House Bill 641 Summary

• Allows North Carolina National Guard members called to state service to take unpaid leave instead of being forced to use vacation or accrued leave from civilian employment.

• Authorizes Department of Public Safety employees to perform construction, maintenance, and repair work on state-owned buildings and equipment valued under $100,000 without state licensure requirements.

• Expands probation officer duties to include assistance with law enforcement arrests, active assailant response, civil disturbances, and disaster relief operations.

• Increases criminal penalties for prisoner misconduct: genitalia exposure becomes a Class I felony with 6-12 month sentences, and possession of escape tools becomes a Class H felony with 12-24 month sentences, both effective December 1, 2019.

• Establishes Green Alert System for rapid dissemination of information about missing persons with posttraumatic stress disorder requiring protection from harm.

• Limits inmate property claims against the state to $250 maximum per incident through administrative remedy procedures rather than tort litigation, effective July 1, 2019.