AN ACT to clarify that personnel mediations by the university of north carolina system are not considered "practice law"; that records created as part of those personnel mediations are not public records; and that participants in those personnel mediations are treated similarly to participants in other mediations, to provide for open discovery in all felony cases, and to make certain other amendments to the laws regarding discovery in criminal cases.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§  116‑3.3.  Mediation matters.
(a)	Evidence of statements made and conduct occurring in a mediation of a personnel matter involving The University of North Carolina or a constituent institution shall not be subject to discovery and shall be inadmissible in any proceeding in any action on the same claim or any other claim, administrative or judicial, except in a proceeding to enforce a signed settlement agreement. Such evidence is not a public record under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. Any evidence discoverable or admissible prior to the mediation shall remain discoverable and admissible, whether or not it is presented or discussed during mediation.
(b)	No mediator, person training to become a mediator, nor participant in a mediation of a personnel matter involving The University of North Carolina or a constituent institution shall be compelled to testify or produce evidence with respect to the mediation of the personnel matter in any civil proceeding, except to attest to the signing of any such agreement."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 84‑2.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 84‑2.1.  "Practice law" defined.
The phrase "practice law" as used in this Chapter is defined to be performing any legal service for any other person, firm or corporation, with or without compensation, specifically including the preparation or aiding in the preparation of deeds, mortgages, wills, trust instruments, inventories, accounts or reports of guardians, trustees, administrators or executors, or preparing or aiding in the preparation of any petitions or orders in any probate or court proceeding; abstracting or passing upon titles, the preparation and filing of petitions for use in any court, including administrative tribunals and other judicial or quasi‑judicial bodies, or assisting by advice, counsel, or otherwise in any legal work; and to advise or give opinion upon the legal rights of any person, firm or corporation: Provided, that the above reference to particular acts which are specifically included within the definition of the phrase "practice law" shall not be construed to limit the foregoing general definition of the term, but shall be construed to include the foregoing particular acts, as well as all other acts within the general definition. The phrase "practice law" does not encompass the writing of memoranda of understanding or other mediation summaries by mediators at community mediation centers authorized byG.S.  7A‑38.5 or by mediators of personnel matters for The University of North Carolina or a constituent institution."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 15A‑902 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑902.  Discovery procedure.
(a)	A party seeking discovery under this Article must, before filing any motion before a judge, request in writing that the other party comply voluntarily with the discovery request. A written request is not required if the parties agree in writing to voluntarily comply with the provisions of Article 48 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes. Upon receiving a negative or unsatisfactory response, or upon the passage of seven days following the receipt of the request without response, the party requesting discovery may file a motion for discovery under the provisions of this Article concerning any matter as to which voluntary discovery was not made pursuant to request.
(b)	To the extent that discovery authorized in this Article is voluntarily made in response to a request or written agreement, the discovery is deemed to have been made under an order of the court for the purposes of this Article.
(c)	A motion for discovery under this Article must be heard before a superior court judge.
(d)	If a defendant is represented by counsel, the defendant may as a matter of right request voluntary discovery from the State under subsection (a) of this section not later than the tenth working day after either the probable‑cause hearing or the date the defendant waives the hearing. If a defendant is not represented by counsel, or is indicted or consents to the filing of a bill of information before the defendant has been afforded or waived a probable‑cause hearing, the defendant may as a matter of right request voluntary discovery from the State under subsection (a) of this section not later than the tenth working day after the later of:
(1)	The defendant's consent to be tried upon a bill of information, or the service of notice upon the defendant that a true bill of indictment has been found by the grand jury, or
(2)	The appointment of counsel.
For the purposes of this subsection a defendant is represented by counsel only if counsel was retained by or appointed for the defendant prior to or during a probable‑cause hearing or prior to execution by the defendant of a waiver of a probable‑cause hearing.
(e)	The State may as a matter of right request voluntary discovery from the defendant, when authorized under this Article, at any time not later than the tenth working day after disclosure by the State with respect to the category of discovery in question.
(f)	A motion for discovery made at any time prior to trial may be entertained if the parties so stipulate or if the judge for good cause shown determines that the motion should be allowed in whole or in part."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 15A‑903 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑903.  Disclosure of evidence by the State – Information subject to disclosure.
																		
(a)	Upon motion of the defendant, the court must order the State to:
(1)	Make available to the defendant the complete files of all law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies involved in the investigation of the crimes committed or the prosecution of the defendant. The term "file" includes the defendant's statements, the codefendants' statements, witness statements, investigating officers' notes, results of tests and examinations, or any other matter or evidence obtained during the investigation of the offenses alleged to have been committed by the defendant. Oral statements shall be in written or recorded form. The defendant shall have the right to inspect and copy or photograph any materials contained therein and, under appropriate safeguards, to inspect, examine, and test any physical evidence or sample contained therein.
