NC H198

Magistrates may accept written appearances, waivers of trial, guilty pleas, and admissions of responsibility for state forest rule offenses under Articles 74 and 75 of Chapter 106, effective December 1, 2021.

Fires started for cooking, warming, or ceremonial events are exempt from open burning laws if confined within an enclosure or maintained protected area with adequate fire protection equipment, except during hazardous forest fire conditions or air pollution episodes.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may provide Forest Service employees exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act either monetary overtime compensation or compensatory leave at an hour-for-hour rate at its discretion for fire suppression duties.

Unencumbered and unexpended funds previously allocated to the Forest Service shall be used for construction authorization and partial support of a Region One headquarters and training facility, and for operations support at the North Carolina State Fair and Western North Carolina Agriculture Center.

Sections 1 and 2 become effective December 1, 2021; Section 3 is effective upon enactment; remaining provisions are effective when the law is enacted.