Post on 25-Feb-2016
description
Finding the Law When You Aren’t A Lawyer: It’s Easier Than You Think!
Norma Houston2013 NCEMA Fall Conference
Have You Ever Felt Like This?
When You Need Help, Where Do You Turn?
Finding the Answer:Legal Resources
Reading Statutes
Organization of Statutes
Subsection, Subdivision, etc.Section“§”
Part
ArticleChapter
Statute Citation
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.31(b)(4)
“North Carolina General Statute”
standard legal citation
“G.S.” Section
Chapter Subsections
Standard short form:G.S. 166A-19.31(b)(4)
G.S. 166A-19.31(b)(4) Gun Restriction
Reading Session Laws (Local Acts)
What Are Those Weird Codes?
. . .
Session Laws
Session Laws are acts of the General Assembly (i.e., all laws enacted during the session)
1. Codified – changes to the General Statutes2. Uncodified – acts of the General Assembly
that are not codified in the General Statutes (many local acts are uncodified)
Numbered in Chapters in sequential order of enactment (NOT the same as statute chapters)
From Bill to Session Law• Once it becomes law, a “bill” is no longer a bill –
it is a law• Session Laws – Laws enacted during a
particular session of the General Assembly• Enacted bills assigned a “Chapter”
Example: S.L. 2011-1
Session Law Year of Chapter NumberSession
Legislative History
Two Examples:
1. Specific Repeal: “(c) Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 694, s. 6.”
2. Legislative History: “(1979, c. 655, s. 1; 1991, c. 694, ss. 5, 6; 2009-350, s. 1)”
Anatomy of a Session Law (local act)
• Session Law Citation / Bill Number• Long Title• “The General Assembly of North Carolina
enacts:”• Substantive provisions – codified & uncodified• Conditions on application of act• Effective Date
Session law citation & bill #
Title
Amended statute (codified)
Uncodified application of act and sunset provision
Finding Statutes and Local Acts
Finding Statutes: 2 Easy Options
1) Looking up a specific statute
2) Using General Statutes Table of Contents
Recap: 3 Easy Steps
1.Go to www.ncleg.net2.Click on “General Statutes” in Shortcut
Menu3.Enter Statute Number in Look-up Box and
“Go”
Congratulations! You’ve Found the Statute!
2). General Statutes Table of Contents
Scroll Down
Recap: 3 Easy Steps
1.Go to www.ncleg.net and click on “General Statutes” in Shortcut Menu
2.Click on “Table of Contents” and scroll down to a specific Chapter
3.Click on the link for that Chapter and then select the specific statute you are looking for
Congratulations! You’ve Found the Statute!
Finding Local Acts: 2 Easy Options
1) Specific Session Law Search
2) Historical Search
Finding Local Acts
2 Options: Historic or Specific
HistoricSpecific
Historic
Example: Cabarrus County
Specific (SL 1999-34)
Recap: 3 Easy Steps1.Go to www.ncleg.net and click on “Session
Laws” in shortcut menu
2.Search either for all session laws affecting your jurisdiction (historical) or a specific session law (specific)
3.Click on the link for the session law you are looking for
Congratulations! You’ve Found the Session Law!