GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2017
S 7
SENATE BILL 114
Judiciary Committee Substitute Adopted 4/11/17
Finance Committee Substitute Adopted 5/24/17
Fourth Edition Engrossed 6/26/17
House Committee Substitute Favorable 6/27/17
House Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 6/28/17
Seventh Edition Engrossed 6/28/17
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Short Title: Annual Reports/Prop. Tax/Recodification Comm. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
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Referred to: |
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February 22, 2017
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT revising the laws governing the submission of annual reports by various business entities to the secretary of state; conforming the treatment of leasehold interests in exempt property to that of other types of intangible personal property for purposes of the property tax; and creating the criminal code recodification commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
PART I. BUSINESS CORPORATIONS
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 55‑16‑22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 55‑16‑22. Annual report.
(a) Requirement. – Except
as provided in subsections (a1) and subsection (a2) of this
section, each domestic corporation and each foreign corporation authorized to
transact business in this State shall deliver submit an annual
report to the Secretary of Revenue in paper form or, in the alternative, directly
to the Secretary of State in electronic form as prescribed by the Secretary
of State under this section.
(a1) Each insurance company subject to the provisions
of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes shall deliver an annual report to the
Secretary of State.
(a2) Professional
Corporations Exempt. – A domestic corporation governed by Chapter
55B of the General Statutes is exempt from this section.
(a3) Form; Required
Information. – The annual report required by this section shall be in a an
electronic form jointly prescribed by the Secretary of Revenue
and the Secretary of State. The Secretary of Revenue shall provide the
form needed to file an annual report. The State, and the Secretary
of State shall prescribe the form needed to file an annual report
electronically and shall provide this form by electronic means. The annual
report shall set forth all of the following:
(1) The name of the corporation and the state or country under whose law it is incorporated.
(2) The street address, and
the mailing address if different from the street address, of the registered
office, the county in which its registered office is located, and the
name and e‑mail address of its registered agent at that office in
this State, and a statement of any change of such the registered
office or registered agent, or both.agent.
(3) The address and telephone number of its principal office.
(4) The names, titles, and
business street addresses of its principal officers.officers
and the name, mailing address, e‑mail address, and telephone number of an
individual who is authorized to provide information regarding persons with
authority to bind the corporation.
…
(5) A brief description of the nature of its business.
(6) A valid e‑mail address for the corporation, if different from the e‑mail address provided under subdivision (2) of this subsection.
If the information contained in the
most recently filed annual report has not changed, a certification to that
effect may be made instead of setting forth the information required by
subdivisions (2) through (5) of this subsection.
(b) Currency of Information. – Information in the annual report must be current as of the date the annual report is executed on behalf of the corporation.
(c) Due Date. – An annual
report eligible to be delivered to the Secretary of Revenue is due by the
due date for filing the corporation's income and franchise tax returns. An
extension of time to file a return is an extension of time to file an annual
report. At the option of the filer, an annual report may be filed directly with
the Secretary of State in electronic form. An annual report required to be
delivered to the Secretary of State is due by the fifteenth day of the
fourth month following the close of the domestic or foreign corporation's
fiscal year.
(d) Incomplete
Information. – If an annual report does not contain the information
required by this section, the Secretary of State shall promptly notify the
reporting domestic or foreign corporation in writing and return the report to
it for correction. If the report is corrected to contain the information
required by this section and delivered submitted to the Secretary
of State within 30 days after the effective date of notice, it is deemed to be
timely filed.
(e) Amendments. – Amendments
to any previously filed annual report may be filed submitted for
filing with the Secretary of State at any time for the purpose of
correcting, updating, or augmenting the information contained in the annual
report.
…
(g) When a statement of change of registered office
or registered agent is filed in the annual report, the change shall become
effective when the statement is received by the Secretary of State.
(h) Delinquency. – If
the Secretary of State does not receive an annual report within 120 60
days of the date the return report is due, the Secretary of
State may presume that the annual report is delinquent. This presumption may be
rebutted by receipt of the annual report from the Secretary of Revenue or by
evidence satisfactory to the Secretary of State of delivery submission
presented by the filing corporation.
(i) E‑Mail; Confidentiality. – The Secretary of State may provide by e‑mail any notice or form required under this section if the submitting domestic or foreign corporation to be notified has consented to receiving notices and forms via e‑mail and has provided the Secretary of State an e‑mail address for receiving the notices or forms. Any e‑mail address provided by a submitting domestic or foreign corporation in accordance with this section shall be considered confidential information and shall not be subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 55‑14‑22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 55‑14‑22. Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.
