instrument registration, are posted prominently in the office, on a county government Web site and on the Web site established in subsection (d) of this section. Any change in schedule pursuant to action by the board of county commissioners pursuant to G.S. 153A‑94(b) or temporary closing pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section that is not due to severe weather or emergency conditions shall be posted in all locations required by this subsection no less than 10 calendar days prior to the change in schedule or temporary closing. Any temporary closing due to severe weather or emergency conditions shall be posted in all locations required by this subsection as soon as practicable.
(d)	The Secretary of State shall establish a Web site and procedures for the posting of the workdays, holidays, and office hours of each county register of deeds office in the manner required by subsection (c) of this section."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2013.