(2)	Give notice to the defendant of any expert witnesses that the State reasonably expects to call as a witness at trial. Each such witness shall prepare, and the State shall furnish to the defendant, a report of the results of any examinations or tests conducted by the expert. The State shall also furnish to the defendant the expert's curriculum vitae, the expert's opinion, and the underlying basis for that opinion. The State shall give the notice and furnish the materials required by this subsection within a reasonable time prior to trial, as specified by the court.
(3)	Give the defendant, at the beginning of jury selection, a written list of the names of all other witnesses whom the State reasonably expects to call during the trial. Names of witnesses shall not be subject to disclosure if the State certifies in writing and under seal to the court that to do so may subject the witnesses or others to physical or substantial economic harm or coercion, or that there is other particularized, compelling need not to disclose. If there are witnesses that the State did not reasonably expect to call at the time of the provision of the witness list, and as a result are not listed, the court upon a good faith showing shall allow the witnesses to be called. Additionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.
(b)	If the State voluntarily provides disclosure under G.S. 15A‑902(a), the disclosure shall be to the same extent as required by subsection (a) of this section."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 15A‑904 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑904.  Disclosure  by the State – Certain information not subject to disclosure.
(a)	 The State is not required to disclose written materials drafted by the prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's legal staff for their own use at trial, including witness examinations, voir dire questions, opening statements, and closing arguments. Disclosure is also not required of legal research or of records, correspondence, reports, memoranda, or trial preparation interview notes prepared by the prosecuting attorney or by members of the prosecuting attorney's legal staff to the extent they contain the opinions, theories, strategies, or conclusions of the prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's legal staff.
(b)	Nothing in this section prohibits the State from making voluntary disclosures in the interest of justice nor prohibits a court from finding that the protections of this section have been waived.
(c)	This section shall have no effect on the State's duty to comply with federal or State constitutional disclosure requirements."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 15A‑905 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑905.  Disclosure of evidence by the defendant – Information subject to disclosure.
(a)	Documents and Tangible Objects. – If the court grants any relief sought by the defendant under G.S.  15A‑903, the court must, upon motion of the State, order the defendant to permit the State to inspect and copy or photograph books, papers, documents, photographs, motion pictures, mechanical or electronic recordings, tangible objects, or copies or portions thereof which are within the possession, custody, or control of the defendant and which the defendant intends to introduce in evidence at the trial.
(b)	Reports of Examinations and Tests. – If the court grants any relief sought by the defendant under G.S.  15A‑903, the court must, upon motion of the State, order the defendant to permit the State to inspect and copy or photograph results or reports of physical or mental examinations or of tests, measurements or experiments made in connection with the case, or copies thereof, within the possession and control of the defendant which the defendant intends to introduce in evidence at the trial or which were prepared by a witness whom the defendant intends to call at the trial, when the results or reports relate to his testimony. In addition, upon motion of the State, the court must order the defendant to permit the State to inspect, examine, and test, subject to appropriate safeguards, any physical evidence or a sample of it available to the defendant if the defendant intends to offer such evidence, or tests or experiments made in connection with such evidence, as an exhibit or evidence in the case.
(c)	Notice of Defenses, Expert Witnesses, and Witness Lists. – If the court grants any relief sought by the defendant under G.S. 15A‑903, or if disclosure is voluntarily made by the State pursuant to G.S. 15A‑902(a), the court must, upon motion of the State, order the defendant to:
(1)	Give notice to the State of the intent to offer at trial a defense of alibi, duress, entrapment, insanity, mental infirmity, diminished capacity, self‑defense, accident, automatism, involuntary intoxication, or voluntary intoxication. Notice of defense as described in this subdivision is inadmissible against the defendant. Notice of defense must be given within 20 working days after the date the case is set for trial pursuant to G.S. 7A‑49.4, or such other later time as set by the court.
a.	As to the defense of alibi, the court may order, upon motion by the State, the disclosure of the identity of alibi witnesses no later than two weeks before trial. If disclosure is ordered, upon a showing of good cause, the court shall order the State to disclose any rebuttal alibi witnesses no later than one week before trial. If the parties agree, the court may specify different time periods for this exchange so long as the exchange occurs within a reasonable time prior to trial.
b.	As to only the defenses of duress, entrapment, insanity, automatism, or involuntary intoxication, notice by the defendant shall contain specific information as to the nature and extent of the defense. 