…
(b) If the Secretary of
State determines that the application contains the information required by
subsection (a) of this section, that the information is correct, and that
the name of the corporation complies with G.S. 55D‑21 and any other
applicable section, and that any penalties, fees, or other payments due
under this Chapter have been paid, the Secretary of State shall cancel the
certificate of dissolution and prepare a certificate of reinstatement that
recites the Secretary of State's determination and the effective date of
reinstatement, file the original of the certificate, and mail a copy to the
corporation.
…."
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 55‑1‑22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 55‑1‑22. Filing, service, and copying fees.
(a) The Secretary of State shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this subsection are delivered to the Secretary for filing:
Document Fee
…
(23) Annual report (paper) 25.00
(23a) Annual report
(electronic) 18.00125.00
…
(d) The fee for the annual
report in subdivision (23) (23a) of subsection (a) of this
section is nonrefundable."
SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 105‑256.1 and G.S. 105‑228.90(a)(2) are repealed.
PART II. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 57D‑2‑24 reads as rewritten:
"§ 57D‑2‑24. Annual report for Secretary of State.
(a) Requirement. – Excluding
professional limited liability companies governed by G.S. 57D‑2‑02,
each LLC and each foreign LLC authorized to transact business in this State must
deliver shall submit an annual report to the Secretary of State for
filing annual reports on a in electronic form as prescribed by,
and in the manner required by, by the Secretary of State and as
otherwise provided in subsection (b)subsections (b) and (b1) of
this section. Each annual report must specify the year for which the report
applies and provide the information required by this subsection. The
information must be current as of the date the limited liability company
completes the report. If the information in the limited liability company's
most recent annual report has not changed, the limited liability company may
certify in its annual report that the information has not changed in lieu of
restating the information.
(a1) Required Information. – The following information must be included in each annual report:
(1) The name of the limited liability company and, in the case of a foreign LLC, any different name that the foreign LLC is authorized under Article 3 of Chapter 55D of the General Statutes to use to transact business in this State, as provided in the foreign LLC's certificate of authority.
(2) In the case of a foreign LLC, the name of the jurisdiction under whose law the foreign LLC is organized.
(3) The street address, and the mailing address if different from the street address, of the limited liability company's registered office in the State, the county in which the registered office is located, the name and e‑mail address of its registered agent at that office, and a statement of any change of the registered office or registered agent.
(4) The address and telephone number of its principal office.
(5) The names, titles, and
business street addresses of the limited liability company's principal
company officials.managers, principal company officials, and the name,
mailing address, e‑mail address, and telephone number of an individual
who is authorized to provide information regarding persons with the authority
to bind the LLC.
(6) A brief description of the nature of its business.
(7) A valid e‑mail address for the limited liability company, if different from the e‑mail address provided under subdivision (3) of this subsection.
(b) Due Date for Initial
Annual Report. – The Secretary of State must notify limited liability
companies of the annual report filing requirement. The first annual report of a
limited liability company is due to be delivered submitted to the
Secretary of State by April 15 of the year following (i) in the case of an LLC,
the calendar year in which the LLC's articles of organization or articles of
organization and conversion filed by the Secretary of State become effective or
(ii) in the case of a foreign LLC, the calendar year in which the Secretary of
State issues to the foreign LLC a certificate of authority to transact business
in this State.
(b1) Due Date for Subsequent Annual Reports. – The
limited liability company shall deliver submit an annual report
by April 15 of each subsequent year until (i) in the case of an LLC, the
effective date of its articles of dissolution filed by the Secretary of State
or the effective date of either a certificate of dissolution for an LLC that is
not reinstated under G.S. 57D‑6‑06(c) or a decree of
dissolution that is filed by the Secretary of State as provided in
G.S. 57D‑6‑05; (ii) in the case of a foreign LLC, the foreign
LLC receives a certificate of withdrawal from the Secretary of State or the
Secretary of State revokes the foreign LLC's certificate of authority under
Part 3 of Article 7 of this Chapter; or (iii) in the case of either an LLC or
foreign LLC, the effective date of a merger or conversion under Article 9 of
this Chapter in which the limited liability company is a merging entity or a
converting entity but not the surviving entity.
