GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2023

SESSION LAW 2023-94

HOUSE BILL 387

AN ACT to CREATE the medal of valor award for first responders.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 147‑12(a) reads as rewritten:

"§ 147‑12.  Powers and duties of Governor.

(a)        In addition to the powers and duties prescribed by the Constitution, the Governor has the powers and duties prescribed in this and the following sections:

…

(15) To award the "Medal of Valor Award" to a first responder upon recommendation from the highest‑ranking official or member of a first responder unit. The Governor may award no more than two Medal of Valor Awards to first responders each calendar year, except that a third may be awarded under special circumstances as determined by the Governor. The Governor may also award one Medal of Valor Award to one first responder unit, once each calendar year. A Medal of Valor Award shall be for a first responder or first responder unit that has performed great acts of heroism while under threat of personal risk to safety, beyond the call of duty in the field. For the purposes of this subdivision, a "first responder" includes any firefighter, paramedic, law enforcement officer, emergency medical services personnel, or rescue squad member."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 143A‑13 reads as rewritten:

"§ 143A‑13.  Office of the Lieutenant Governor; creation.creation; awards.

(a) Creation. – There is hereby created an office of the Lieutenant Governor.

(b) Medal of Valor Award. – The Lieutenant Governor may award the "Medal of Valor Award" to a first responder upon recommendation from the highest‑ranking official or member of a first responder unit. The Lieutenant Governor may award no more than two Medal of Valor Awards to first responders each calendar year, except that a third may be awarded under special circumstances as determined by the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor may also award one Medal of Valor Award to one first responder unit, once each calendar year. A Medal of Valor Award shall be for a first responder or first responder unit that has performed great acts of heroism while under threat of personal risk to safety, beyond the call of duty in the field. For the purposes of this subsection, a "first responder" includes any firefighter, paramedic, law enforcement officer, emergency medical services personnel, or rescue squad member."

SECTION 3.  The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall each maintain an internet accessible link and application form on a State website where nominations can be put forward, and each shall contain information on the Medal of Valor Award.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3^rd day of July, 2023.

                                                                    s/  Carl Ford

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Erin Paré

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Roy Cooper

                                                                         Governor

Approved 12:29 p.m. this 10^th day of July, 2023