Senate Bill 381 Summary

• Expands investigatory powers of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and State Bureau of Investigation, with the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation given exclusive authority over investigations involving death, serious bodily injury, first- or second-degree arson, government buildings, educational institutions, and religious buildings.

• Clarifies that the Office of the State Fire Marshal and State Bureau of Investigation can supervise and direct fire investigations when the official conducting the preliminary investigation requests investigative assistance from a State agency.

• Allows applicants for paid or volunteer firefighter positions who have been North Carolina residents for over five years and report no charges or convictions to have their criminal history record checks conducted through the county clerk of court or a third-party vendor instead of the standard background check process.

• Applies the alternative background check option to county fire departments (G.S. 153A-233 and 153A-234), municipal fire departments (G.S. 160A-292), and county fire marshals.

• Fire investigation provisions become effective October 1, 2023; background check revisions become effective upon enactment and apply to applications submitted on or after that date.