HB 765 - Regulatory Reform Act of 2015

• Repeals two obsolete statutes: G.S. 14-197 (profane language on highways) and G.S. 14-401.8 (refusing party telephone line in emergency)

• Establishes burden of proof standards for contested cases, requiring state agencies to prove civil penalties by clear and convincing evidence and employers to prove employee discipline by preponderance of evidence

• Reforms legislative appointment procedures by making third-party recommendations discretionary and establishing 60-day advance notice requirements with automatic waiver for non-compliance

• Prohibits occupational licensing boards from hiring active licensees as investigators if they compete in the same profession, and eliminates fiscal note requirements for rules that impose less stringent burdens

• Contains extensive environmental reforms including environmental audit privilege protections, risk-based remediation standards for contaminated sites, and modifications to stormwater management, wetlands, and wastewater system regulations