GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

SESSION LAW 2009-225

SENATE BILL 258

AN ACT to authorize the division of emergency management to establish a voluntary model registry for use by counties and municipalities in identifying functionally and medically fragile persons in need of assistance during a disaster; and to authorize counties and municipalities to operate similar registries, as recommended by the joint select committee on emergency preparedness and disaster management recovery.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 166A-5(3) is amended by adding a new sub-subdivision to read:

"(3)      Functions of State Emergency Management. - The functions of the State emergency management program include:

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b2. Establishment of a voluntary model registry for use by political subdivisions in identifying functionally and medically fragile persons in need of assistance during a disaster. All records, data, information, correspondence, and communications relating to the registration of persons with special needs or of functionally and medically fragile persons obtained pursuant to this sub-subdivision are confidential and are not a public record pursuant to G.S. 132-1 or any other applicable statute, except that this information shall be available to emergency response agencies, as determined by the local emergency management director. This information shall be used only for the purposes set forth in this sub-subdivision.

…."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 166A-7(d) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(d)      In carrying out the provisions of this Article each political subdivision is authorized:

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(5) To coordinate the voluntary registration of functionally and medically fragile persons in need of assistance during a disaster either through a registry established by this subdivision or by the State. All records, data, information, correspondence, and communications relating to the registration of persons with special needs or of functionally and medically fragile persons obtained pursuant to this sub-subdivision are confidential and are not a public record pursuant to G.S. 132-1 or any other applicable statute, except that this information shall be available to emergency response agencies, as determined by the local emergency management director. This information shall be used only for the purposes set forth in this subdivision."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 23^rd day of June, 2009.

                                                                    s/  Walter H. Dalton

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Joe Hackney

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         Governor

Approved 5:45 p.m. this 30^th day of June, 2009