Source: https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_93B.html
Timestamp: 2018-11-13 06:31:23
Document Index: 43109838

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 93']

Chapter 93B.
§ 93B-1. Definitions.
"License" means any license (other than a privilege license), certificate, or other evidence of qualification which an individual is required to obtain before he may engage in or represent himself to be a member of a particular profession or occupation.
"Occupational licensing board" means any board, committee, commission, or other agency in North Carolina which is established for the primary purpose of regulating the entry of persons into, and/or the conduct of persons within, a particular profession or occupation, and which is authorized to issue licenses; "occupational licensing board" does not include State agencies, staffed by full-time State employees, which as a part of their regular functions may issue licenses. (1957, c. 1377, s. 1.)
§ 93B-2. Annual reports required; contents; open to inspection; sanction for failure to report.
(d) The Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee shall notify any board that fails to file the reports required by this section. Failure of a board to comply with the reporting requirements of this section by October 31 of each year shall result in a suspension of the board's authority to expend any funds until such time as the board files the required reports. Suspension of a board's authority to expend funds under this subsection shall not affect the board's duty to issue and renew licenses or the validity of any application or license for which fees have been tendered in accordance with law. Each board shall adopt rules establishing a procedure for implementing this subsection and shall maintain an escrow account into which any fees tendered during a board's period of suspension under this subsection shall be deposited. (1957, c. 1377, s. 2; 1969, c. 42; 2006-70, s. 1; 2007-323, s. 23.2; 2009-125, s. 2; 2011-291, ss. 2.19, 2.20; 2014-120, s. 4.)
§ 93B-3. Register of persons licensed; information as to licensed status of individuals.
Each occupational licensing board shall prepare a register of all persons currently licensed by the board and shall supplement said register annually by listing the changes made in it by reason of new licenses issued, licenses revoked or suspended, death, or any other cause. The board shall, upon request of any citizen of the State, inform the requesting person as to the licensed status of any individual. (1957, c. 1377, s. 3.)
§ 93B-4. Audit of Occupational Licensing Boards; payment of costs.
(a) The State Auditor shall audit occupational licensing boards from time to time to ensure their proper operation. The books, records, and operations of each occupational licensing board shall be subject to the oversight of the State Auditor pursuant to Article 5A of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes. In accordance with G.S. 147-64.7(b), the State Auditor may contract with independent professionals to meet the requirements of this section.
(b) Each occupational licensing board with a budget of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) shall conduct an annual financial audit of its operations and provide a copy to the State Auditor. (1957, c. 1377, s. 4; 1965, c. 661; 1973, c. 1301; 1983, c. 913, s. 11; 2009-125, s. 3; 2012-142, s. 17.1.)
§ 93B-5. Compensation, employment, and training of board members.
(b) Board members shall be reimbursed for all necessary travel expenses in an amount not to exceed that authorized under G.S. 138-6(a) for officers and employees of State departments. Actual expenditures of board members in excess of the maximum amounts set forth in G.S. 138-6(a) for travel and subsistence may be reimbursed if the prior approval of the State Director of Budget is obtained and such approved expenditures are within the established and published uniform standards and criteria of the State Director of Budget authorized under G.S. 138-7 for extraordinary charges for hotels, meals, and convention registration for State officers and employees, whenever such charges are the result of required official business of the Board.
(c) Repealed by Session Laws 1981, c. 757, s. 2.
(f) Repealed by Session Laws 1975, c. 765, s. 1.
(g) Within six months of a board member's initial appointment to the board, and at least once within every two calendar years thereafter, a board member shall receive training, either from the board's staff, including its legal advisor, or from an outside educational institution such as the School of Government of the University of North Carolina, on the statutes governing the board and rules adopted by the board, as well as the following State laws, in order to better understand the obligations and limitations of a State agency:
(5) Subchapter II of Chapter 163A, Ethics and Lobbying.
Completion of the training requirements contained in Subchapter II of Chapter 163A of the General Statutes satisfies the requirements of subdivision (5) of this subsection. (1957, c. 1377, s. 5; 1973, c. 1303, s. 1; c. 1342, s. 1; 1975, c. 765, s. 1; 1981, c. 757, ss. 1, 2; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1011, s. 1; 2009-125, s. 4; 2017-6, s. 3.)
