H972 - Law Enforcement Recordings/No Public Record. (SL 2016-88)

Overview: S.L. 2016-88 does the following with respect to recordings made by law enforcement agencies:

• Provides that they are not public records.
• Establishes whether, to whom, and what portions of a recording may be disclosed or a copy released.
• Establishes the procedure for contesting a refusal to disclose a recording or to obtain a copy of a recording.
• Directs State or local law enforcement agencies to provide, upon request, access to a method to view and analyze recordings to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory (State Crime Lab).

Effective July 11, 2016, the act authorizes governmental and nongovernmental organizations to establish and operate hypodermic syringe and needle exchange programs and provides limited immunity from criminal prosecution to employees, volunteers, and participants of authorized hypodermic syringe and needle exchange programs.

The provisions of the act related to the disclosure and release of recordings made by law enforcement agencies become effective October 1, 2016, and apply to all requests made on or after that date for the disclosure or release of a recording.