North Carolina 2021-2022 Session Status: Died Bipartisan · 10 D · 3 R · 1 I cosponsors

HB 546 — NC Call Center Preservation Act.

Last action — Withdrawn From Com

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

31 added · 30 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 546 now includes a clearer formula for how companies must repay government support when they relocate call centers. It introduces a graduated repayment scale, which means that the repayment percentage decreases over five years. Additionally, the amended bill ensures that displaced workers can receive retraining support and their former employers are required to cover the cost of this retraining. These changes matter because they aim to protect workers who lose their jobs and facilitate their retraining for new employment opportunities.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2021 H 1 HOUSE BILL 546 Short Title:
546 Apr 13, 2021 SESSION 2021 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH10238-LR-62A Short Title:
Representative Richardson.
Representatives Richardson, Setzer, and Goodwin (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENACT THE NC CALL CENTER PRESERVATION ACT.
Commerce, if favorable, Regulatory Reform, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 14, 2021 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENACT THE NC CALL CENTER PRESERVATION ACT.
– Except as provided by this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, an employer that appears on the list described in subsection (c) of this section shall remit the unamortized value of any grants, guaranteed loans, tax benefits, or any other governmental support it has previously received to the Commissioner on a graduated scale formula as follows:
– Except as provided by this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, an employer that appears on the list described in subsection (c) of this section shall remit the unamortized value of any grants, guaranteed loans, tax benefits, or any other *H546-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 governmental support it has previously received to the Commissioner on a graduated scale formula as follows:
*DRH10238-LR-62A* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 For the purposes of this formula, "y" equals the percentage of payback and "x" equals the amount of time." SECTION 3.
For the purposes of this formula, "y" equals the percentage of payback and "x" equals the amount of time." SECTION 3.
Page 2 DRH10238-LR-62A
Page 2 House Bill 546-First Edition
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a framework to protect call center jobs in North Carolina and impose requirements on employers relocating such jobs out of the state.

  • Article 3 of Chapter 95

    § 95-31.1. Call center job protection. (a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: (1) Agency. – A State executive branch agency. (2) Call center employer or employer. – Any business that employs for the purpose of customer service or back-office operations: a. Fifty or more employees, excluding part-time employees; or b. Fifty or more employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week (exclusive of overtime hours). (3) Commissioner. – The Commissioner of Labor. (4) Part-time employee. – An employee who is employed for an average of fewer than 20 hours per week or who has been employed for fewer than six of the last 12 months preceding the date on which notice is required. (b) Notice Requirements. – A call center employer that intends to relocate a call center, or one or more facilities or operating units within a call center comprising at least thirty percent (30%) of the call center's or operating unit's total volume when measured against the previous 12-month average call volume of operations, or substantially similar operations, from North Carolina to outside the State shall notify the Commissioner at least 120 days before such relocation. (c) Compilation. – The Commissioner shall compile a semiannual list of all call center employers that relocate a call center or one or more facilities or operating units with a call center comprising at least thirty percent (30%) of the call center's total volume of operations outside the State. (d) Distribution. – The Commissioner shall distribute the list required in subsection (c) of this section to all agencies subject to this Chapter. (e) Reversion. – Except as provided by this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, an employer that appears on the list described in subsection (c) of this section shall remit the unamortized value of any grants, guaranteed loans, tax benefits, or any other governmental support it has previously received to the Commissioner on a graduated scale formula as follows: y=-.8x + 100 repayments reaching zero percent (0%) at the five-year mark. For the purposes of this formula, "y" equals the percentage of payback and "x" equals the amount of time.

    This creates a new law requiring call center employers to notify the Commissioner of Labor before relocating jobs, compile a list of such employers, and impose repayment obligations based on governmental support received.

  • Article 3 of Chapter 95

    § 95-31.1. Call center job protection. ...Each relocating call center employer shall remit retraining tuition for its former employees to the office of the North Carolina Community College System to be used within 18 months of displacement or the tuition will be forfeited.

    This mandates that employers relocating call centers pay for retraining tuition of affected employees.

  • Article 3 of Chapter 95

    § 95-31.1. Call center job protection. ... No provision of this act shall be construed to permit withholding or denial of payments, compensation, or benefits under any other State law (including State unemployment compensation, disability payments, or worker retraining or adjustment funds) to workers employed by call center employers that relocate outside the State.

    This ensures protections for workers' rights to compensation and benefits under existing state laws, even if their employer relocates.

Action History

  1. Withdrawn From Com

  2. Re-ref to the Com on Commerce, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Serial Referral To Regulatory Reform Stricken

  4. Withdrawn From Com

  5. Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  6. Passed 1st Reading

  7. Ref to the Com on Commerce, if favorable, Regulatory Reform, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  8. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 24 co-sponsors · 153 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (24)

Not signed on (153)

153 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

labor education technology
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 546?
HB 546 is sponsored by Julie von Haefen (Democratic), R. Smith, Shelly Willingham (Democratic), Wray, Richardson, Mitchell S. Setzer (Republican), Edward C. Goodwin (Republican), Autry, Mary Belk (Democratic), Terry M. Brown Jr. (Democratic), Clemmons, Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Everitt, Fisher, Gill, Harris, Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Hunter, Hurtado, Lucas, Nasif Majeed (U), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Robert T. Reives, II (Democratic), and Ben T. Moss, Jr. (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 546?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 546?
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