Issue Information

IFNC's Government Relations Committee is currently reviewing issues for consideration as part of the IFNC Legislative Agenda for the 2010 (Long) Session of the N.C. General Assembly.  The 2010-2011 Session of the N.C. General Assembly will begin on January 26, 2011. 

IFNC is actively engaged in several legislative issues that would affect the property and casualty industry.  In addition to these issues, IFNC is the driving force behind the following modernization proposals.

1) HB 813 - Uniform Apportionment of Tort Responsibility

An Act To Enact The Uniform Apportionment of Tort Responsibility Act.  This bill would eliminate the longstanding doctrine of contributory negligence and establish comparative fault as the current tort system in North Carolina and also repeal sections of the Product Liability Act.

http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=h813

UPDATE:  HB 813 was never heard in the Senate J1 Committee and expired in the short session.

 2) SB 900 - An Act to Provide for Studies by the Legislative Research Commission, Statutory Oversight Committees and Commissions, and Other Agencies, Committees, and Commissions.

Part XXXV of this bill establishes the Joint Select Committee to Study the Adoption of Comparative Negligence and Abrogation of Joint and Several Liability. The Committee will have 5 Senators and 5 Representatives.  The Committee is directed to study issues related to the adoption of comparative negligence and the abrogation of joint and several liability, and any other issues related to tort liability. The Committee is directed to report to the 2011 Session of the General Assembly.

http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=s900

UPDATE:  SB 900 was signed into law by the Governor on 7/22/10 [S.L. 2010-152]

3) HB 1947 - Oxford/Recover Costs For Accident Clean-up

An act authorizing the City of Oxford to adopt ordinances establishing a schedule of fees to recover the costs of responding to motor vehicle accidents and hazardous material incidents.

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=sb660

UPDATE:  HB 1947 was never heard in committee.

Other Bills of Interest

HB 1035 - Performance & Payment Bond Modification (signed by Gov. on 7/22/10 [S.L. 2010-148])

HB 1717 - Modernization of the State ABC System (signed into law on 7/21/10 [S.L. 2010-122])

HB 1729 - Motor Vehicles Law Changes (signed into law on 7/21/10 [S.L. 2010-132])

HB 1973 - Various Economic Incentives (signed by Gov. on 7/22/10 [S.L. 2010-147])

SB 18 - Amend Cemetery Act (signed into law on 7/20/10 [S.L. 2010-102])

SB 181 - DL Change Expir./8 Yrs Through 65 (signed by Gov. on 7/21/10 [S.L. 2010-131])

HB 2027 - Car Theft To Steal Motor Parts (Did not pass either house)

SB 12 - Ban Mobile Phone Use While Driving (Did not pass either house)