(c) Incomplete
Information. – If an annual report does not contain the information
required by this section, the Secretary of State shall promptly notify the
reporting limited liability company in writing and return the report to it for
correction. If the report is corrected to contain the information required by
this section and delivered submitted to the Secretary of State
within 30 days after the effective date of notice, it is deemed to be timely delivered.submitted.
(d) Amendments. – Amendments
to any previously filed annual report may be delivered submitted for
filing by to the Secretary of State at any time for the purpose
of correcting, updating, or augmenting the information contained in the annual
report.
(e) E‑Mail; Confidentiality. – The Secretary of State may provide by e‑mail any notice or form required under this section if the submitting LLC to be notified has consented to receiving notices and forms via e‑mail and has provided the Secretary of State an e‑mail address for receiving the notices or forms. Any e‑mail address provided by a submitting LLC in accordance with this section shall be considered confidential information and shall not be subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 57D‑1‑22(a)(28) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Secretary of State shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this subsection are delivered to the Secretary of State for filing:
Document Fee
…
(28) Annual
report 200.00125.00
…."
SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 57D‑6‑06(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) An LLC
administratively dissolved under this section may apply to the Secretary of
State for reinstatement. The procedures for reinstatement and for the appeal of
any denial of the LLC's application for reinstatement are the same as those
applicable to a domestic corporation under G.S. 55‑14‑22, 55‑14‑23,
and 55‑14‑24.55‑14‑24, except that any
penalties, fees, or other payments due under this Chapter must have been paid
prior to reinstatement. If, at the time the LLC applies for reinstatement,
the name of the LLC is not distinguishable from the name of another entity
authorized to be used under G.S. 55D‑21, then the LLC must change
its name to a name that is distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of
State from the name of the other entity before the Secretary of State may
prepare a certificate of reinstatement. The effect of reinstatement of an LLC
is the same as for a domestic corporation under G.S. 55‑14‑22."
PART III. NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS
SECTION 3.(a) Article 16 of Chapter 55A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 55A‑16‑22.1. Annual report for the Secretary of State.
(a) Requirement. – Each domestic corporation and each foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs in this State shall submit an annual report to the Secretary of State in electronic form as prescribed by the Secretary of State that sets forth all of the following:
(1) The name of the corporation and the state or country under whose law it is incorporated.
(2) The street address and the mailing address, if different from the street address of the registered office, the county in which its registered office is located, the name and e‑mail address of its registered agent at that office in this State, and a statement of any change of the registered office or registered agent.
(3) The address and telephone number of its principal office.
(4) The names, titles, and business street addresses of its principal officers and the name, mailing address, e‑mail address, and telephone number of an individual who is authorized to provide information regarding persons with authority to bind the corporation.
(5) A brief description of the nature of its activities.
(6) A valid e‑mail address for the corporation, if different from the e‑mail address provided under subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(b) Currency of Information. – The information in the annual report shall be current as of the date the annual report is executed on behalf of the corporation.
(c) Due Date. – The corporation shall submit an annual report to the Secretary of State by November 15 of each year, beginning with the year following the formation of the corporation. An annual report is due each year until the effective date of a voluntary or judicial dissolution.
(d) Incomplete Information. – If an annual report does not contain the information required by this section, the Secretary of State shall promptly notify the reporting corporation in writing and return the report to it for correction. If the report is corrected to contain the information required by this section and submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days after the effective date of notice, it is deemed to be timely submitted.
(e) Amendments. – Amendments to any previously filed annual report may be submitted for filing to the Secretary of State at any time for the purpose of correcting, updating, or augmenting the information contained in the annual report.
(f) Delinquency. – If the Secretary of State does not receive an annual report within 60 days of the date the report is due, the Secretary of State may presume that the annual report is delinquent. This presumption may be rebutted by evidence of delivery presented by the filing corporation.
(g) E‑Mail; Confidentiality. – The Secretary of State may provide by e‑mail any notice or form required under this section if the submitting domestic or foreign corporation to be notified has consented to receiving notices and forms via e‑mail and has provided the Secretary of State an e‑mail address for receiving the notices or forms. Any e‑mail address provided by a submitting corporation in accordance with this section shall be considered confidential information and shall not be subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 55A‑14‑20 reads as rewritten:
"§ 55A‑14‑20. Grounds for administrative dissolution.
