A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to modify the motor fuel excise tax rate, to establish a transportation infrastructure access fee, to impose a road usage tax on certain motor carriers, to eliminate the statutory transfer of proceeds from the motor fuel excise tax, and to prohibit the construction of toll projects unless authorized pursuant to a local government referendum.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. MOTOR FUELS TAX RATE
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 105‑449.80 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105‑449.80.  Tax rate.
	The motor fuel excise tax rate is as follows:
(1)	A flat rate of nineteen cents (19¢) a gallon on diesel fuel.
(2)	A flat rate of nine cents (9¢) a gallon on all other motor fuels.

	"
SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 105‑449.107(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Sales Tax Amount. – Article 5 of Subchapter I of this Chapter determines the amount of State sales and use tax to be deducted under this section from a motor fuel excise tax refund. Articles 39, 40, and 42 of Subchapter VIII of this Chapter and the Mecklenburg First 1% Sales Tax Act determine the amount of local sales and use tax to be deducted under this section from a motor fuel excise tax refund."
SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 150B‑2(8a) reads as rewritten:
"(8a)	"Rule" means any agency regulation, standard, or statement of general applicability that implements or interprets an enactment of the General Assembly or Congress or a regulation adopted by a federal agency or that describes the procedure or practice requirements of an agency. The term includes the establishment of a fee and the amendment or repeal of a prior rule. The term does not include the following:
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j.	Establishment of the interest rate that applies to tax assessments under G.S. 105‑241.21.
…."
SECTION 1.(d)  This section becomes effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

PART II. INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS FEE
SECTION 2.(a)  Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20‑97.1.  Infrastructure Access Fee.
(a)	Fee. – In addition to the fees imposed by G.S. 20‑87 and G.S. 20‑88, the following fees are imposed on each vehicle; the fees are based on the weight of the vehicle:
SCHEDULE OF WEIGHTS AND FEES
	Amount
Not over 4,000 pounds	$100.00
4,001 to 9,000 pounds inclusive	$125.00
9,001 to 13,000 pounds inclusive	$150.00
13,001 to 17,000 pounds inclusive	$175.00
Over 17,000 pounds	$200.00
(b)	Payment Frequency. – The fees imposed under subsection (a) of this section are annual and due at the same time as the fees imposed by G.S. 20‑87 and G.S. 20‑88.
(c)	Exceptions. – This section shall not apply to any of the following:
(1)	A mobile home subject to G.S. 20‑87.
(2)	A semitrailer or trailer subject to G.S. 20‑88(c).
(3)	A motor vehicle eligible for a permanent registration plate under G.S. 20‑84.
(d)	Use of Proceeds. – Twenty‑five percent (25%) of the total revenue collected from the per‑vehicle fees imposed under subsection (a) of this section shall be credited to the North Carolina Highway Trust Fund. The remainder of the fee revenue shall be credited to the North Carolina Highway Fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no fee revenue generated under this section shall be transferred to the General Fund or to other State agencies or departments. Upon appropriation by the General Assembly, all fee revenue generated under this section shall be used by the Department of Transportation and for transportation purposes only."
SECTION 2.(b)  This section becomes effective January 1, 2017, and applies to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles on or after that date.

PART III. MOTOR CARRIER TAX
SECTION 3.(a)  Article 36B of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Article 36B.
"Taxes on Motor Carriers.
"§ 105‑449.37.  Definitions; tax liability; application.
…
(b)	Liability. – A motor carrier who operates on one or more days of a reporting period is liable for the taxes imposed by this Article for that reporting period and is entitled to the credits allowed for that reporting period.
(c)	Application. – A motor carrier who operates a qualified motor vehicle in this State must register the vehicle as provided in this Article and obtain the appropriate license and decals for the vehicle. The Article applies to both an interstate motor carrier subject to the International Fuel Tax Agreement and to an intrastate motor carrier.
"§ 105‑449.38.  Taxes levied.
(a)	Taxes Levied. – A road tax for the privilege of using the streets and highways of this State is imposed upon every motor carrier on (i) the amount of motor fuel or alternative fuel used by the carrier in its operations within this State and (ii) the frequency of the motor carrier's use of the streets and highways of this State. The tax on the amount of motor fuel or alternative fuel used by the carrier in its operations shall be at the rate established by the Secretary pursuant to G.S. 105‑449.80 or G.S. 105‑449.136, as appropriate. The tax on the frequency of the motor carrier's use of the streets and highways of this State shall be in accordance with the weight group tax rates set forth in subsection (b) of this section.
