A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to clarify that it is unlawful to carry a firearm into certain State managed agricultural fairs unless provided otherwise by rules regulating the fair and to provide that the commissioner of Agriculture with the approval of the state board of agriculture has the authority to adopt rules that allow a person with a valid concealed handgun permit to carry a handgun into those agricultural fairs.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑269.3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑269.3.  Carrying weapons into assemblies and establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed; certain agricultural fairs.
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(c)	Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to carry any gun, rifle, or pistol into an agricultural fair as defined in G.S. 106‑520.1 on State property that is managed, operated, and conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the State Board of Agriculture, unless provided otherwise by rules or regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Agriculture and the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to G.S.106‑520.3. The prohibition in this subsection does not apply to any of the persons listed in G.S. 14‑269(b)."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 106‑520.3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 106‑520.3.  Commissioner of Agriculture to regulate.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, with the advice and approval of the State Board of Agriculture, is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to make rules and regulations with respect to classification, operation and licensing of fairs, so as to insure that such fairs shall conform to the definition set out in G.S. 106‑520.1, and shall best promote the purposes of fairs as set out in such definition. The Commissioner of Agriculture, with the advice and approval of the State Board of Agriculture, may make rules and regulations that allow a person who has a concealed handgun permit that is valid under Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes to carry a handgun into a fair that is managed, operated, and conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the State Board of Agriculture. Every fair, and every exhibition using the word "fair" in its name, except fairs classified by the Commissioner of Agriculture as noncommercial community fairs, must comply with the standards, rules and regulations set up and promulgated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, and must secure a license from the Commissioner of Agriculture before such exhibition or fair is staged or operated. No license shall be issued for any such exhibition or fair unless it meets the standards and complies with the rules and regulations of the Commissioner of Agriculture with respect thereto."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.