A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT codifying the carolina star program in the department of labor.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 95‑127 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(2a)	Carolina Star Program. – A voluntary program designed to recognize work sites that implement effective safety and health management systems and that meet standards adopted by the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 95‑157. The Carolina Star Program is inclusive of four distinct programs, which includes the following: Carolina Star, Rising Star, Building Star, and Public Sector Star."
SECTION 2.  Article 16 of Chapter 95 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 95‑157.  Carolina Star Program.
(a)	The Commissioner may adopt rules for the operation of the Carolina Star Program in a manner that will promote safe and healthy workplaces throughout the State. The rules for the Carolina Star Program adopted by the Commissioner shall pertain to the following matters:
(1)	Upper management leadership and active and meaningful employee involvement.
(2)	Systematic assessment of occupational hazards.
(3)	Comprehensive hazard prevention, control, and mitigation programs.
(4)	Employee safety and health training.
(5)	Annual safety and health program evaluation.
(6)	Star Annual Report.
(7)	Attendance and active participation on Carolina Star Safety Conference Regional Teams and conference related activities.
(b)	Applications for participation in the Carolina Star Program shall be submitted by the workplace's management. Applications shall include documentation establishing to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the employer meets all standards for Carolina Star Program participation.
(c)	The Department shall provide for on‑site evaluations, as resources allow, by Carolina Star Program evaluation teams of each workplace that has applied to participate in the Carolina Star Program to determine if the applicant's workplace complies with the standards for Carolina Star Program participation.
(d)	A workplace's continued participation in the Carolina Star Program shall be conditioned on meeting the requirements and expectations established by the Carolina Star Program Policies and Procedures Manual, Star Annual Report, and successful completion of periodic on‑site evaluations conducted by the Carolina Star Program evaluation team.
(e)	During periods in which a workplace is a participant in the Carolina Star Program, the workplace shall be exempt from inspections under G.S. 95‑136; however, this exception shall not apply to inspections or investigations of the workplace arising from complaints, referrals, fatalities, catastrophes, nonfatal accidents, or significant toxic chemical releases."
SECTION 3.  A workplace that was a participant in the uncodified Carolina Star Program prior to July 1, 2017, may continue as a participant in the Carolina Star Program established pursuant to G.S. 95‑157, as enacted by this act. On and after July 1, 2017, the continued participation by that workplace in the Carolina Star Program shall be conditioned upon the workplace's ability to meet the requirements and expectations established by all guidelines for participation in the Carolina Star Program adopted by the Commissioner under G.S. 95‑157.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017.