A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make various amendments to the statutes that regulate secondary metals recyclers.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 66‑420 reads as rewritten:
"§ 66‑420.  Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Part:
(1)	Cash card system. — A system of payment that provides payment in cash or in a form other than cash and that when providing payment in the form of cash (i) captures a photograph of the seller at the time payment is received and (ii) uses an automated cash dispenser, including, but not limited to, an automated teller machine.
(1a)	Copper. — Nonferrous metals, including, but not limited to, copper wire, copper clad steel wire, copper pipe, copper bars, copper sheeting, copper tubing and pipe fittings, and insulated copper wire. The term shall not include brass alloys, bronze alloys, lead, nickel, zinc, or items not containing a significant quantity of copper.
(2)	Fixed site. — A site occupied by a secondary metals recycler as the owner of the site or as a lessee of the site under a lease or other rental agreement providing for occupation of the site by a nonferrous metals purchaser for a total duration of not less than 364 days.
(3)	Law enforcement officer. — Any duly constituted law enforcement officer of the State or of any municipality or county.
(4)	Nonferrous metals. — Metals not containing significant quantities of iron or steel, including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum other than aluminum cans, a product that is a mixture of aluminum and copper, catalytic converters, lead‑acid batteries, and stainless steel beer kegs or containers. The term shall not include precious metals as defined and regulated in Part 2 of this Article.
(5)	Nonferrous metals purchaser. — A secondary metals recycler who purchases, gathers, or obtains nonferrous metals.
(6)	Permit. — A permit issued pursuant to G.S. 66‑426(a).
(7)	Regulated metals property. — All ferrous and nonferrous metals.
(8)	Secondary metals recycler. — Any person, firm, or corporation in the State:
a.	That is engaged in the business of gathering or obtaining ferrous or nonferrous metals that have served their original economic purpose or is in the business of performing the manufacturing process by which ferrous metals or nonferrous metals are converted into raw material products consisting of prepared grades and having an existing or potential economic value; or
b.	That has facilities for performing the manufacturing process by which ferrous metals or nonferrous metals are converted into raw material products consisting of prepared grades and having an existing or potential economic value, by methods including, but not limited to, the processing, sorting, cutting, classifying, cleaning, baling, wrapping, shredding, shearing, or changing the physical form or chemical content of the metals, but not including the exclusive use of hand tools."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.