AN ACT to increase the penalty for disrupting an official meeting of a public body.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑288.4 reads as rewritten:

§ 14‑288.4.  Disorderly conduct.

(a)        Disorderly conduct is a public disturbance intentionally caused by any person who does any of the following:

…

(9)        Engages in conduct which disturbs the peace or order of an official meeting of a public body as defined in G.S. 143‑318.10.

(a1)      As used in this section the term building or facility includes the surrounding grounds and premises of any building or facility used in connection with the operation or functioning of such building or facility.

…

(c)        A person who commits a violation of subdivision (8) or (9) of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of:

(1)        A Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense.

(2)        A Class I felony for a second offense.

(3)        A Class H felony for a third or subsequent offense.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 143‑318.17 is repealed.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.