The Secretary of State may commence
a proceeding under G.S. 55A‑14‑21 to dissolve administratively
a corporation if:if any of the following occurs:
(1) The corporation does not
pay within 60 days after they are due any penalties, fees, or other payments
due under this Chapter;Chapter.
(2a) The corporation is delinquent in submitting its annual report.
(3) The corporation is
without a registered agent or registered office in this State for 60 days or more;more.
(4) The corporation does not
notify the Secretary of State within 60 days that its registered agent or
registered office has been changed, that its registered agent has resigned, or
that its registered office has been discontinued;discontinued.
(5) The corporation's period
of duration stated in its articles of incorporation expires;expires.
(6) The corporation knowingly
fails or refuses to answer truthfully and fully within the time prescribed in
this Chapter interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of State in accordance
with the provisions of this Chapter; orChapter.
(7) The corporation does not designate the address of its principal office with the Secretary of State or does not notify the Secretary of State within 60 days that the principal office has changed."
SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 55A‑14‑22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 55A‑14‑22. Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.
…
(b) If the Secretary of
State determines that the application contains the information required by
subsection (a) of this section, that the information is correct, and that
the name of the corporation complies with G.S. 55D‑21 and any other
applicable section, and that any penalties, fees, or other payments due
under this Chapter have been paid, the Secretary of State shall cancel the
certificate of dissolution and prepare a certificate of reinstatement that
recites the Secretary of State's determination and the effective date of
reinstatement, file the original of the certificate, and mail a copy to the
corporation.
…."
SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 55A‑1‑22(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Secretary of State shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this subsection are delivered to the Secretary for filing:
Document Fee
…
(29) Annual Report No fee"
SECTION 3.(e) Until January 1, 2021, the Secretary of State may waive the fee payable under G.S. 55A‑1‑22(17) by a corporation seeking reinstatement following administrative dissolution for delinquent filing pursuant to G.S. 55A‑14‑20(2a).
PART IV. LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS
SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 59‑84.4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 59‑84.4. Annual report for Secretary of State.
(a) Requirement. – Each
registered limited liability partnership and each foreign limited liability
partnership authorized to transact business in this State shall deliver submit
to the Secretary of State for filing an annual report, in a an
electronic form prescribed by the Secretary of State, that sets forth all
of the following:
(1) The name of the registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership and the state or country under whose law it is formed.
(2) The street address, and the mailing address if different from the street address, of the registered office, the county in which the registered office is located, and the name and e‑mail address of its registered agent at that office in this State, and a statement of any change of the registered office or registered agent, or both.
(3) The street address and telephone number of its principal office.
(3a) The names, titles, and business street addresses of its partners and the name, mailing address, e‑mail address, and telephone number of an individual who is authorized to provide information regarding persons with authority to bind the partnership.
(4) A brief description of the nature of its business.
(5) The fiscal year end of the partnership.
(6) A valid e‑mail address for the registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership, if different from the e‑mail address provided under subdivision (2) of this subsection.
If the information contained in the
most recently filed annual report has not changed, a certification to that
effect may be made instead of setting forth the information required by
subdivisions (2) through (4) of this subsection. The Secretary of State shall
make available the form required to file an annual report.
(b) Currency of Information. – Information in the annual report must be current as of the date the annual report is executed on behalf of the registered limited liability partnership or the foreign limited liability partnership.
(c) Due Date. – The annual report shall be delivered to the Secretary of State by the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the registered or foreign limited liability partnership's fiscal year.
(d) Incomplete
Information. – If an annual report does not contain the information
required by this section, the Secretary of State shall promptly notify the
reporting registered or foreign limited liability partnership in writing and
return the report to it for correction. If the report is corrected to contain
the information required by this section and delivered submitted to
the Secretary of State within 30 days after the effective date of notice, it is
deemed to be timely filed.submitted.
(e) Amendments. – Amendments
to any previously filed annual report may be filed with submitted for
filing to the Secretary of State at any time for the purpose of correcting,
updating, or augmenting the information contained in the annual report.
(f) Revocation of
Registration. – The Secretary of State may revoke the registration of a
registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability
partnership if the Secretary of State determines that:that any of the
following has occurred:
(1) The registered limited
liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership has not paid,
within 60 days after they are due, any penalties, fees, or other payments due
under this Chapter;Chapter.
