North Carolina § 97-31 - 1. Effective date of legislative changes in benefits.

§ 97-31. 1. Effective date of legislative changes in benefits.

Every act of the General Assembly that changes the benefits enumerated in this Chapter shall become law no later than June 1 and shall have an effective date of no earlier than January 1 of the year after which it is ratified. History (1981, c. 521, s. 3; 1995, c. 20, s. 11.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 679, s. 10.1, "The Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 1994," provides: "G.S. 97-31.1 does not apply to this act [c. 679, which amended the Workers' Compensation Act.]" Session Laws 1995, c. 20, s. 17 provided that sections 1 through 16 of this act would become effective only if the constitutional amendments proposed by Session Laws 1995, c. 5, ss. 1-2 were approved as provided by Session Laws 1995, c. 5, ss. 3-4, and if so approved, sections 1 through 16 would become effective with respect to bills and joint resolutions passed in either house of the General Assembly on or after January 1, 1997. The proposed constitutional amendments were approved. Session Laws 2011-287, s. 23, provides: "Notwithstanding G.S. 97-31.1, this act is effective when it becomes law. Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 apply to claims pending on or after the effective date of this act. Sections 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 20 apply to claims arising on or after the effective date of this act. Section 21 applies to rules adopted on or after the effective date of this act." Session Laws 2011-287, which amended several sections in Chapter 97 , became effective June 24, 2011.