(2)	Give notice to the State of any expert witnesses that the defendant reasonably expects to call as a witness at trial. Each such witness shall prepare, and the defendant shall furnish to the State, a report of the results of the examinations or tests conducted by the expert. The defendant shall also furnish to the State the expert's curriculum vitae, the expert's opinion, and the underlying basis for that opinion. The defendant shall give the notice and furnish the materials required by this subdivision within a reasonable time prior to trial, as specified by the court.
(3)	Give the State, at the beginning of jury selection, a written list of the names of all other witnesses whom the defendant reasonably expects to call during the trial. Names of witnesses shall not be subject to disclosure if the defendant certifies in writing and under seal to the court that to do so may subject the witnesses or others to physical or substantial economic harm or coercion, or that there is other particularized, compelling need not to disclose. If there are witnesses that the defendant did not reasonably expect to call at the time of the provision of the witness list, and as a result are not listed, the court upon a good faith showing shall allow the witnesses to be called. Additionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.
(d)	If the defendant voluntarily provides discovery under G.S. 15A‑902(a), the disclosure shall be to the same extent as required by subsection (c) of this section."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 15A‑907 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑907.  Continuing duty to disclose.
If a party, who is required to give or who voluntarily gives discovery pursuant to this Article, discovers prior to or during trial additional evidence or witnesses, or decides to use additional evidence or witnesses, and the evidence or witness is or may be subject to discovery or inspection under this Article, the party must promptly notify the attorney for the other party of the existence of the additional evidence or witnesses."
SECTION 8.  G.S. 15A‑908(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Upon written motion of a party and a finding of good cause, which may include, but is not limited to a finding that there is a substantial risk to any person or physical harm, intimidation, bribery, economic reprisals, or unnecessary annoyance or embarrassment, the court may at any time order that discovery or inspection be denied, restricted, or deferred, or may make other appropriate orders. A party may apply ex parte for a protective order and, if an ex parte order is granted, the opposing party shall receive notice that the order was entered, but without disclosure of the subject matter of the order."
SECTION 9.  G.S. 15A‑910 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑910.  Regulation of discovery – Failure to comply.
(a)	If at any time during the course of the proceedings the court determines that a party has failed to comply with this Article or with an order issued pursuant to this Article, the court in addition to exercising its contempt powers may
(1)	Order the party to permit the discovery or inspection, or
(2)	Grant a continuance or recess, or
(3)	Prohibit the party from introducing evidence not disclosed, or
(3a)	Declare a mistrial, or
(3b)	Dismiss the charge, with or without prejudice, or
(4)	Enter other appropriate orders.
(b)	Prior to finding any sanctions appropriate, the court shall consider both the materiality of the subject matter and the totality of the circumstances surrounding an alleged failure to comply with this Article or an order issued pursuant to this Article."
SECTION 10.  G.S. 15A‑959 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑959.  Notice of defense of insanity; pretrial determination of insanity.
(a)	If a defendant intends to raise the defense of insanity, the defendant must  file a notice of the defendant's intention to rely on the defense of insanity as provided in G.S. 15A‑905(c) and, if the case is not subject to that section, within a reasonable time prior to trial. The court may for cause shown allow late filing of the notice or grant additional time to the parties to prepare for trial or make other appropriate orders.
(b)	In cases not subject to the requirements of G.S. 15A‑905(c), if a defendant intends to introduce expert testimony relating to a mental disease, defect, or other condition bearing upon the issue of whether the defendant had the mental state required for the offense charged, the defendant must within a reasonable time prior to trial file a notice of that intention. The court may for cause shown allow late filing of the notice or grant additional time to the parties to prepare for trial or make other appropriate orders.
(c)	Upon motion of the defendant and with the consent of the State the court may conduct a hearing prior to the trial with regard to the defense of insanity at the time of the offense. If the court determines that the defendant has a valid defense of insanity with regard to any criminal charge, it may dismiss that charge, with prejudice, upon making a finding to that effect. The court's denial of relief under this subsection is without prejudice to the defendant's right to rely on the defense at trial. If the motion is denied, no reference to the hearing may be made at the trial, and recorded testimony or evidence taken at the hearing is not admissible as evidence at the trial."
SECTION 11.  G.S. 15A‑501 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 15A‑501.  Police processing and duties upon arrest generally.
Upon the arrest of a person, with or without a warrant, but not necessarily in the order hereinafter listed, a law‑enforcement officer:
…
(6)	Must make available to the State on a timely basis all materials and information acquired in the course of all felony investigations. This responsibility is a continuing affirmative duty."
SECTION 12.  Sections 3 through 11 of this act become effective October 1, 2004, and apply to cases where the trial date set pursuant to G.S. 7A‑49.4 is on or after October 1, 2004. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 16th day of July, 2004.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 4:34 p.m. this 2nd day of August, 2004