(2) The registered limited
liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership does not deliver
submit its annual report to the Secretary of State on or before the date
sixtieth day after it is due;due.
(3) The registered limited
liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership has been without
a registered agent or registered office in this State for 60 days or more;
ormore.
(4) The registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership does not notify the Secretary of State within 60 days of the change, resignation, or discontinuance that its registered agent or registered office has been changed, that its registered agent has resigned, or that its registered office has been discontinued.
(g) Revocation Process. – If the Secretary of State determines that one or more grounds exist under subsection (f) of this section for revoking the registration of the registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership, the Secretary of State shall mail the registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership written notice of that determination. If, within 60 days after the notice is mailed, the registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership does not correct each ground for revocation or demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Secretary of State that each ground does not exist, the Secretary of State shall revoke the registration of a registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership by signing a certificate of revocation that recites the ground or grounds for revocation and its effective date. The Secretary of State shall file the original certificate of revocation and mail a copy to the registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership.
(h) Application for
Reinstatement. – A registered limited liability partnership or foreign
limited liability partnership whose registration is revoked under this section
may apply to the Secretary of State for reinstatement. If, at the time the
registered limited liability partnership applies for reinstatement, the name of
the registered limited liability partnership is not distinguishable from the
name of another entity authorized to be used under G.S. 55D‑21, then
the registered limited liability partnership must change its name to a name
that is distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from the
name of the other entity before the Secretary of State may prepare a
certificate of reinstatement. The procedures for reinstatement and for the
appeal of any denial of the registered limited liability partnership or foreign
limited liability partnership's application for reinstatement shall be the same
procedures applicable to business corporations under G.S. 55‑14‑22,
55‑14‑23, and 55‑14‑24.55‑14‑24,
except that any penalties, fees, or other payments due under this Chapter must
have been paid prior to reinstatement. The effect of reinstatement of a
limited liability partnership shall be the same as for a corporation under
G.S. 55‑14‑22.
(i) E‑Mail; Confidentiality. – The Secretary of State may provide by e‑mail any notice or form required under this section if the submitting registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership to be notified has consented to receiving notices and forms via e‑mail and has provided the Secretary of State an e‑mail address for receiving the notices or forms. Any e‑mail address provided by a submitting registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership in accordance with this section shall be considered confidential information and shall not be subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 4.(b) G.S. 59‑35.2(a)(18) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Secretary of State shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this subsection are submitted by a partnership to the Secretary of State for filing:
Document Fee
…
(18) Annual report ....................................................................................... 200.00125.00
…."
SECTION 4.(c) G.S. 59‑1106(a)(22) reads as rewritten:
"(22) Annual report for a limited liability limited
partnership ................ 200.00125.00"
PART V. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
SECTION 5. Article 5 of Chapter 59 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following sections to read:
"§ 59‑109. Annual report to Secretary of State.
(a) Each limited partnership and each foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this State shall submit an annual report to the Secretary of State in electronic form as prescribed by the Secretary of State and as otherwise provided in this subsection. The following information must be included in each annual report:
(1) The name of the limited partnership, and in the case of a foreign limited partnership, any different name that the foreign limited partnership is authorized under Article 3 of Chapter 55D of the General Statutes to use to transact business in this State, as provided in the foreign limited partnership's certificate of authority.
(2) In the case of a foreign limited partnership, the name of the jurisdiction under whose law the foreign limited partnership is organized.
(3) The street address, and the mailing address if different from the street address, of the registered office, the county in which the registered office is located, and the name and e‑mail address of its registered agent at that office in this State, and a statement of any change of the registered office or registered agent, or both.
(4) The address and telephone number of its principal office.
(5) The names, titles, and business street addresses of all general partners and the name, mailing address, e‑mail address, and telephone number of an individual who is authorized to provide information regarding persons with authority to bind the partnership.
(6) A brief description of the nature of its business.
(7) The fiscal year end of the limited partnership.
(8) The year for which the annual report applies.
(9) A valid e‑mail address for the limited partnership or foreign limited partnership, if different from the e‑mail address provided under subdivision (3) of this subsection.
(b) Information in the annual report must be current as of the date the annual report is executed on behalf of the limited partnership or the foreign limited partnership.
(c) Due Date. – The annual report shall be delivered to the Secretary of State by the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the limited partnership's fiscal year.
