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 within a department or agency employing first responders. The Governor may award up to two medals of valor to first responders each calendar year. The Governor may also award one Medal of Valor to an entire unit once each calendar year. If two recipients have already been awarded for the calendar year, the Governor may award a third recipient under special circumstances. The Medal of Valor Award shall be for first responders that have performed great acts of heroism, while under threat of personal risk to their 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 within a department or agency employing first responders. The Lieutenant Governor may award up to two medals of valor to first responders each calendar year. The Lieutenant Governor may also award one Medal of Valor to an entire unit once each calendar year. If two recipients have already been awarded for the calendar year, the Lieutenant Governor may award a third recipient under special circumstances. The Medal of Valor Award shall be for first responders that have performed great acts of heroism, while under threat of personal risk to their 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.