AN ACT to increase the CLASSIFICATION of ASSAULTING a private contractor employed as a public transportation operator from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class A1 misdemeanor.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑33(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(7)	Assaults a public transit operator, including a public employee or a private contractor employed as a public transit operator, when the operator is discharging or attempting to discharge his or her duties."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2004, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 17th day of June, 2004.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 12:10 p.m. this 25th day of June, 2004