§ 93B-6. Use of funds for lobbying prohibited.
Occupational licensing boards shall not use any funds to promote or oppose in any manner the passage by the General Assembly of any legislation. (1973, c. 1302.)
§ 93B-7. Rental of state-owned office space.
Any occupational licensing board, which financially operates on the licensing fees charged and also occupies state-owned office space, shall pay rent, in a reasonable amount to be determined by the Governor, to the State for the occupancy of such space. (1973, c. 1300.)
§ 93B-8. Examination procedures.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, under no circumstances shall an occupational licensing board be required to disclose to an applicant questions or answers to tests provided by recognized testing organizations pursuant to contracts which prohibit such disclosures. (1973, c. 1334, s. 1; 1991, c. 360, s. 1.)
(1) Applicant. - A person who makes application for licensure from an occupational licensing board.
(2) Board. - An occupational licensing board as defined in G.S. 93B-1.
(3) Criminal history record. - A State or federal history of conviction of a crime, whether a misdemeanor or felony, that bears upon an applicant's or a licensee's fitness to be licensed or disciplined.
(4) Licensee. - A person who has obtained a license to engage in or represent himself or herself to be a member of a particular profession or occupation.
(d) This section does not apply to The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission. (2013-24, s. 1.)
§ 93B-8.2. Prohibit licensees from serving as investigators.
No occupational licensing board shall contract with or employ a person licensed by the board to serve as an investigator or inspector if the licensee is actively practicing in the profession or occupation and is in competition with other members of the profession or occupation over which the board has jurisdiction. Nothing in this section shall prevent a board from (i) employing licensees who are not otherwise employed in the same profession or occupation as investigators or inspectors or for other purposes or (ii) contracting with licensees of the board to serve as expert witnesses or consultants in cases where special knowledge and experience is required, provided that the board limits the duties and authority of the expert witness or consultant to serving as an information resource to the board and board personnel. (2015-286, s. 1.5.)
§ 93B-9. Age requirements.
Except certifications issued by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission pursuant to Chapters 17C, 17E, 74E, and 74G of the General Statutes, no occupational licensing board may require that an individual be more than 18 years of age as a requirement for receiving a license with the following exceptions: the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission may establish a higher age as a requirement for holding certification through either Commission. (1973, c. 1356; 2010-97, s. 8; 2010-122, s. 27.)
§ 93B-10. Expiration of term of appointment of board member.
A board member serving on an occupational and professional licensing board whose term of appointment has expired shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. (1973, c. 1373, s. 1.)
§ 93B-11. Interest from State Treasurer's Investment Program.
Any interest earned by an occupational licensing board under G.S. 147-69.3(d) may be used only for the following purposes:
(3) For educational purposes to benefit licensees or the public. (1983, c. 515, s. 2.)
§ 93B-12. Information from licensing boards having authority over health care providers.
(a) Every occupational licensing board having authority to license physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives in this State shall modify procedures for license renewal to include the collection of information specified in this section for each board's regular renewal cycle. The purpose of this requirement is to assist the State in tracking the availability of health care providers to determine which areas in the State suffer from inequitable access to specific types of health services and to anticipate future health care shortages which might adversely affect the citizens of this State. Occupational licensing boards shall collect, report, and update the following information:
(b) Every occupational licensing board required to collect information pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall report and update the information on an annual basis to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department shall provide this information to programs preparing primary care physicians, physicians assistants, and nurse practitioners upon request by the program and by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina. Information provided by the occupational licensing board pursuant to this subsection may be provided in such form as to omit the identity of the health care licensee. (1995, c. 507, s. 23A.4; 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 17, s. 16.4; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a).)
§ 93B-13. Revocation when licensing privilege forfeited for nonpayment of child support or for failure to comply with subpoena.
(a) Upon receipt of a court order, pursuant to G.S. 50-13.12 and G.S. 110-142.1, revoking the occupational license of a licensee under its jurisdiction, an occupational licensing board shall note the revocation in its records, report the action within 30 days to the Department of Health and Human Services, and follow the normal postrevocation rules and procedures of the board as if the revocation had been ordered by the board. The revocation shall remain in effect until the board receives certification by the clerk of superior court or the Department of Health and Human Services in an IV-D case that the licensee is no longer delinquent in child support payments, or, as applicable, that the licensee is in compliance with or is no longer subject to the subpoena that was the basis for the revocation.
