GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

SESSION LAW 2007-358

SENATE BILL 882

AN ACT to authorize the industrial commission to employ sworn law enforcement officers to perform fraud investigations.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 97-88.2(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The Commission shall:

(1)       Perform investigations regarding all cases of suspected fraud and all violations related to workers' compensation claims, by or against insurers or self-funded employers, and refer possible criminal violations to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities;

(2)       Conduct administrative violation proceedings; and

(3)       Assess and collect civil penalties and restitution.

The Commission may employ sworn law enforcement officers duly appointed and certified through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission to conduct the investigations mandated by this subsection."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective September 1, 2007.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28^th day of July, 2007.

                                                                    s/ Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/ Joe Hackney

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/ Michael F. Easley

                                                                         Governor

Approved 12:38 p.m. this 17^th day of August, 2007