H1044 - Law Enforcement Omnibus Bill. (SL 2016-87)

Overview: S.L. 2016-87 does all of the following:

• Creates a "Blue Alert System" to aid in the apprehension of a person suspected of killing or inflicting serious bodily injury upon a law enforcement officer.
• Permits the designee of the head or chief of a law enforcement agency to request confiscated firearms to be turned over to the law enforcement agency for official use, sale, trade, or exchange.
• Modifies the description of cognitive impairments that trigger a Silver Alert for missing persons.
• Authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to refuse vehicle registration for failure to pay civil penalties and fees incurred for violating size, weight, construction, and equipment restrictions. This provision becomes effective October 1, 2016, and applies to violations committed on or after that date.
• Expands the definition of "emergency" under the North Carolina Emergency Management Act.
• Permits the Samarcand Academy to sell merchandise and services to the public.
• Provides that persons hired by a State agency, department or university in a forensic scientist position and who are required to complete formal training before assuming their forensic scientist duties must be employed for 24 consecutive months in order to become career State employees.

Except as otherwise provided, this act became effective July 11, 2016.