(b)	Weight Group Tax Rates. – The tax on the frequency of the motor carrier's use of the streets and highways of this State shall be computed by multiplying the mileage of travel in this State by the appropriate weight group tax rate as it appears in the tables below:

Weight Groups of 80,000 Pounds and Below
Declared Combined Weight Groups	Fee Rates Per Mile
	(Pounds)	(Mills)
26,001 to	28,000	49.8
28,001 to	30,000	52.8
30,001 to	32,000	55.2
32,001 to	34,000	57.6
34,001 to	36,000	59.9
36,001 to	38,000	63.0
38,001 to	40,000	65.4
40,001 to	42,000	67.7
42,001 to	44,000	70.2
44,001 to	46,000	72.6
46,001 to	48,000	74.9
48,001 to	50,000	77.4
50,001 to	52,000	80.3
52,001 to	54,000	83.3
54,001 to	56,000	86.4
56,001 to	58,000	90.0
58,001 to	60,000	94.1
60,001 to	62,000	99.0
62,001 to	64,000	104.5
64,001 to	66,000	110.4
66,001 to	68,000	118.3
68,001 to	70,000	126.6
70,001 to	72,000	135.0
72,001 to	74,000	142.7
74,001 to	76,000	150.0
76,001 to	78,000	157.2
78,001 to	80,000	163.8

Weight Groups of Above 80,000 Pounds
Declared Combined	Number of Axles and Fee Rates Per Mile
Weight Groups	5	6	7	8	9 or more
(Pounds)	(Mills)
80,001 to 82,000	169.2	154.8	144.7	137.4	129.6
82,001 to 84,000	174.7	157.2	147.0	139.2	131.3
84,001 to 86,000	179.9	160.9	149.4	140.9	133.2
86,001 to 88,000	186.0	164.3	151.8	143.4	135.0
88,001 to 90,000	193.2	168.6	154.3	145.8	137.4
90,001 to 92,000	201.6	173.4	156.5	148.2	139.8
92,001 to 94,000	210.7	178.2	159.0	150.5	141.7
94,001 to 96,000	220.2	183.6	162.0	153.0	143.9
96,001 to 98,000	230.4	190.2	165.6	155.5	146.4
98,001 to 100,000	197.3	169.2	158.4	148.8
100,001 to 102,000	172.8	162.0	151.3
102,001 to 104,000	176.4	165.6	154.3
104,001 to 105,500	181.1	169.2	157.2
(c)	Declared Combined Weight. – The declared combined weight of a motor carrier shall be determined in accordance with G.S. 20‑88.
(d)	Construction. – Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the imposition or assessment of other taxes and fees required by law.
(e)	Prohibition on Use of Funds. – Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no revenue generated under this section shall be transferred to the General Fund or to other State agencies or departments. Upon appropriation by the General Assembly, all revenue generated under this section shall be used by the Department of Transportation and for transportation purposes only.
"§ 105‑449.39.  Credit for payment of motor fuel tax.
Every motor carrier subject to the tax levied by this Article on the amount of motor fuel or alternative fuel used by the motor carrier is entitled to a credit on its quarterly return for tax paid by the carrier on fuel purchased in the State. The amount of the credit is determined using the motor fuel excise tax rate in effect during the quarter covered by the return. To obtain a credit, the motor carrier must furnish evidence satisfactory to the Secretary that the tax for which the credit is claimed has been paid.
If the amount of a credit to which a motor carrier is entitled for a quarter exceeds the motor carrier's liability for that quarter, the excess is refundable in accordance with G.S. 105‑241.7.
"§ 105‑449.40.  Secretary may require bond.
(a)	Authority. – The Secretary may require a motor carrier to furnish a bond when any of the following occurs:
(1)	The motor carrier fails to file a return within the time required by this Article.
(2)	The motor carrier fails to pay the taxes when due under this Article.
(3)	After auditing the motor carrier's records, the Secretary determines that a bond is needed to protect the State from loss in collecting the taxes due under this Article.
(b)	Amount. – A bond required of a motor carrier under this section may not be more than the larger of the following amounts:
(1)	Five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(2)	Four times the motor carrier's average tax liability or refund for a reporting period.
A bond must be in the form required by the Secretary.
