S 147 Summary

• Updates health care power of attorney requirements to allow signing before either two qualified witnesses OR a notary public (previously required both witnesses and notary acknowledgment).

• Modifies advance health care directive ("living will") requirements to permit signing before a notary public OR two witnesses, removing the previous "and" requirement.

• Authorizes the North Carolina Secretary of State to accept electronic filings of health care powers of attorney, advance directives, mental health treatment instructions, anatomical gifts, and HIPAA waivers in addition to hard copy submissions.

• Requires all documents submitted electronically or in hard copy to the Advance Health Care Directive Registry to be notarized, except for anatomical gift declarations.

• Becomes effective October 1, 2023.