(d) If an annual report does not contain the information required by this section, the Secretary of State shall promptly notify the limited partnership in writing and return the report to it for correction. If the report is corrected to contain the information required by this section and submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days after the effective date of notice, it is deemed to be timely submitted.
(e) Amendments to any previously filed annual report may be submitted for filing to the Secretary of State at any time for the purpose of correcting, updating, or augmenting the information contained in the annual report.
(f) E‑Mail; Confidentiality. – The Secretary of State may provide by e‑mail any notice or form required under this section if the submitting limited partnership or foreign limited partnership to be notified has consented to receiving notices and forms via e‑mail and has provided the Secretary of State an e‑mail address for receiving the notices or forms. Any e‑mail address provided by a limited partnership or foreign limited partnership in accordance with this section shall be considered confidential information and shall not be subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.
"§ 59‑110. Grounds for revocation.
(a) The Secretary of State may revoke the registration of a limited partnership or the certificate of authority of a foreign limited partnership if the Secretary of State determines that any of the following has occurred:
(1) The limited partnership or foreign limited partnership has not paid, within 60 days after they are due, any penalties, fees, or other payments due under this Chapter.
(2) The limited partnership or foreign limited partnership does not submit its annual report to the Secretary of State on or before the date sixtieth day after it is due.
(3) The limited partnership or foreign limited partnership has been without a registered agent or registered office in this State for 60 days or more.
(4) The limited partnership or foreign limited partnership does not notify the Secretary of State within 60 days of the change, resignation, or discontinuance that its registered agent or registered office has been changed, that its registered agent has resigned, or that its registered office has been discontinued.
(b) If the Secretary of State determines that one or more grounds exist under subsection (a) of this section for revoking the registration of the limited partnership or the certificate of authority of a foreign limited partnership, the Secretary of State shall mail the registered limited partnership or foreign limited partnership written notice of that determination. If, within 60 days after the notice is mailed, the limited partnership or foreign limited partnership does not correct each ground for revocation or demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Secretary of State that each ground does not exist, the Secretary of State shall revoke the registration of a limited partnership or foreign limited partnership by signing a certificate of revocation that recites the ground or grounds for revocation and its effective date. The Secretary of State shall file the original certificate of revocation and mail a copy to the limited partnership or foreign limited partnership.
(c) A limited partnership or foreign limited partnership whose registration is revoked under this section may apply to the Secretary of State for reinstatement. The procedures for reinstatement and for the appeal of any denial of the limited partnership's application for reinstatement are the same as those applicable to a domestic corporation under G.S. 55‑14‑22 and G.S. 55‑14‑23.
(d) If, at the time the limited partnership applies for reinstatement, the name of the limited partnership or foreign limited partnership is not distinguishable from the name of another entity authorized to be used under G.S. 55D‑21, then the limited partnership or foreign limited partnership must change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from the name of the other entity before the Secretary of State may prepare a certificate of reinstatement. The effect of reinstatement of a limited partnership or foreign limited partnership shall be the same as for a corporation under G.S. 55‑14‑22."
PART VI. DISALLOWANCE OF REFUNDS OF PAID SALES AND USE TAXES
SECTION 6.(a) G.S. 105‑164.14(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) Nonprofit Entities and Hospital Drugs. – A nonprofit entity is allowed a semiannual refund of sales and use taxes paid by it under this Article on direct purchases of tangible personal property and services for use in carrying on the work of the nonprofit entity. Sales and use tax liability indirectly incurred by a nonprofit entity through reimbursement to an authorized person of the entity for the purchase of tangible personal property and services for use in carrying on the work of the nonprofit entity is considered a direct purchase by the entity. Sales and use tax liability indirectly incurred by a nonprofit entity on building materials, supplies, fixtures, and equipment that become a part of or annexed to any building or structure that is owned or leased by the nonprofit entity and is being erected, altered, or repaired for use by the nonprofit entity for carrying on its nonprofit activities is considered a sales or use tax liability incurred on direct purchases by the nonprofit entity. The refund allowed under this subsection does not apply to purchases of electricity, telecommunications service, ancillary service, piped natural gas, video programming, or a prepaid meal plan. A request for a refund must be in writing and must include any information and documentation required by the Secretary. A request for a refund for the first six months of a calendar year is due the following October 15; a request for a refund for the second six months of a calendar year is due the following April 15. The aggregate annual refund amount allowed an entity under this subsection for a fiscal year may not exceed thirty‑one million seven hundred thousand dollars ($31,700,000).
