GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

H                                                                                                                                                   2

HOUSE BILL 477*

Committee Substitute Favorable 4/27/15

Short Title:        LEO Privacy Protection.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

April 2, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to direct the joint legislative committee on local government to STUDY REQUIRING cities and counties to remove personal information from records available ON internet web siteS MAINTAINED BY COUNTIES AND CITIES WHEN REQUESTED BY CERTAIN law enforcement PERSONNEL, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDICIAL OFFICers and to exempt government‑issued mobile telephone numbers of public safety personnel from disclosure as a public record.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government shall study the development of a process to remove personal information of nonelected officials from records available on Internet Web sites maintained by cities and counties. In conducting the study, the Committee shall consider the following:

(1)        The nonelected officials, including law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers, who may request removal of their personal information.

(2)        The city and county Web sites from which nonelected officials may request removal of their personal information.

(3)        The information subject to removal from Web sites.

(4)        The process for removal of personal information from Web sites.

(5)        Under what circumstances the information removed from Web sites is subject to disclosure as a public record.

(6)        The costs of such a process to cities and counties.

(7)        Any other matters that the Committee deems relevant.

SECTION 2.  In conducting the study required by this act, the Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government shall consult with any other agencies, institutions, or individuals that it deems appropriate.

SECTION 3.  The Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government shall report its findings and recommendations, together with any recommended legislation, to the 2016 Regular Session of the 2015 General Assembly.

SECTION 4.  G.S. 132‑1.7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(b1) Public records, as defined in G.S. 132‑1, shall not include mobile telephone numbers issued by a local, county, or State government to any of the following:

(1) A sworn law enforcement officer or nonsworn employee of a public law enforcement agency.

(2) An employee of a fire department.

(3) Any employee whose duties include responding to an emergency."

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.