GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

 

 

SESSION LAW 2015-247

HOUSE BILL 173

 

 

AN ACT to amend various criminal laws for the purpose of improving trial court efficiency.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

 

PART I. EXTEND THE PERIOD OF TIME TO AVOID THE COURT COSTS FOR FAILURE TO PAY

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 7A‑304(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)       In every criminal case in the superior or district court, wherein the defendant is convicted, or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or when costs are assessed against the prosecuting witness, the following costs shall be assessed and collected. No costs may be assessed when a case is dismissed. Only upon entry of a written order, supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law, determining that there is just cause, the court may (i) waive costs assessed under this section or (ii) waive or reduce costs assessed under subdivision (7), (8), (8a), (11), (12), or (13) of this section.

…

(6)        For support of the General Court of Justice, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) is payable by a defendant who fails to appear to answer the charge as scheduled, unless within 20 days  after the scheduled appearance, the person either appears in court to answer the charge or disposes of the charge pursuant to G.S. 7A‑146, and the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) is payable by a defendant who fails to pay a fine, penalty, or costs within 20 days 40 days of the date specified in the court's judgment. Upon a showing to the court that the defendant failed to appear because of an error or omission of a judicial official, a prosecutor, or a law‑enforcement officer, the court shall waive the fee for failure to appear. These fees shall be remitted to the State Treasurer.

…."

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 20‑24.2(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)       The court must report to the Division the name of any person charged with a motor vehicle offense under this Chapter who:

(1)        Fails to appear to answer the charge as scheduled, unless within 20 days  after the scheduled appearance, he either appears in court to answer the charge or disposes of the charge pursuant to G.S. 7A‑146; or

(2)        Fails to pay a fine, penalty, or costs within 20 days 40 days of the date specified in the court's judgment."

SECTION 1.(c)  This section becomes effective December 1, 2015, except that a failure to pay after 20 days occurring before the effective date of this act is not abated or affected by this act and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to that failure to pay.

 

PART II. DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO REPORT ON CERTAIN ORDERS OF REMAND FROM SUPERIOR COURT

SECTION 2.  The Administrative Office of the Courts, in consultation with the Conference of Clerks of Superior Court, shall make any necessary modifications to its information systems to maintain records of all cases in which the defendant in a criminal case withdraws an appeal for trial de novo in superior court and the superior court judge has signed an order remanding the case to the district court and shall report on those remanded cases to the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety, the chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety, and the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety by February 1 of each year. The report shall (i) include the total number of remanded cases and also the total number of those cases for which the court has remitted costs and (ii) aggregate those totals by the district in which they were granted and by the name of each judge ordering remand. The Administrative Office of the Courts may obtain any information that may be needed from individual clerks of superior court in order to make the modifications necessary to maintain the records required under this section.

 

PART III. REVISE THE LAW AUTHORIZING A CHIEF DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN MAGISTRATES TO APPOINT COUNSEL/AUTHORIZE MAGISTRATES TO ACCEPT GUILTY PLEAS AND ENTER JUDGMENT FOR OFFENSE OF INTOXICATED AND DISRUPTIVE IN PUBLIC

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 7A‑146 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑146.  Administrative authority and duties of chief district judge.

The chief district judge, subject to the general supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has administrative supervision and authority over the operation of the district courts and magistrates in his district. These powers and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

…

(11)      Designating certain magistrates to appoint counsel and accept waivers of counsel pursuant to Article 36 of this Chapter. This designation may only be given to magistrates who are duly licensed attorneys and does not give any magistrate the authority to: (i) to appoint counsel or accept waivers of counsel for potentially capital offenses, as defined by rules adopted by the Office of Indigent Defense Services; or (ii) accept a waiver of counsel.Services.

…."

SECTION 3.(b)  G.S. 7A‑292 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑292.  Additional powers of magistrates.

In addition to the jurisdiction and powers assigned in this Chapter to the magistrate in civil and criminal actions, each magistrate has the following additional powers:

…

(15)      When authorized by the chief district judge, as permitted in G.S. 7A‑146(11), to provide for appointment of counsel and acceptance of waivers of counsel pursuant to Article 36 of this Chapter.

…."

SECTION 3.(c)  G.S. 14‑444 reads as rewritten:

"§ 14‑444.  Intoxicated and disruptive in public.