Before issuance of a timely filed request for refund, the Secretary must verify that a nonprofit entity is not delinquent for failure to file annual reports with the Secretary of State based on information received at least 30 days prior to issuance of any refund. If a nonprofit entity is delinquent for failure to file an annual report, then the Secretary must deny the request for a refund and notify the entity that the request has been denied for failure of the entity to submit any required annual reports to the Secretary of State. The denial of a request for a refund may be cancelled, and the refund granted, upon the Secretary's receipt of information from the Secretary of State that the nonprofit entity has submitted all required annual reports. A refund may not be issued after one year from the date a request for a refund was denied due to failure to file annual reports with the Secretary of State.
The refunds allowed under this subsection do not apply to an entity that is owned and controlled by the United States or to an entity that is owned or controlled by the State and is not listed in this subsection. A hospital that is not listed in this subsection is allowed a semiannual refund of sales and use taxes paid by it on over‑the‑counter drugs purchased for use in carrying out its work. The following nonprofit entities are allowed a refund under this subsection:
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SECTION 6.(b) The Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue shall jointly develop a process for verifying whether an applicant for a refund under G.S. 105‑164.14 has submitted all required annual reports. The Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue shall share with one another, upon request and to the extent permitted by federal law, information that is in their possession that is relevant to verifying whether an applicant for a refund under G.S. 105‑164.14 has submitted all required annual reports. The Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue shall have the process required under this section operational prior to the effective date of subsection (a) of this section.
PART VII. REINSTATEMENT FEE REVISION
SECTION 7. G.S. 105‑232 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105‑232. Rights restored; receivership and liquidation.
(a) Any corporation or
limited liability company whose articles of incorporation, articles of
organization, or certificate of authority to do business in this State has been
suspended by the Secretary of State under G.S. 105‑230, that
complies with all the requirements of this Subchapter and pays all State taxes,
fees, or penalties due from it (which total amount due may be computed, for
years prior and subsequent to the suspension, in the same manner as if the
suspension had not taken place), and pays to the Secretary of Revenue a fee of twenty‑five
fifty dollars ($25.00) ($50.00) to cover the cost of
reinstatement, is entitled to exercise again its rights, privileges, and
franchises in this State. The Secretary of Revenue shall notify the Secretary
of State of this compliance and the Secretary of State shall reinstate the
corporation or limited liability company by appropriate entry upon the records
of the office of the Secretary of State. Upon entry of reinstatement, it
relates back to and takes effect as of the date of the suspension by the
Secretary of State and the corporation or limited liability company resumes carrying
on its business as if the suspension had never occurred, subject to the rights
of any person who reasonably relied, to that person's prejudice, upon the
suspension. The Secretary of State shall immediately notify by mail the
corporation or limited liability company of the reinstatement.
(a1) The Secretary of Revenue shall remit twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) from each fee collected under subsection (a) of this section to the Secretary of State to be used solely to cover its share of the cost of reinstatement under subsection (a) of this section, and any funds received under this subsection are hereby appropriated for the maximum amount necessary to achieve this purpose. Any funds received by the Secretary of State under this subsection that are in excess of the amount needed to cover the Secretary of State's share of the cost of reinstatement under subsection (a) of this section shall revert to the General Fund.
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PART VIII. PROGRAM EVALUATION DIVISION STUDY
SECTION 8. The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee shall amend the 2018‑2019 Program Evaluation Division work plan to direct the Program Evaluation Division to study the effect implementation of this act will have on the staffing levels and customer service demands at the Office of the Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue. The Program Evaluation Division shall report the results of the study to the chairs of the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government on or before August 1, 2019.
PART IX. CONFORM TREATMENT OF LEASEHOLD INTERESTS IN EXEMPT PROPERTY TO THAT OF OTHER TYPES OF INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROPERTY TAX
SECTION 9.(a) G.S. 105‑275 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105‑275. Property classified and excluded from the tax base.
The following classes of property are designated special classes under Article V, Sec. 2(2), of the North Carolina Constitution and are excluded from tax:
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(31) Intangible personal
property other than a leasehold interest that is in exempted real property
and is not excluded under subdivision (31e) of this section. This subdivision
does not affect the taxation of software not otherwise excluded by
subdivision (40) of this section.
