Agenda - 11-23-2015 - Item E.1 - Abstract - Session Law Effects

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134 evaluate effectiveness of different coyote control methodologies, including lethal removal; and evaluate potential for a scalable statewide coyote assistance program. SECTION 4.35.(b) The Wildlife Resources Commission shall submit an interim report on the progress of the pilot program to the Environmental Review Commission by March 1, 2016. The Wildlife Resources Commission shall submit a final report on the results of the pilot program, including any proposed legislation, to the Environmental Review Commission by January 1, 2017. ANIMAL WELFARE HOTLINE AND COURT FEE TO SUPPORT THE INVESTIGATION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY VIOLATIONS SECTION 4.36.(a) Article 1 of Chapter 114 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: 114-8.7. Reports of animal cruelty and animal welfare violations. (a) The Attorney General shall establish a hotline to receive reports of allegations of animal cruelty or violations of the Animal Welfare Act, Article 3 of Chapter 19A of the General Statutes, against animals under private ownership, by means including telephone, electronic mail, and Internet Web site. The Attorney General shall periodically publicize the hotline telephone number, electronic mail address, Internet Web site address, and any other means by which the Attorney General may receive reports of allegations of animal cruelty or violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Any individual who makes a report under this section shall disclose his or her name and telephone number and any other information the Attorney General may require. When the Attorney General receives allegations involving activity that the Attorney General determines may involve cruelty to animals under private ownership in violation of Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, the allegations shall be referred to the appropriate local animal control authority for the unit or units of local government within which the violations are alleged to have occurred. When the Attorney General receives allegations involving activity that the Attorney General determines may involve violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the allegations shall be referred to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Attorney General shall record the total number of reports received on the hotline and the number of reports received against any individual on the hotline. (c,) Notwithstanding other provisions of law, the Department of Justice is authorized to spend any federal, State, local, or private funds available for this purpose to administer the _provisions of this section. (d,) Notwithstanding G.S. 147-33.72C and related provisions of law, in order to expedite the timely implementation of technology systems to record and manage public allegations and complaints received pursuant to this section, the Department of Justice is exempted from external agency project approval standards." SECTION 4.36.(b) This section becomes effective March 1, 2016. STUDY FLOOD ELEVATIONS AND BUILDING HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS SECTION 4.38. The Department of Insurance, the Department of Public Safety, and the Building Code Council shall jointly study how flood elevations and building heights for structures are established and measured in the coastal region of the State. The Departments and the Council shall specifically consider how flood elevations and coastal building height requirements affect flood insurance rates and how height calculation methods might be made more consistent and uniform in order to provide flood insurance rate relief. In conducting this study, the Departments and the Council shall engage a broad group of stakeholders, including property owners, local governments, representatives of the surveying industry, and representatives of the development industry. No later than March 1, 2016, the Departments and the Council shall jointly submit the results of their study, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2015 General Assembly. ALLOW ALTERNATE DISPOSAL OF BIODEGRADABLE AGRICULTURAL PLASTICS SECTION 4.39.(a) G.S. 106-950 reads as rewritten: "§ 106-950. Exempt fires; no permit fees. (a) This Article shall not apply to any fires started, or caused to be started, within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling house if such fire shall be confined (i) within an enclosure from Page 60 Session Law 2015-286 House Bill 765-Ratified