(a)        It shall be unlawful for any person in a public place to be intoxicated and disruptive in any of the following ways:

(1)        Blocking or otherwise interfering with traffic on a highway or public vehicular area, or

(2)        Blocking or lying across or otherwise preventing or interfering with access to or passage across a sidewalk or entrance to a building, or

(3)        Grabbing, shoving, pushing or fighting others or challenging others to fight, or

(4)        Cursing or shouting at or otherwise rudely insulting others, or

(5)        Begging for money or other property.

(b)        Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 7A‑273(1), a magistrate is not empowered to accept a guilty plea and enter judgment for this offense."

 

PART IV. AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS AND CLARIFY PROBATION REVOCATION APPEALS

SECTION 4.  G.S. 15A‑1347 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(c)       If a defendant appeals an activation of a sentence as a result of a finding of a violation of probation by the district or superior court, probation supervision will continue under the same conditions until the termination date of the supervision period or disposition of the appeal, whichever comes first."

 

PART V. CONFORM STATE LAW WITH THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS IN HALL V. FLORIDA AND BRUMFIELD V. CAIN

SECTION 5.  G.S. 15A‑2005 reads as rewritten:

"§ 15A‑2005.  Mentally retarded defendants; Intellectual disability; death sentence prohibited.

(a)        (1)        The following definitions apply in this section:

a.         Mentally retarded. – Significantly Intellectual disability. – A condition marked by significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with significant limitations in adaptive functioning, both of which were manifested before the age of 18.

b.         Significant limitations in adaptive functioning. – Significant limitations in two or more of the following adaptive skill areas: communication, self‑care, home living, social skills, community use, self‑direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure skills and work skills.

c.         Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning. – An intelligence quotient of 70 or below.

(2)        The defendant has the burden of proving significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, significant limitations in adaptive functioning, and that mental retardation intellectual disability was manifested before the age of 18. An intelligence quotient of 70 or below on an individually administered, scientifically recognized standardized intelligence quotient test administered by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist is evidence of significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning; however, it is not sufficient, without evidence of significant limitations in adaptive functioning and without evidence of manifestation before the age of 18, to establish that the defendant is mentally retarded.has an intellectual disability. An intelligence quotient of 70, as described in this subdivision, is approximate and a higher score resulting from the application of the standard error of measurement to an intelligence quotient of 70 shall not preclude the defendant from being able to present additional evidence of intellectual disability, including testimony regarding adaptive deficits. Accepted clinical standards for diagnosing significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior shall be applied in the determination of intellectual disability.

(b)        Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no defendant who is mentally retarded with an intellectual disability shall be sentenced to death.

(c)        Upon motion of the defendant, supported by appropriate affidavits, the court may order a pretrial hearing to determine if the defendant is mentally retarded. has an intellectual disability. The court shall order such a hearing with the consent of the State. The defendant has the burden of production and persuasion to demonstrate mental retardation intellectual disability by clear and convincing evidence. If the court determines that the defendant to be mentally retarded, has an intellectual disability, the court shall declare the case noncapital, and the State may not seek the death penalty against the defendant.

(d)        The pretrial determination of the court shall not preclude the defendant from raising any legal defense during the trial.

(e)        If the court does not find that the defendant to be mentally retarded has an intellectual disability in the pretrial proceeding, upon the introduction of evidence of the defendant's mental retardation raising the issue of intellectual disability during the sentencing hearing, the court shall submit a special issue to the jury as to whether the defendant is mentally retarded has an intellectual disability as defined in this section. This special issue shall be considered and answered by the jury prior to the consideration of aggravating or mitigating factors and the determination of sentence. If the jury determines that the defendant to be mentally retarded, has an intellectual disability, the court shall declare the case noncapital and the defendant shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.

(f)         The defendant has the burden of production and persuasion to demonstrate mental retardation intellectual disability to the jury by a preponderance of the evidence.

(g)        If the jury determines that the defendant is not mentally retarded does not have an intellectual disability as defined by this section, the jury may consider any evidence of mental retardation intellectual disability presented during the sentencing hearing when determining aggravating or mitigating factors and the defendant's sentence.

(h)        The provisions of this section do not preclude the sentencing of a mentally retarded an offender with an intellectual disability to any other sentence authorized by G.S. 14‑17 for the crime of murder in the first degree."

