A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending the rules of civil procedure concerning the granting of continuances for good cause on account of service on a state board, commission, or authority as an appointee of the governor, lieutenant governor, or general assembly.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 1A‑1, Rule 40 of the Rules of Civil Procedure reads as rewritten:
"Rule 40.  Assignment of cases for trial; continuances.
(a)	The senior resident superior court judge of any superior court district or set of districts as defined in G.S. 7A‑41.1 may provide by rule for the calendaring of actions for trial in the superior court division of the various counties within that senior resident's district or set of districts. Calendaring of actions for trial in the district court shall be in accordance with G.S. 7A‑146. Precedence shall be given to actions entitled thereto by any statute of this State.
(b)	No continuance shall be granted except upon application to the court. A continuance may be granted only for good cause shown and upon such terms and conditions as justice may require. Good cause for granting a continuance shall include those instances when a party to the proceeding, a witness, or counsel of record has an obligation of service to the State of North Carolina, including service as a member of the General Assembly or the Rules Review Commission, or any other board, commission, or authority as an appointee of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or the General Assembly."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2019.