A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ensure open and fair competition with respect to the materials used in wastewater, stormwater, and other water projects.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑129.10.  No preference for one acceptable piping material over another in State funded water, wastewater, or stormwater projects.
(a)	Prohibition. – A public entity shall not prefer one type of acceptable piping material over another in studying, planning, designing, constructing, developing, financing, maintaining, rebuilding, improving, repairing, procuring, or operating a water, wastewater, or stormwater drainage project that is funded in whole or in part with State funds unless sound engineering practices suggest that one type of acceptable piping material is more suitable for a particular project.
(b)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Acceptable Piping Material. – Piping material that meets or exceeds the standards issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials or the American Water Works Association.
(2)	Public Entity. – A State agency, county, city, sanitary district created under Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes, an authority created under Article 1 of Chapter 162A of the General Statutes, a metropolitan sewer district created under Article 5 of Chapter 162A of the General Statutes, a county water and sewer district created under Article 6 of Chapter 162A of the General Statutes, or any other political subdivision of the State."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2015.