 

PART VII. MAKE CONFORMING CHANGE TO PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW

SECTION 7.  G.S. 7B‑323(f) reads as rewritten:

"(f)       A party may appeal the district court's decision under G.S. 7A‑27(c).G.S. 7A‑27(b)(2)."

 

PART VIII. EXPUNCTION INFORMATION MAY BE TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY OR BY FACSIMILE

SECTION 8.  G.S. 15A‑150 reads as rewritten:

"§ 15A‑150.  Notification requirements.

(a)        Notification to AOC. – The clerk of superior court in each county in North Carolina shall, as soon as practicable after each term of court, file with the Administrative Office of the Courts the names of the following:

(1)        Persons granted an expunction under this Article.

(2)        Persons granted a conditional discharge under G.S. 14‑50.29.

(3)        Persons granted a conditional discharge under G.S. 90‑96 or G.S. 90‑113.14.

(4)        Repealed by Session Laws 2010‑174, s. 7, effective October 1, 2010.

(5)        Persons granted a conditional discharge under G.S. 14‑204.

(b)        Notification to Other State and Local Agencies. – The Unless otherwise instructed by the Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (e) of this section for the electronic or facsimile transmission of information, the clerk of superior court in each county in North Carolina shall send a certified copy of an order granting an expunction to a person named in subsection (a) of this section to all of the agencies listed in this subsection. An agency receiving an order under this subsection shall expunge from its records all entries made as a result of the charge or conviction ordered expunged, except as provided in G.S. 15A‑151. The list of agencies is as follows:

(1)        The sheriff, chief of police, or other arresting agency.

(2)        When applicable, the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Division of Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety.

(3)        Any State or local agency identified by the petition as bearing record of the offense that has been expunged.

(4)        The Department of Public Safety.

(c)        Notification to FBI. – The Department of Public Safety shall forward the order received under this section to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(d)        Notification to Private Entities. – A State agency that receives a certified copy of an order under this section shall notify any private entity with which it has a licensing agreement for bulk extracts of data from the agency criminal record database to delete the record in question. The private entity shall notify any other entity to which it subsequently provides in a bulk extract data from the agency criminal database to delete the record in question from its database.

(e)        The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts may enter into an agreement with any of the State agencies listed in subsection (b) of this section for electronic or facsimile transmission of any information that must be provided under this section."

 

PART IX. DOUBLING OF BOND IS PERMISSIVE RATHER THAN MANDATORY FOR CERTAIN DEFENDANTS

SECTION 9.(a)  G.S. 15A‑534(d3) reads as rewritten:

"(d3)    When conditions of pretrial release are being determined for a defendant who is charged with an offense and the defendant is currently on pretrial release for a prior offense, the judicial official shall may require the execution of a secured appearance bond in an amount at least double the amount of the most recent previous secured or unsecured bond for the charges or, if no bond has yet been required for the charges, in the amount of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000)."

SECTION 9.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2015, and applies to conditions of pretrial release imposed on or after that date.

 

PART X. DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT MAY CONTAIN BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

SECTION 10.(a)  G.S. 15A‑268(a5) reads as rewritten:

"(a5)     The duty to preserve may not be waived knowingly and voluntarily by a defendant, without a court proceeding.hearing, which may include any other hearing associated with the disposition of the case."

SECTION 10.(b)  G.S. 15A‑268(a6) reads as rewritten:

"(a6)     The evidence described by subsection (a1) of this section shall be preserved for the following period:

(1)        For conviction resulting in a sentence of death, until execution.

(2)        For conviction resulting in a sentence of life without parole, until the death of the convicted person.

(3)        For conviction of any homicide, sex offense, assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson or burning, for which a Class B1‑E felony punishment is imposed, the evidence shall be preserved during the period of incarceration and mandatory supervised release, including sex offender registration pursuant to Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, except in cases where the person convicted entered and was convicted on a plea of guilty, in which case the evidence shall be preserved for the earlier of three years from the date of conviction or until released.

(4)        Biological evidence collected as part of a criminal investigation of any homicide or rape, in which no charges are filed, shall be preserved for the period of time that the crime remains unsolved.

(5)        A custodial agency in custody of biological evidence unrelated to a criminal investigation or prosecution referenced by subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection may dispose of the evidence in accordance with the rules of the agency.

