Gov. Perdue today took action on three bills today.  She signed (i) H.B. 542, “Tort Reform for Citizens and Business” and (ii) H.B. 709, “Protect and Put NC Back to Work,” and made the following statement:

“As we seek to grow jobs in North Carolina, it is essential that we remain a business-friendly state where companies will want to invest and expand. With that goal in mind, I am pleased to sign these two bills. House Bills 542 and 709 exemplify how good, balanced laws can be created when advocates for business and citizens roll up their sleeves and work together.  

“House Bill 542 will ensure that when an accident happens, the laws in North Carolina both protect those injured and also prevent undue or disproportionate penalties from being imposed upon our companies. This law helps strike a fair and delicate balance.  

“I also signed H.B. 709, which reforms our workers compensation system.  The workers compensation system was established to ensure that those who are injured while working are treated fairly.  The bill I signed extends protections to injured people and also provides guidelines and protections for employers.”

Lastly, Gov. Perdue vetoed SB 33, “Medical Liability Reforms,” and made the following statement:

“I am strongly committed to passing meaningful medical malpractice reform.  Doctors, hospitals and nursing homes in North Carolina are all being burdened by medical malpractice insurance rates that are too high.

“By working together, we enacted meaningful changes to our tort law (H.B. 542) and our worker’s compensation system (H.B. 709) this year.  We can achieve real medical malpractice reform as well.  I commend the legislature for addressing this important issue but, in its current form, the bill is unbalanced.  I urge legislators to modify the bill when the General Assembly returns in July to protect those who are catastrophically injured.  Once the bill is revised to adequately protect those that are catastrophically injured, I will proudly sign it into law.  I pledge to continue working with the General Assembly to achieve a comprehensive, bipartisan consensus.”