my $data  = {};
    my $SQL   = "SELECT * FROM my_table ORDER BY order";
    my $sth   = $dbh->prepare( $SQL );
    $sth->execute() or die DBI->errstr;

    my %row;

    $sth->bind_columns( \( @row{ @{ $sth->{ NAME_uc } } } ));
    $i = 1;
    
    while ( $sth->fetch() ){
        push @names, $row{ 'NAME' };
        delete $row{ 'NAME' };             #this line causes problem at 'bind_columns' down there
        $data->{"data_$i"} = { %row };
        $i++;
    }
    $sth->finish();
    
    my $second_data  = {};
    $SQL2    = "SELECT * FROM my_second_table ORDER BY order";
    my $sth2 = $dbh->prepare( $SQL2 );
    $sth2->execute();

    my %row2    = ();

    $sth2->bind_columns( \( @row2 { @{ $sth2->{ NAME_lc } } } )); # Error due to delete $row{ 'NAME' }; at top
    $i=1;       

    while ( $sth2->fetch() ){
        
        $second_data->{"data_$i"} = { %row2 };
        $i++;

    }
    $sth2->finish();    


##</code><code>##

"Can't use an undefined value as an ARRAY reference at /myprogram.pl line 23."

##</code><code>##

$sth2->bind_columns( \( @row2 { @{ $sth2->{ NAME_lc } } } ));

##</code><code>##

while ( $sth->fetch() ){
    %record=%row;
    push @names, $record{ 'NAME' };
    delete $record{ 'NAME' };
    $data->{"data_$i"} = { %record };
    $i++;
}

##</code><code>##

while ( $sth->fetch() ){
    %record=(%row);
    push @names, $record{ 'NAME' };
    delete $record{ 'NAME' };
    $data->{"data_$i"} = \%record;
    $i++;
}