(b) Upon receipt of notification from the Department of Health and Human Services that a licensee under an occupational licensing board's jurisdiction has forfeited the licensee's occupational license pursuant to G.S. 110-142.1, then the occupational licensing board shall send a notice of intent to revoke or suspend the occupational license of that licensee as provided by G.S. 110-142.1(d). If the license is revoked as provided by the provisions of G.S. 110-142.1, the revocation shall remain in effect until the board receives certification by the designated representative or the child support enforcement agency that the licensee is no longer delinquent in child support payments, or, as applicable, that the licensee is in compliance with or no longer subject to a subpoena that was the basis for the revocation.
(c) If at the time the court revokes a license pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, or if at the time the occupational licensing board revokes a license pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the occupational licensing board has revoked the same license under the licensing board's disciplinary authority over licensees under its jurisdiction, and that revocation period is greater than the revocation period resulting from forfeiture pursuant to G.S. 50-13.12 or G.S. 110-142.1 then the revocation period imposed by the occupational licensing board applies.
(d) Immediately upon certification by the clerk of superior court or the child support enforcement agency that the licensee whose license was revoked pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section is no longer delinquent in child support payments, the occupational licensing board shall reinstate the license. Immediately upon certification by the clerk of superior court or the child support enforcement agency that the licensee whose license was revoked because of failure to comply with a subpoena is in compliance with or no longer subject to the subpoena, the occupational licensing board shall reinstate the license. Reinstatement of a license pursuant to this section shall be made at no additional cost to the licensee. (1995, c. 538, s. 1.3; 1997-433, s. 5.4; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a); 1998-17, s. 1; 2003-288, s. 2.)
§ 93B-14. Information on applicants for licensure.
Every occupational licensing board shall require applicants for licensure to provide to the Board the applicant's social security number. This information shall be treated as confidential and may be released only as follows:
(2) To the Department of Revenue for the purpose of administering the State's tax laws. (1997-433, s. 4.6; 1997-443, s. 11A-122; 1998-17, s. 1; 1998-162, s. 9.)
§ 93B-15. Payment of license fees by members of the Armed Forces; board waiver rules.
(a) An individual who is serving in the Armed Forces of the United States and to whom G.S. 105-249.2 grants an extension of time to file a tax return is granted an extension of time to pay any license fee charged by an occupational licensing board as a condition of retaining a license granted by the board. The extension is for the same period that would apply if the license fee were a tax.
(b) Occupational licensing boards shall adopt rules to postpone or waive continuing education, payment of renewal and other fees, and any other requirements or conditions relating to the maintenance of licensure by an individual who is currently licensed by and in good standing with the board, is serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, and to whom G.S. 105-249.2 grants an extension of time to file a tax return. (1998-95, s. 8; 1999-337, s. 12; 2009-458, s. 1; 2011-183, s. 68.)
§ 93B-15.1. Licensure for individuals with military training and experience; proficiency examination; licensure by endorsement for military spouses; temporary license.
(a) Except as provided by subsection (a2) of this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, an occupational licensing board, as defined in G.S. 93B-1, shall issue a license, certification, or registration to a military-trained applicant to allow the applicant to lawfully practice the applicant's occupation in this State if, upon application to an occupational licensing board, the applicant satisfies the following conditions:
(1) Has been awarded a military occupational specialty and has done all of the following at a level that is substantially equivalent to or exceeds the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration of the occupational licensing board from which the applicant is seeking licensure, certification, or registration in this State: completed a military program of training, completed testing or equivalent training and experience, and performed in the occupational specialty.
(3) Has not committed any act in any jurisdiction that would have constituted grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license to practice that occupation in this State at the time the act was committed and has no pending complaints.
(4) Repealed by Session Laws 2017-28, s. 3, effective July 1, 2017, and applicable to applications submitted on or after that date.
(a1) No later than 30 days following receipt of an application, an occupational licensing board shall notify an applicant when the applicant's military training or experience does not satisfy the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration and shall specify the criteria or requirements that the board determined that the applicant failed to meet and the basis for that determination.
