Daily bulletin [2007 : March 13, v.2007 : no.28]

Daily Bulletin ACTIONS BY THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY Institute of Government — School of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Legislative Reporting Service, Box 7294 State Legislative Building, Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone 919.733.2484 - Fax 919.715.3464 - www.dbulletin.org House Legislative Day 28 Vol. 2007, No. 28 Senate Legislative Day 28 Tuesday, March 13, 2007 SUMMARIES OF BILLS FILED HOUSE BILLS H 598. TAX ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WIRE TRANSFERS. Filed 3/12/07. TO IMPOSE A TAXON TRANSFERS OF MONEY BY WIRE MADE BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Enacts new Article 5G in Chapter 105 of the General Statutes to impose a tax of 5% of the amount of the transfer on all transfers of money by wire originating in the state if the transferor is an unauthorized alien [as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324a(h)(3)]. Exempts the transfer of money by wire through a person exempt from licensure under Article 16A (Money Transmitters Act) of GS Chapter 53. Requires retailers to collect the tax unless the transferor provides adequate evidence that the transferor is not an unauthorized alien. Authorizes penalties as set forth in Article 9 of GS Chapter 105. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to transfer money by wire on behalf of another person in order to avoid the tax. Effective July 1, 2007. Intro, by Cleveland. GS 105 H 599. REGULATE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS. Filed 3/12/07. TO REQUIRE REPORTING OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS OF ELECTED OFFICERS AND TO REGULATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUCH FUNDS. Enacts new Article 22M of GS Chapter 163 allowing an elected official, or another person on the elected official’s behalf, to create a legal assistance fund (fund). The fund may be used for any reasonable expenses incurred by the elected official regarding a legal action or potential legal action brought by or against the official. Money remaining in the fund upon completion of the action must be distributed to the Indigent Person’s Attorney Fee Fund or to the North Carolina State Bar for civil legal services for indigents. Provides for the appointment and removal of a treasurer and a statement of organization that the treasurer must file with the State Board of Elections (Board). Limits contributions to $4,000 per contributor per year and prohibits the acceptance of contributions from any corporation, labor union, insurance company, professional association, or other business entity. Requires the treasurer to keep detailed accounts of contributions and expenditures, which may be inspected by the Board in the course of an investigation. The treasurer does not have to report the name of individuals making a total contribution of, or paying for services or goods in an amount of, $50 or less. Provides for the accounting of contributions and payment for services or goods exceeding $50, and for expenditures. Requires the treasurer to file organizational reports and quarterly reports with the Board. Violation of the new Article is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Effective January 1 , 2008. Repeals GS 163-278.36 (Elected officials to report funds). Intro, by В lust. GS 163 H 600. REFORM LEGISLATIVE ETHICS. Filed 3/12/07. TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION SHALL HEAR ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST LEGISLATORS. Amends GS 138A-12 to allow the State Ethics Commission (commission) to proceed with a hearing against legislators and legislative employees after conducting an inquiry into a complaint (was, refer the matter to the © 2007 Institute of Government — School of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill This work is copyrighted and subject to "fair use" as permitted by federal copyright law. No portion of this publication maybe reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the publisher. Distribution by third parties is prohibited. Prohibited distribution includes, but is not limited to, posting, e-mailing, faxing, archiving in a public database, installing on intranets or servers, and redistributing via a computer network or in printed form. Unauthorized use or reproduction may result in legal action against the unauthorized user.