2/1/2021
The Daily Bulletin: 2021-02-01 | Legislative Reporting Service
UNC
SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
The Daily Bulletin: 2021-02-01
PUBLIC/HOUSE BILLS
H 36 (2021-2022) PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT ACT. Filed Feb 1 2021. AN ACT TO INCREASE THE
PUNISHMENT FOR DISCHARGING OR ATTEMPTING TO DISCHARGE A FIREARM AT OR INTO AN UNOCCUPIED
EMERGENCY VEHICLE AND TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR POINTING A LASER DEVICE AT A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER OR OTHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHEN THE PERSON OR ANIMAL IS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER
DUTIES.
Enacts GS 14-34.1 A, making it a Class H felony to willfully or wantonly discharge or attempt to discharge any firearm or
barreled weapon capable of discharging shot, bullets, pellets, or other missiles at a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per
second at or into any unoccupied emergency vehicle. Defines emergency vehicle to include a vehicle of law enforcement and
fire departments, ambulances, rescue squads, the National Guard, or the US Armed Forces.
Amends GS 1 4-34.8, making it a Class I felony to intentionally point a laser at any of the eight specified persons while that
person is in the performance of his or her duties. Persons specified include law enforcement officers, probation officers, parole
officers, certain detention facility employees, firefighters, emergency medical technicians/providers. National Guard members,
and US Armed Forces members (previously, intentionally pointing a laser at a law enforcement officer was an infraction; other
specified persons were not included in the statute, and the precondition that the persons be in the performance of his or her
duty was not included). Additionally, makes it a Class A 1 misdemeanor to intentionally point a laser at a law enforcement
agency animal or a search and rescue animal while the animal is in the performance of its duty. Makes conforming changes.
Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.
Intro, by Hastings, Saine, C. Smith, K. Baker. GS 14
Animals, Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Criminal Law
and Procedure, Government, Public Safety and Emergency
View summary
Management, Health and Human Services, Health, Health
Care Facilities and Providers, Military and Veteran's Affairs
H 39 (2021-2022) ESTABLISH BIRTH CENTER LICENSURE ACT. Filed Feb 1 2021. AN ACT ESTABLISHING A LICENSURE
PROCESS AND ANNUAL LICENSE FEES FOR BIRTH CENTERS.
Enacts new Part 4A. the Birth Center Licensure Act in Article 6 of GS Chapter 1 3 1 E. Defines birth center as a facility licensed
for the primary purpose of performing normal, uncomplicated deliveries that is not a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility
and where births are planned to occur away from the mother's usual residence following a low-risk pregnancy.
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to review and. if necessary, revise the Freestanding Birth
Center Fee Schedule every three years to ensure that the fees are sufficient to cover costs and that the cost for any State-
mandated newborn screening is reimbursed at no less than the screening's cost.
Requires DHHS to inspect birth centers as necessary to investigate unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical
injury and reportable adverse outcomes identified in the rules adopted by the North Carolina Birth Center Commission
(Commission). Licensed birth centers are subject to inspections at all times. Establishes a right of entry for authorized
representatives of the DHHS in order to carry our this Part or the Commission's rules. Specifies that no representative shall, by
this entry onto the premises, endanger the health or well-being of any patient being treated in the birth center. Gives DHHS
authority to investigate birth centers in the same manner as it investigates hospitals. Allows information received by the
https://lrs.sog.unc.edU/lrs-subscr-view/dailybulletin/2021-02-01#
1/20
