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Senate Considers Bill to Boost Rights of Property Owners

North Carolina’s current property protection laws expose businesses to an alarming variety of threats – from corporate espionage to organized retail theft and internal data breaches. And when it comes to protecting sensitive assets, many employers not only have to safeguard their own property but also the private information of their customers. The good news is that legislation currently being considered in the Senate would provide the balanced protections our consumers and job creators need.

House Bill 405 (Property Protection Act) gained approval in the Senate Commerce Committee today, and is now expected to move to the Senate floor for consideration. The bill, which cleared the House last month with bipartisan support, would put greater security measures in place to protect business property from access by individuals engaging in unauthorized activities in non-public areas. Similar to penalties contained in the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the Property Protection Act creates a civil process for employers victimized by trespassers to seek remedial compensation of $5,000 for each day the intruder commits an unauthorized act.

To allow commerce to flow freely, both business owners and consumers must feel their sensitive property is secure – House Bill 405 provides the balanced, commonsense property protections North Carolina to do just that. We applaud the Senate for recognizing the inadequate security measures provided by current property protection laws and for working to ensure businesses have the legal right to defend their most important assets. We will continue to keep you updated on this important JOBS Agenda bill as it advances through the Senate.

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber