Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

H.B. 363
                          GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                                            Mar 14, 2023
                                      SESSION 2023                                    HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
     H                                                                                               D
                                   HOUSE BILL DRH40182-ND-35A
     Short Title:   The Gabe Torres Act.                                                        (Public)
     Sponsors:      Representative Crawford.
     Referred to:
 1                                       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 2   AN ACT TO BE ENTITLED THE GABE TORRES ACT, TO EXPAND THOSE ELIGIBLE
 3       UNDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES' DEATH BENEFITS ACT, AND TO
 4       HONOR THE LIFE OF GABE TORRES, A RALEIGH POLICE OFFICER WHOSE LIFE
 5       CAME TO AN END AFTER A TRAGIC ACT OF VIOLENCE ON OCTOBER 13, 2022,
 6       WHILE HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK.
 7   The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
 8               SECTION 1. G.S. 143-166.2 reads as rewritten:
 9   "§ 143-166.2. Definitions.
10       The following definitions apply in this Article:
11               …
12               (9)    Official duties. – All duties to which an individual is assigned as part of the
13                      individual's job function. This term shall also include those duties performed
14                      by an individual while (i) en route to, engaged in, or returning from duty or
15                      training; (ii) in the course of responding to, engaged in, or returning from a
16                      call by the department of which the individual is a member; or (iii) in the
17                      course of responding to, engaged in, or returning from a call for assistance
18                      from any department or organization within the State of North Carolina or
19                      within a service area contiguous to the borders of the State of North Carolina
20                      when served or aided by a department from within the State of North Carolina.
21                      While within the State of North Carolina, any covered person who renders
22                      service or assistance, of his or her own volition, at the scene of an emergency,
23                      is performing his or her official duties when both of the following apply:
24                      …."
25               SECTION 2. This act is effective retroactively as of January 1, 2022, and applies to
26   applicable deaths of covered persons occurring on or after that date when the covered person was
27   en route to, engaged in, or returning from duty at the time of the covered person's death.
                                  *DRH40182-ND-35A*
Statutes affected: 
Filed: 143-166.2
Edition 1: 143-166.2