GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001

SESSION LAW 2001-322
SENATE BILL 34

AN ACT TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE EXPENDITURES FOR THE OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT AT THE LEVEL IN EFFECT ON JUNE 30, 2001, AND EXTENDING EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW; TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN; TO EXTEND ESTABLISHED PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND SERVICES TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION PATIENTS; TO CLARIFY STATUTORY SALARY INCREASES; AND TO AUTHORIZE PRISON CONSTRUCTION.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I.  extend CONTINUING BUDGET AUTHORITY.
SECTION 1.  Section 8 of S.L. 2001‑250, as amended by S.L. 2001‑287, reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 8. Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective July 1, 2001. This act expires August 29, 2001."

PART II.  appropriate funds FOR the state employee health benefit plan.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Employee Health Benefit Plan the sum of thirty‑six million dollars ($36,000,000) for the 2001‑2002 fiscal year to be used to fund the Plan's cash requirements.

part iii.  extend established PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND SERVICES TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION PATIENTS.
SECTION 3.  Section 2 of S.L. 2001‑253 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 2. Notwithstanding G.S. 97‑26, payment for medical treatment and services rendered to workers' compensation patients by a hospital on or after July 1, 2001, and before  September 1, 2001, shall be equal to the payment the hospital would have received for such treatment and services on June 30, 2001."

part iv. CLARIFY STATUTORY SalarY INCREASES.
SECTION 4. Section 3 of S.L. 2001‑250 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 3. The salary schedules and specific salaries established for the 2000‑2001 fiscal year by or under S.L. 2000‑67 for offices and positions shall remain in effect until the effective date of the Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2001.
Notwithstanding G.S. 7A-102(c), 7A-171.1, 20-187.3, and any other provision of law,  teachers and all other State-funded employees shall not move up on  salary schedules or receive automatic, annual, performance,  or merit increases, statutory salary increases, or any other salary increments until authorized by the General Assembly."

PART V. AUTHORIZE PRISON CONSTRUCTION.
SECTION 5.  The Department of Administration and the Department of Correction may contract for the construction of three new close‑custody correctional facilities. The contract price for the three prisons shall not exceed the total bid price submitted by the selected vendor on April 17, 2001. The sites for the three prisons shall be Anson, Alexander, and Scotland Counties. The final contract proposal for the three prisons shall be subject to review and approval of the Council of State.

part vI.  effective date.
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30th day of July, 2001.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 1:51 p.m. this 31st day of July, 2001