(6)        Notwithstanding the retention requirements in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection, at any time after collection and prior to or at the time of disposition of the case at the trial court level, if the evidence collected as part of the criminal investigation is of a size, bulk, or physical character as to render retention impracticable or should be returned to its rightful owner, the State may petition the court for retention of samples of the biological evidence in lieu of the actual physical evidence. After giving any defendant charged in connection with the case an opportunity to be heard, the court may order that the collecting agency take reasonable measures to remove or preserve for retention portions of evidence likely to contain biological evidence related to the offense through cuttings, swabs, or other means consistent with Crime Laboratory minimum guidelines in a quantity sufficient to permit DNA testing before returning or disposing of the evidence."

SECTION 10.(c)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2015.

 

PART XI. AMEND THE RULES OF EVIDENCE TO ALLOW A CERTIFICATION BY THE CUSTODIAN OF A BUSINESS RECORD TO SHOW THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE RECORD IN LIEU OF OFFERING THE CUSTODIAN'S IN‑PERSON TESTIMONY

SECTION 11.(a)  Rule 803(6) of the Rules of Evidence, Chapter 8C of the General Statutes, reads as rewritten:

"Rule 803.  Hearsay exceptions; availability of declarant immaterial.

The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even though the declarant is available as a witness:

…

(6)        Records of Regularly Conducted Activity. – A memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, in any form, of acts, events, conditions, opinions, or diagnoses, made at or near the time by, or from information transmitted by, a person with knowledge, if (i) kept in the course of a regularly conducted business activity, activity and if (ii) it was the regular practice of that business activity to make the memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, all as shown by the testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness, or by affidavit or by document under seal under Rule 902 of the Rules of Evidence made by the custodian or witness, unless the source of information or the method or circumstances of preparation indicate lack of trustworthiness. Authentication of evidence by affidavit shall be confined to the records of nonparties, and the proponent of that evidence shall give advance notice to all other parties of intent to offer the evidence with authentication by affidavit. The term "business" as used in this paragraph includes business, institution, association, profession, occupation, and calling of every kind, whether or not conducted for profit."

SECTION 11.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2015.

 

PART XIII. BAIL BOND CONTINUING EDUCATION

SECTION 13.(a)  G.S. 58‑71‑1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 58‑71‑1.  Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this Article:

…

(1a)      Approved provider. – A person or entity whose certificate of authority issued by the Commissioner to provide either bail bond continuing education or prelicensing courses in this state in accordance with G.S. 58‑71‑72 was in effect on May 15, 2015, and remains in effect. The certificate of authority issued by the Commissioner to any such person or entity is not transferable or assignable to any other person or entity nor are the benefits or any part thereof transferable or assignable to any other person or entity.

…."

SECTION 13.(b)  G.S. 58‑71‑71 reads as rewritten:

"§ 58‑71‑71.  Examination; educational requirements; penalties.

(a)        In order to be eligible to take the examination required to be licensed as a runner or bail bondsman under G.S. 58‑71‑70, each person shall complete at least 12 hours of education as provided by the North Carolina Bail Agents Association an approved provider in subjects pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of a runner or bail bondsman, including all laws and regulations related to being a runner or bail bondsman.

(b)        Each year every licensee shall complete at least three hours of continuing education as provided by the North Carolina Bail Agents Association an approved provider in subjects related to the duties and responsibilities of a runner or bail bondsman before renewal of the license. This continuing education shall not include a written or oral examination. A person who receives his first license on or after January 1 of any year does not have to comply with this subsection until the period between his first and second license renewals.

…

(d)        Educational courses offered by the North Carolina Bail Agents Association an approved provider under this section must be approved by the Commissioner before they may be offered. Before approving a course, the Commissioner must be satisfied that the course will enhance the professional competence and professional responsibility of bail bondsmen and runners. The North Carolina Bail Agents Association Approved providers shall not offer, sponsor, or conduct any course under this section unless the Commissioner has given authorization to do so. The Commissioner shall not authorize educational courses to be offered solely online.

…."

SECTION 13.(c)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2015.

 

PART XIV. EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 14.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21^st day of September, 2015.

 

 

                                                                    s/  Tom Apodaca

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the Senate

 

 

                                                                    s/  Paul Stam

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

 

 

                                                                    s/  Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

 

 

Approved 4:30 p.m. this 23^rd day of September, 2015