A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the office of administrative hearings to allow documents in a contested case to be filed electronically, as recommended by the joint legislative administrative procedure oversight committee.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 150B‑23.3.  Electronic filing.
(a)	In addition to any other method specified in G.S. 150B‑23, documents filed and served in a contested case may be filed and served electronically by means of an Electronic Filing Service Provider. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)	Electronic filing means the electronic transmission of the petition, notice of hearing, pleadings, or any other documents filed in a contested case with the Office of Administrative Hearings, as further defined by rules adopted by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
(2)	Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) means the service provided by the Office of Administrative Hearings for e‑filing and e‑service of documents via the Internet.
(3)	Electronic service means the electronic transmission of the petition, notice of hearing, pleadings, or any other documents in a contested case, as further defined by rules adopted by the Office of Administrative Hearings."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to contested cases filed on or after that date.