…
"§ 105‑449.42.  Payment of tax.
The taxes levied by this Article are due when a motor carrier files a quarterly return under G.S. 105‑449.45. The amount of tax due on the amount of motor fuel or alternative fuel used by the motor carrier is calculated on the amount of motor fuel or alternative fuel used by the motor carrier in its operations within this State during the quarter covered by the return. The amount of tax due on the frequency of the motor carrier's use of the streets and highways of this State is calculated in accordance with G.S. 105‑449.38(b) for the quarter covered by the return.
…
"§ 105‑449.44.  How to determine the amount of fuel used in the State; presumption of amount used.
(a)	Calculation. – The amount of motor fuel or alternative fuel a motor carrier uses in its operations in this State for a reporting period is the number of miles the motor carrier travels in this State during that period divided by the calculated miles per gallon for the motor carrier for all qualified motor vehicles during that period.
(b)	Presumption. – The Secretary must check returns filed under this Article against the weigh station records and other records of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation and the State Highway Patrol of the Department of Public Safety concerning motor carriers to determine if motor carriers that are operating in this State are filing the returns required by this Article. If the records indicate that a motor carrier operated in this State in a quarter and either did not file a return for that quarter or understated its mileage in this State on a return filed for that quarter by at least twenty‑five percent (25%), the Secretary may assess the motor carrier for an amount based on the motor carrier's presumed operations. The motor carrier is presumed to have mileage in this State equal to 10 trips of 450 miles each for each of the motor carrier's qualified motor vehicles and to have fuel usage of four miles per gallon.
(c)	Vehicles. – The number of qualified motor vehicles of a motor carrier that is registered under this Article is the number of sets of decals issued to the carrier. The number of qualified motor vehicles of a carrier that is not registered under this Article is the number of qualified motor vehicles registered by the motor carrier in the carrier's base state under the International Registration Plan.
…
"§ 105‑449.46.  Inspection of books and records.
The Secretary and his authorized agents and representatives shall have the right at any reasonable time to inspect the books and records of any motor carrier subject to the taxes imposed by this Article or to the registration fee imposed by Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes.
"§ 105‑449.47.  Registration of vehicles.
(a)	Requirement. – A motor carrier may not operate or cause to be operated in this State a qualified motor vehicle unless both the motor carrier and at least one qualified motor vehicle are registered as provided in this subsection. This subsection applies to a motor carrier that operates a recreational vehicle that is considered a qualified motor vehicle. A motor carrier that is subject to the International Fuel Tax Agreement must register with the motor carrier's base state jurisdiction. A motor carrier that is not subject to the International Fuel Tax Agreement must register with the Secretary for purposes of the taxes imposed by this Article.
…
"§ 105‑449.49.  Temporary permits.
…
(b)	Refusal. – The Secretary may refuse to issue a temporary permit to any of the following:
(1)	A motor carrier whose registration has been withheld or revoked.
(2)	A motor carrier who the Secretary determines is evading payment of taxes through the successive purchase of temporary permits.
…
"§ 105‑449.57.  Cooperative agreements between jurisdictions.
(a)	Authority. – The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with other jurisdictions for exchange of information in administering the taxes imposed by this Article. No agreement, arrangement, declaration, or amendment to an agreement is effective until stated in writing and approved by the Secretary.
(b)	Content. – An agreement may provide for determining the base state for motor carriers, records requirements, audit procedures, exchange of information, persons eligible for tax licensing, defining qualified motor vehicles, determining if bonding is required, specifying reporting requirements and periods, including defining uniform penalty and interest rates for late reporting, determining methods for collecting and forwarding of motor carrier taxes and penalties to another jurisdiction, and any other provisions that will facilitate the administration of the agreement.
(c)	Disclosure. – In accordance with G.S. 105‑259, the Secretary may, as required by the terms of an agreement, forward to officials of another jurisdiction any information in the Department's possession relative to the use of motor fuel or alternative fuel by any motor carrier. The Secretary may disclose to officials of another jurisdiction the location of offices, motor vehicles, and other real and personal property of motor carriers.
(d)	Audits. – An agreement may provide for each jurisdiction to audit the records of motor carriers based in the jurisdiction to determine if the taxes due each jurisdiction are properly reported and paid. Each jurisdiction must forward the findings of the audits performed on motor carriers based in the jurisdiction to each jurisdiction in which the carrier has taxes due. For motor carriers not based in this State, the Secretary may utilize the audit findings received from another jurisdiction as the basis upon which to propose assessments of taxes against the carrier as though the audit had been conducted by the Secretary. Penalties and interest must be assessed at the rates provided in the agreement.