(31e) A leasehold interest in real property that is exempt
under G.S. 105‑278.1 and is used to provide affordable housing for
employees of the unit of government that owns the property.
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SECTION 9.(b) This section is effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2017.
PART X. CREATE THE CRIMINAL CODE RECODIFICATION COMMISSION
SECTION 10.(a) There is established the Criminal Code Recodification Commission (Commission) within the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts.
SECTION 10.(b) The Commission shall be composed of the following members:
(1) Four members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of which shall be a member of the minority party.
(2) Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of which shall be a member of the minority party.
(3) Two members appointed by the Governor.
(4) The Lieutenant Governor, or the Lieutenant Governor's designee, and one additional member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(5) A sitting sheriff appointed by the Speaker of the House.
(6) A sitting police chief appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(7) A member appointed by the North Carolina Chamber Legal Institute.
(8) Eleven members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as follows:
a. A sitting district court judge.
b. A sitting superior court judge.
c. A sitting judge in the appellate division.
d. A sitting district attorney.
e. A public defender or representative from Indigent Defense Services.
f. A sitting magistrate.
g. A member of the private criminal defense bar.
h. A victims' rights advocate.
i. Two additional members the Chief Justice deems appropriate.
j. A sitting clerk of superior court.
SECTION 10.(c) The Chief Justice shall appoint a chair of the Commission. The Commission may meet at any time upon the call of the chair and at a location specified by the chair.
SECTION 10.(d) The Commission shall produce the following:
(1) A fully drafted, new, streamlined, comprehensive, orderly, and principled criminal code.
(2) Official commentary to the new code explaining how each new section operates. Where the proposed code suggests a change in current law, special commentary shall note this and identify the suggested change and the reasoning for it. Special commentary shall include impact analysis provided by the Sentencing Commission.
(3) Conversion tables to facilitate the comparison between current law and the draft code.
(4) An offense grading table, grouping all offenses covered by the new code by offense grade. Offenses shall be graded within existing sentencing classes and with the recommendations of the Sentencing Commission.
SECTION 10.(e) In conducting its work and producing the items required by subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall do all of the following:
(1) Include necessary provisions not contained in the current code, such as mental states, defenses, and definitions of offenses and key terminology.
(2) Eliminate unnecessary, inconsistent, or unlawful provisions in the current code.
(3) Revise existing language and structure to make the law easier to understand and apply.
(4) Ensure that criminal offenses and legal rules are cohesive and relate to one another in a consistent and rational manner.
(5) Incorporate within the proposed new code all major criminal offenses contained in existing law.
(6) Make recommendations regarding whether any existing offenses should be reclassified as infractions punishable only by a fine.
(7) Make recommendations regarding whether any limitations should be placed on the ability of administrative boards, agencies, local governments, or other entities to create crimes.
(8) Seek to preserve the North Carolina General Assembly's substantive policy judgments as reflected in the existing code and legal principles established in the case law.
(9) Address any other matter deemed necessary to carry out the work of the Commission.
SECTION 10.(f) To the extent that funds are available, the Commission members shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 10.(g) The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts is authorized to seek funding to support the Commission's work and may contract for professional, administrative, and consultant services.
SECTION 10.(h) The Commission shall make an interim report no later than December 1, 2018, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety. The Commission shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations, including the items required by subsection (d) of this section, no later than December 1, 2019, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the General Statutes Commission. The Commission shall expire upon submitting its final report.
SECTION 10.(i) All agencies, boards, and commissions that have the power to establish criminal penalties in the North Carolina Administrative Code shall provide to the Commission a list of all criminal penalties that are currently in effect or are pending implementation no later than December 1, 2017.
PART XI. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 11. For entities having gross revenues of at least one hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars ($175,000) in their fiscal year ending in 2018, Parts I, II, and IV of this act become effective January 1, 2019, and apply to annual reports due on or after that date. For entities having gross revenues less than one hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars ($175,000) in their fiscal year ending in 2018, Parts I, II, and IV of this act become effective January 1, 2020, and apply to annual reports due on or after that date. Parts III and V of this act become effective January 1, 2020, and apply to annual reports due on or after that date. Section 6(a) of Part VI of this act becomes effective January 1, 2020, and applies to requests for refunds submitted on or after that date. Section 7 of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to fees collected on or after that date. Except as otherwise provided, the remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.