North Carolina SB 368: Office of State Fire Marshal Omnibus Bill.-AB

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 368

Short Title: Office of State Fire Marshal Omnibus Bill.-AB (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Johnson, Barnes, and Lazzara (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 24, 2025
*S368-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT MANDATING ALL OTHER PERIL INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN 2
ENTITIES, AUTHORIZING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO 3
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES FOR ITS RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION, 4
MANDATING PARTICIPATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION BOARDS IN THE STATE 5
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROPERTY INSURANCE FUND, AUTHORIZING THE OFFICE 6
OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO CHARGE AND WAIVE REGISTRATION FEES 7
FOR ADVANCED FIRE AND RESCUE COURSES, PROVIDING STATE FUNDS FOR 8
THE WAIVER OF REGISTRATION FEES FOR COURSES OFFERED BY THE OFFICE 9
OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, AUTHORIZING THE STATE FIRE AND RESCUE 10
COMMISSION TO CONDUCT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, CLARIFYING THE 11
POWERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA HOME INSPECTOR LICENSURE BOARD, 12
EXTENDING EXEMPTION FROM DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION OF 13
PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, 14
EXEMPTING MANUFACTURED HOME MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS FROM 15
SHOWROOM REQUIREMENTS, MODERNIZING TERMINOLOGY FOR THE CODE 16
OFFICIALS QUALIFICATION BOARD, ESTABLISHING FEES AND PROCEDURES 17
FOR CODE OFFICIALS QUALIFICATION BOARD APPROVAL OF TRAINING 18
COURSES, AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF A VOLUNTARY APPRENTICESHIP 19
PROGRAM FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, CLARIFYING ELECTRICAL 20
CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENERGIZING BUILDINGS, ENHANCING THE 21
AUTHORITY OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL OVER LOCAL INSPECTIONS AND 22
EMERGENCY ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS, REQUIRING REFUNDS AND 23
REMITTANCE OF BUILDING INSPECTION FEES WHEN INSPECTIONS ARE 24
PERFORMED BY STATE AND OTHER OFFICIALS, AND ESTABLISHING RECORDS 25
AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL INSPECTION DEPARTMENTS, AS 26
RECOMMENDED BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL. 27
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 28
29
PART I. MANDATE ALL OTHER PERIL COVERAGE FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE 30
STATE PUBLIC EDUCATION PROPERTY INSURANCE FUND AND STATE 31
PROPERTY FIRE INSURANCE FUND 32
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 58-31A-10 reads as rewritten: 33
"§ 58-31A-10. Flood insurance.insurance; all other peril insurance. 34
(a) Premiums for flood insurance coverage for public education buildings shall be paid 35
by each public education board in accordance with rates fixed by the State Fire Marshal, and the 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 368-First Edition
State Fire Marshal may purchase from insurers admitted to do business in North Carolina such 1
insurance or reinsurance as may be necessary to protect the State Public Education Insurance 2
Fund against loss with respect to such insurance coverage. 3
(b) Every public education board and every charter school approved pursuant to 4
G.S. 115C-218.5 that insures public education property titled to that board or charter school 5
against the direct loss or damage by insurable hazards in public education buildings and other 6
public education properties in the State Public Education Property Insurance Fund shall obtain 7
and make payment for the all other perils coverage provided by the Fund." 8
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 58-31-10 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 58-31-10. Payment of losses on basis of actual cost of restoration or replacement; rules; 10
insurance and reinsurance; sprinkler leakage insurance.insurance; all other 11
peril insurance. 12
... 13
(d) Every State department, institution, or agency that insures State property against the 14
direct loss or damage by insurable hazards in the State Property Fire Insurance Fund shall obtain 15
and make payment for the all other perils coverage provided by the Fund." 16
SECTION 1.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2025. 17
18
PART II. AUTHORIZE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO 19
CONTRACT FOR SPECIALIZED OR TECHNICAL SERVICES ESSENTIAL TO THE 20
OPERATION OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION 21
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 58-31A-15 reads as rewritten: 22
"§ 58-31A-15. Authority and rules for organization of system. 23
(a) The State Fire Marshal is hereby authorized, directed, and empowered to establish a 24
division to manage and operate a system of insurance for public education property. The State 25
Fire Marshal shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to provide all details 26
inherent in the insurance of public education property. The State Fire Marshal shall employ any 27
staff necessary, which in his or her opinion is necessary to insure and protect effectively public 28
education property, and he or she shall fix their compensation consistent with the policies of the 29
State Human Resources Commission. 30
(b) The State Fire Marshal shall, through the State's agent of record, contract for any 31
specialized or technical services necessitating expertise not otherwise available within the Office 32
of the State