Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2008-08-09, Gov. Easley Signs 16 Bills Into Law

              Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron
Date: August 9, 2008 Phone: 919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY SIGNS 16 BILLS INTO LAW
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today he signed the following 16 bills into law:
Senate Bill 685, “An act to prohibit the placing of a burning cross on any public place; to raise the penalty for burning a cross with the intent to intimidate; to raise the penalty for placing an exhibit with the intent to intimidate; to raise the penalty for placing an exhibit while wearing a mask, hood, or other disguise; to clarify that the term "exhibit" includes objects such as nooses; to raise the penalty for offense committed because of victim's background; to study the impact of recent cross burnings and noose hangings across the state; and to make recommendations for modification to the criminal laws of the state.” The bill was sponsored by Sen. Eleanor Kinnaird. Portions of the law become effective upon the governor’s signature and Dec. 1, 2008.
Senate Bill 845, “An act to amend certain environmental and natural resources laws to: (1) Provide that private drinking water wells are to be tested for certain additional parameters; (2) Authorize the Board of Agriculture to adopt rules governing euthanasia of animals; (3) Rename the Blue Crab Research Program the Blue Crab and Shellfish Research Program; (4) Clarify that the Department of Transportation or any other unit of government shall make oyster shells available to the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources without remuneration; (5) Specify that the Environmental Management Commission may not begin the procedure to adopt a temporary or permanent rule that governs the management of stormwater runoff in the coastal counties pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (3) of G.S. 143-214.7(b) prior to 1 October 2011, specify that any such additional rules shall not become effective prior to 1 October 2013, and specify that rules adopted by the Environmental Management Commission pursuant to any other state statutory authority that govern the management of stormwater runoff in the coastal counties shall not become effective in the coastal counties prior to 1 October 2011; (6) Clarify the procedure for recordation of restrictions and protective covenants that specify certain coastal stormwater management requirements; (7) Provide that a person who becomes the owner or operator of a commercial petroleum underground storage tank may pay, under protest, unpaid annual operating fees that were the obligation of a previous owner or operator for the purpose of obtaining an operating permit for the underground storage tanks, require the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to diligently seek to collect unpaid fees from the person who was originally responsible for payment, and provide that a person who pays fees under protest may be reimbursed to the extent that the fees are collected from another person; (8) Improve water quality and promote groundwater recharge in areas of the state that are not subject to the stormwater management