…."
SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2017.

PART IV. ELIMINATE STATUTORY TRANSFERS OF PROCEEDS FROM MOTOR FUEL EXCISE TAX
SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 75A‑3(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The Boating Account is established within the Wildlife Resources Fund created under G.S. 143‑250. Interest and other investment income earned by the Account accrues to the Account. All moneys collected pursuant to the numbering and titling provisions of this Chapter shall be credited to this Account. The Commission shall use revenue in the Account, subject to the Executive Budget Act and the Personnel Act, for the administration and enforcement of this Chapter; for activities relating to boating and water safety including education and waterway marking and improvement; and for boating access area acquisition, development, and maintenance. The Commission shall use at least three dollars ($3.00) of each one‑year certificate of number fee and at least nine dollars ($9.00) of each three‑year certificate of number fee collected under the numbering provisions of G.S. 75A‑5 for boating access area acquisition, development, and maintenance. The Commission shall transfer on a quarterly basis fifty percent (50%) of each one‑year certificate of number fee and fifty percent (50%) of each three‑year certificate of number fee collected under the numbering provisions of G.S. 75A‑5 to the Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging and Lake Maintenance Fund established by G.S. 143‑215.73F."
SECTION 4.(b)  G.S. 105‑449.125 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105‑449.125.  Distribution of tax revenue among various funds and accounts.

	

	
The Secretary shall allocate seventy‑five percent (75%) of the excise tax revenue collected under this Article to the Highway Fund and shall allocate twenty‑five percent (25%) to the Highway Trust Fund.
The Secretary shall charge a proportionate share of a refund allowed under this Article to each fund or account to which revenue collected under this Article is credited. The Secretary shall credit revenue or charge refunds to the appropriate funds or accounts on a monthly basis."
SECTION 4.(c)  G.S. 105‑449.126 is repealed.
SECTION 4.(d)  G.S. 136‑41.1(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Upon appropriation of funds by the General Assembly from the Highway Fund to municipalities for State street‑aid, one‑half of the amount appropriated shall be allocated in cash on or before October 1 of each year to the cities and towns of the State in accordance with this section. The second one‑half of the amount appropriated shall be allocated in cash on or before January 1 of each year to the cities and towns of the State in accordance with this section.
…."
SECTION 4.(e)  G.S. 143‑215.3A(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Water and Air Quality Account is established as an account within the Department. Revenue in the Account shall be applied to the costs of administering the programs for which the fees were collected. Any funds appropriated by the General Assembly from the Highway Fund to the Account shall be used to administer the air quality program. Any funds credited to the Account from fees collected for laboratory facility certifications under G.S. 143‑215.3(a)(10) that are not expended at the end of each fiscal year for the purposes for which these fees may be used under G.S. 143‑215.3(a)(10) shall revert. Any other funds credited to the Account that are not expended at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert. Except for the following fees, all application fees and permit administration fees collected by the State for permits issued under Articles 21, 21A, 21B, and 38 of this Chapter shall be credited to the Account:
(1)	Fees collected under Part 2 of Article 21A and credited to the Oil or Other Hazardous Substances Pollution Protection Fund.
(2)	Fees credited to the Title V Account.
(3)	Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑454, s. 7, effective January 1, 2006.
(4)	Fees collected under G.S. 143‑215.28A.
(5)	Fees collected under G.S. 143‑215.94C shall be credited to the Commercial Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund."
SECTION 4.(f)  G.S. 143‑215.73F reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑215.73F.  Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging and Lake Maintenance Fund.
The Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging and Lake Maintenance Fund is established as a special revenue fund. The Fund consists of fees credited to it under G.S. 75A‑3 and G.S. 75A‑38. Revenue in the Fund may only be used to provide the State's share of the costs associated with any dredging project designed to keep shallow draft navigation channels located in State waters or waters of the state located within lakes navigable and safe, or for aquatic weed control projects in waters of the State located within lakes under Article 15 of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes. Funding for aquatic weed control projects is limited to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in each fiscal year. Any project funded by revenue from the Fund must be cost‑shared with non‑State dollars on a one‑to‑one basis, provided that the cost‑share for a lake located within a component of the State Parks System shall be provided by the Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Division of Parks and Recreation may use funds allocated to the State Parks System for capital projects under G.S. 113‑44.15 for the cost‑share. For purposes of this section, "shallow draft navigation channel" means (i) a waterway connection with a maximum depth of 16 feet between the Atlantic Ocean and a bay or the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, (ii) a river entrance to the Atlantic Ocean through which tidal and other currents flow, or (iii) other interior coastal waterways. "Shallow draft navigation channel" includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and its side channels, Beaufort Harbor, Bogue Inlet, Carolina Beach Inlet, the channel from Back Sound to Lookout Back, channels connected to federal navigation channels, Lockwoods Folly River, Manteo/Shallowbag Bay, including Oregon Inlet, Masonboro Inlet, New River, New Topsail Inlet, Rodanthe, Rollinson, Shallotte River, Silver Lake Harbor, and the waterway connecting Pamlico Sound and Beaufort Harbor."
SECTION 4.(g)  Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑5‑2, and beginning in the 2017‑2018 fiscal year, appropriations of recurring funds from the Highway Fund shall be made according to the following schedule:
(1)	One hundred forty‑six million six hundred forty thousand dollars ($146,640,000) to the Department of Transportation to be allocated and used in accordance with G.S. 136‑41.1.
(2)	Two million three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($2,350,000) to the Wildlife Resources Fund to be used in accordance with G.S. 143‑250.
(3)	Eight million three hundred fifty‑nine thousand sixty‑three dollars ($8,359,063) to the Water and Air Quality Account to be used in accordance with G.S. 143‑215.3A(a).
(4)	Two million three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($2,350,000) to the Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging and Lake Maintenance Fund to be used in accordance with G.S. 143‑215.73F.
(5)	Fifteen million eight hundred eighty‑two thousand two hundred nineteen dollars ($15,882,219) to the Commercial Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund to be used in accordance with G.S. 143‑215.94B.
(6)	Two million five hundred seven thousand seven hundred nineteen dollars ($2,507,719) to the Noncommercial Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund to be used in accordance with G.S. 143‑215.94D.
SECTION 4.(h)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2017.

PART V. PROHIBITION ON NEW TOLLING, SUBJECT TO A LOCAL REFERENDUM
SECTION 5.(a)  G.S. 136‑11.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑11.1.  Local consultation on transportation projects; toll project referendum.
(a)	Requirement. – Prior to any action of the Board on a transportation project, the Department shall inform all municipalities and counties affected by a planned transportation project and request each affected municipality or county to submit within 45 days a written resolution expressing their views on the project. A municipality or county may designate a Transportation Advisory Committee to submit its response to the Department's request for a resolution. Upon receipt of a written resolution from all affected municipalities and counties or their designees, or the expiration of the 45‑day period, whichever occurs first, the Board may take action. The Department and the Board shall consider, but shall not be bound by, the views of the affected municipalities and counties on each transportation project. The failure of a county or municipality to express its views within the time provided shall not prevent the Department or the Board from taking action. The Department shall not be required to send notice under this section if it has already received a written resolution from the affected county or municipality on the planned transportation project. "Action of the Board", as used in this section, means approval by the Board of: the Transportation Improvement Program and amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program; the Secondary Roads Paving Program and amendments to the Secondary Roads Paving Program; and individual applications for access and public service road projects, contingency projects, small urban projects, and spot safety projects that exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). The 45‑day notification provision may be waived upon a finding by the Secretary of Transportation that emergency action is required. Such findings must be reported to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee.
(b)	Toll Project Referendum. – Effective August 1, 2015, the Department or the Turnpike Authority, as applicable, shall not establish or construct a road, bridge, or tunnel project that will be financed with tolls, user fees, or any other direct charge to users of the transportation infrastructure, unless approved by a majority of the voters in each of the counties in which the road, bridge, or tunnel project will be located. The Department or the Turnpike Authority, as applicable, may direct the respective county board or boards of elections to conduct an advisory referendum on the question of whether the Department or the Turnpike Authority, as applicable, may establish or construct a road, bridge, or tunnel project in the county that will be financed with tolls, user fees, or any other direct charge to users of the transportation infrastructure. The election shall be held on a date jointly agreed upon by the Department or the Turnpike Authority, as applicable, the county board or boards of commissioners, and the county board or boards of elections and shall be held on a date permitted by and in accordance with the procedures of G.S. 163‑287."
