RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina legislature gave its final OK to state regulations Thursday for ride-sharing companies such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar, a move supporters say will protect consumers and drivers of the mobile phone-based services and encourage competition. The bill sets minimum standards for background checks of potential drivers and company liability coverage on private cars owned by their contract drivers as they transport customers or wait for jobs. Uber has publicly endorsed the regulations, which also requires "transportation network companies" to pay $5,000 state permit fees. The new rules "provide multiple levels of protections to the general public and those that are involved in these innovative transportation services," McKissick said in an interview.