H236 - NCAOC Omnibus Bill. (SL 2017-158)

Overview: S.L. 2017-158 makes numerous changes to law governing the administration of the General Courts of Justice.

In addition to other technical and clarifying changes, the act: validates documents that are filed with a missing date stamp; provides for removal of disbarred or suspended attorneys serving as estate administrators or guardians; simplifies the process of appointing interim guardians in incompetency proceedings; clarifies the rules for filing inventory, accounting, and tax returns; permits clerks of court to hear certain civil contempt cases; permits the appointment of an assistant to a district attorney who has a conflict of interest in a criminal case; streamlines the process of issuing service of process on behalf of indigent inmates; clarifies the procedure for termination of sex offender registration resulting from a conviction in federal court; authorizes establishment of a records retention schedule for audio recordings in cases involving juveniles; permits various State officials to perform pro bono legal work; authorizes the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to redact identifiable or financial information from images or copies of publicly accessible official records; directs the AOC to report its recommendations to the General Assembly on the establishment of an arbitration and mediation program for the North Carolina Business Court; adds a district attorney member to the Dispute Resolution Commission (DRC), clarifies the uses to which fees collected by the DRC may be used; modifies DRC disciplinary procedures for mediators and mediator training programs; and makes other technical and clarifying changes.

The act became effective July 21, 2017; the act's provisions relating to petitions to terminate sex offender registration apply to petitions filed on or after that date.