SECTION 5.(b)  G.S. 136‑18 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑18.  Powers of Department of Transportation.
The said Department of Transportation is vested with the following powers:
…
(39)	To enter into partnership agreements with private entities, and authorized political subdivisions to finance, by tolls, contracts, and other financing methods authorized by law, the cost of acquiring, constructing, equipping, maintaining, and operating transportation infrastructure in this State, and to plan, design, develop, acquire, construct, equip, maintain, and operate transportation infrastructure in this State, provided that the Department shall not enter into any partnership agreement or any construction contract under a partnership agreement providing for financing with tolls, user fees, or any other direct charge to users of the transportation infrastructure on or after August 1, 2015, unless authorized pursuant to a referendum under G.S. 136‑11.1. An agreement entered into under this subdivision requires the concurrence of the Board of Transportation. The Department shall report to the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, the Chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Department of Transportation, at the same time it notifies the Board of Transportation of any proposed agreement under this subdivision. No contract for transportation infrastructure subject to such an agreement that commits the Department to make nonretainage payments for undisputed capital costs of a completed transportation infrastructure to be made later than 18 months after final acceptance by the Department of such transportation infrastructure shall be executed without approval of the Local Government Commission. Any contracts for construction of highways, roads, streets, and bridges which are awarded pursuant to an agreement entered into under this section shall comply with the competitive bidding requirements of Article 2 of this Chapter.
(39a)	a.	The Department of Transportation or Turnpike Authority, as applicable, may enter into up to three agreements with a private entity as provided under subdivision (39) of this section for which the provisions of this section apply.
…
f.	Agreements entered into under this subdivision shall comply with the following additional provisions:
1.	The Department shall solicit proposals for agreements.
2.	Agreement shall be limited to no more than 50 years from the date of the beginning of operations on the toll facility.
3.	Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 136‑89.183(a)(5), and subject to the limitation on tolling set forth in subdivision (39) of this section, all initial tolls or fees to be charged by a private entity shall be reviewed by the Turnpike Authority Board. Prior to setting toll rates, either a set rate or a minimum and maximum rate set by the private entity, the private entity shall hold a public hearing on the toll rates, including an explanation of the toll setting methodology, in accordance with guidelines for the hearing developed by the Department. After tolls go into effect, the private entity shall report to the Turnpike Authority Board 30 days prior to any increase in toll rates or change in the toll setting methodology by the private entity from the previous toll rates or toll setting methodology last reported to the Turnpike Authority Board.
…."
SECTION 5.(c)  G.S. 136‑89.183 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑89.183.  Powers of the Authority.
(a)	The Authority shall have all of the powers necessary to execute the provisions of this Article, including the following:
…
(2)	To study, plan, develop, and undertake preliminary design work on up to nine Turnpike Projects. At the conclusion of these activities, the Turnpike Authority is authorized to design, establish, purchase, construct, operate, and maintain the following projects:
a.	Triangle Expressway, including segments also known as N.C. 540, Triangle Parkway, and the Western Wake Freeway in Wake and Durham Counties. The described segments constitute three projects.
b.	Repealed by Session Laws 2013‑183, s. 5.1, effective July 1, 2013.
c.	Monroe Connector/Bypass.
d.,	e. Repealed by Session Laws 2013‑183, s. 5.1, effective July 1, 2013.
Any other project proposed by the Authority in addition to the projects listed in this subdivision requires (i) authorization pursuant to a referendum under G.S. 136‑11.1 and (ii) prior consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations pursuant to G.S. 120‑76.1 no less than 180 days prior to initiating the process required by Article 7 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes.
With the exception of the four projects set forth in sub‑subdivisions a. and c. of this subdivision, the Turnpike projects selected for construction by the Turnpike Authority, prior to the letting of a contract for the project, shall meet the following conditions: (i) two of the projects must be ranked in the top 35 based on total score on the Department‑produced list entitled "Mobility Fund Project Scores" dated June 6, 2012, and, in addition, may be subject to G.S. 136‑18(39a); (ii) of the projects not ranked as provided in (i), one may be subject to G.S. 136‑18(39a); (iii) the projects shall be included in any applicable locally adopted comprehensive transportation plans; (iv) the projects shall be shown in the current State Transportation Improvement Program; and (v) toll projects must be approved by all affected Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Transportation Planning Organizations for tolling.
f.	Repealed by Session Laws 2008‑225, s. 4, effective August 17, 2008.
