GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2003

SESSION LAW 2003-342

HOUSE BILL 743

AN ACT to establish a nurse testimonial privilege.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 7 of Chapter 8 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 8-53.13.     Nurse privilege.

No person licensed pursuant to Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes shall be required to disclose any information that may have been acquired in rendering professional nursing services, and which information was necessary to enable that person to render professional nursing services, except that the presiding judge of a superior or district court may compel disclosure if, in the court's opinion, disclosure is necessary to a proper administration of justice and disclosure is not prohibited by other statute or rule."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2003.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 10^th day of July, 2003.

                                                                    s/ Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/ Richard T. Morgan

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/ Michael F. Easley

                                                                         Governor

Approved 1:34 p.m. this 27^th day of July, 2003