(a2) An occupational licensing board, as defined in G.S. 93B-1, shall issue a license, certification, or registration to a military-trained applicant to allow the applicant to lawfully practice the applicant's occupation in this State if the military-trained applicant, upon application to the occupational licensing board:
(1) Presents official, notarized documentation, such as a U.S. Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214), or similar substantiation, attesting to the applicant's military occupational specialty certification and experience in an occupational field within the board's purview; and
(2) Passes a proficiency examination offered by the board to military-trained applicants in lieu of satisfying the conditions set forth in subsection (a) of this section; however, if an applicant fails the proficiency examination, then the applicant may be required by the board to satisfy those conditions.
In any case where a proficiency examination is not offered routinely by an occupational licensing board, the board shall design a fair proficiency examination for military-trained applicants to obtain licensure, certification, or registration under this section. If a proficiency examination is offered routinely by an occupational licensing board, that examination shall satisfy the requirements of this section.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an occupational licensing board, as defined in G.S. 93B-1, shall issue a license, certification, or registration to a military spouse to allow the military spouse to lawfully practice the military spouse's occupation in this State if, upon application to an occupational licensing board, the military spouse satisfies the following conditions:
(1) Holds a current license, certification, or registration from another jurisdiction, and that jurisdiction's requirements for licensure, certification, or registration are substantially equivalent to or exceed the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration of the occupational licensing board for which the applicant is seeking licensure, certification, or registration in this State.
(4) Is in good standing; has not been disciplined by the agency that had jurisdiction to issue the license, certification, or permit; and has no pending complaints.
(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2017-28, s. 3, effective July 1, 2017, and applicable to applications submitted on or after that date.
(c1) Each occupational licensing board shall publish a document that lists the specific criteria or requirements for licensure, registration, or certification by the board, with a description of the criteria or requirements that are satisfied by military training or experience as provided in this section, and any necessary documentation needed for obtaining the credit or satisfying the requirement. The information required by this subsection shall be published on the occupational licensing board's Web site and the Web site of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
(f) An occupational licensing board shall issue a temporary practice permit to a military-trained applicant or military spouse licensed, certified, or registered in another jurisdiction while the military-trained applicant or military spouse is satisfying the requirements for licensure under subsection (a) or (b) of this section if that jurisdiction has licensure, certification, or registration standards substantially equivalent to the standards for licensure, certification, or registration of an occupation licensing board in this State. The temporary permit shall remain valid for the later of one year or the required renewal date for the occupation the temporary practice permit was issued for or until a license, certification, or registration is granted by the occupational licensing board.
(i) For the purposes of this section, the State Board of Education shall be considered an occupational licensing board when issuing teacher licenses under Article 17E of Subchapter V of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
(k) An occupational licensing board shall not charge a military-trained applicant or a military spouse an initial application fee for a license, certification, registration, or temporary practice permit issued pursuant to this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit an occupational licensing board from charging its ordinary fee for a renewal application or prohibit a third party from charging actual costs for a service such as a background check. (2012-196, s. 1; 2014-67, s. 1; 2015-143, s. 1; 2015-241, s. 24.1(r); 2015-268, s. 7.3(a); 2017-28, s. 3; 2017-189, s. 6(a).)
§ 93B-16. Occupational board liability for negligent acts.
(a) An occupational licensing board may purchase commercial insurance of any kind to cover all risks or potential liability of the board, its members, officers, employees, and agents, including the board's liability under Articles 31 and 31A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(b) Occupational licensing boards shall be deemed State agencies for purposes of Articles 31 and 31A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, and board members and employees of occupational licensing boards shall be considered State employees for purposes of Articles 31 and 31A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. To the extent an occupational licensing board purchases commercial liability insurance coverage in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) per claim for liability arising under Article 31 or 31A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, the provisions of G.S. 143-299.4 shall not apply. To the extent that an occupational licensing board purchases commercial insurance coverage for liability arising under Article 31 or 31A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, the provisions of G.S. 143-300.6(c) shall not apply.
(c) The purchase of insurance by an occupational licensing board under this section shall not be construed to waive sovereign immunity or any other defense available to the board, its members, officers, employees, or agents in an action or contested matter in any court, agency, or tribunal. The purchase of insurance by an occupational licensing board shall not be construed to alter or expand the limitations on claims or payments established in G.S. 143-299.2 or limit the right of board members, officers, employees, or agents to defense by the State as provided by G.S. 143-300.3. (2002-168, s. 1.)