Any other project proposed by the Authority in addition to the projects listed in this subdivision must be approved by the General Assembly prior to construction.
A Turnpike Project selected for construction by the Turnpike Authority shall be included in any applicable locally adopted comprehensive transportation plans and shall be shown in the current State Transportation Improvement Plan prior to the letting of a contract for the Turnpike Project.
…
(5)	To fix, revise, charge, retain, enforce, and collect tolls and fees for the use of the Turnpike Projects, provided that the Authority shall not establish or increase any tolls, user fees, or any other direct charge to users of a Turnpike Project on or after August 1, 2015, except (i) as necessary to satisfy construction bonds and other contractual financial obligations entered into prior to August 1, 2015, or (ii) unless authorized pursuant to a referendum under G.S. 136‑11.1.
…."
SECTION 5.(d)  G.S. 136‑89.198 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑89.198.  Authority to toll existing interstate highways.
(a)	General. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the Authority may collect tolls established prior to August 1, 2015, on any existing interstate highway for which the United States Department of Transportation has granted permission by permit, or any other lawful means, to do so. The revenue generated from the collected tolls shall be used by the Authority to repair and maintain the interstate on which the tolls were collected. These revenues shall not be used to repair, maintain, or upgrade any State primary or secondary road adjacent to or connected with the interstate highways.
…."
SECTION 5.(e)  G.S. 136‑89.199 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑89.199.  Designation of high‑occupancy toll and managed lanes.
(a)	Authority. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the Authority may designate one or more lanes of any highway, or portion thereof, within the State, including lanes that may previously have been designated as HOV lanes under G.S. 20‑146.2, as high‑occupancy toll (HOT) or other type of managed lanes; provided, however, that such designation shall not reduce the number of existing non‑toll general purpose lanes. In making such designations, the Authority shall specify the high‑occupancy requirement or other conditions for use of such lanes, which may include restricting vehicle types, access controls, or the payment of tolls for vehicles that do not meet the high‑occupancy requirements or conditions for use.
(b)	Limitation. – The Authority may not designate any new high‑occupancy toll lanes or increase tolls on existing high‑occupancy toll lanes after August 1, 2015, unless authorized pursuant to a referendum under G.S. 136‑11.1."
SECTION 5.(f)  G.S. 136‑89.211 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑89.211.  Tolls for use of Turnpike project.
In exercising its authority under G.S. 136‑89.183 to set tolls for the use of a Turnpike project, the Authority may not do any of the following:
(1)	Set open road tolls that vary for the same class of motor vehicle depending on the method by which the Authority identifies a motor vehicle that drives on the Turnpike project. This does not preclude the Authority from allowing a discount for a motor vehicle equipped with an electronic toll collection transponder or a motor vehicle that has prepaid its toll.
(2)	Exempt a motor vehicle that is not a law enforcement vehicle, an emergency fire or rescue vehicle, or an emergency medical services vehicle from the requirement of paying a toll for the use of a Turnpike project.
(3)	Establish a new toll or increase an existing toll after August 1, 2015, except (i) as necessary to satisfy construction bonds and other contractual financial obligations entered into prior to August 1, 2015, or (ii) unless authorized pursuant to a referendum under G.S. 136‑11.1."
SECTION 5.(g)  G.S. 136‑89.212 reads as rewritten:
"§ 136‑89.212.  Payment of toll required for use of tolled Turnpike projects.
(a)	A motor vehicle that is driven on a tolled Turnpike project is subject to a toll imposed by the Authority for the use of the project. If the toll is an open road toll, the person who is the registered owner of the motor vehicle is liable for payment of the toll unless the registered owner establishes that the motor vehicle was in the care, custody, and control of another person when it was driven on the Turnpike project.
…."
SECTION 5.(h)  Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering or superseding the time frame in which projects programmed in the five‑year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) are to be completed. All projects programmed in the five‑year STIP shall be completed on schedule.
SECTION 5.(i)  This section becomes effective August 1, 2015.

PART VI. HEADINGS/EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 6.  The headings to the parts of this act are a convenience to the reader and are for reference only. The headings do not expand, limit, or define the text of this act.
SECTION 7.  Except as otherwise provided in this act, this act is effective when it becomes law.