A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that a sheriff or a designated Deputy sheriff investigating the diversion and illegal use of controlled substances may obtain data in the controlled substance reporting system maintained by the department of health and human services.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑113.74(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(c)	The Department shall release data in the controlled substances reporting system to the following persons only:
…
(9)	A sheriff or a designated deputy sheriff who is assigned to investigate the diversion and illegal use of prescription medication or pharmaceutical products identified in Article 5 of this Chapter of the General Statutes as Schedule II through V controlled substances, provided that the sheriff or designated deputy sheriff has a reasonable suspicion in a specific investigation relating to the enforcement of laws governing licit drugs. The sheriff or designated deputy sheriff shall notify the Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina of each request for inspection of records maintained by the Department within 2 business days of the request. As used in this subdivision, "sheriff" also includes the chief of the Gaston County Police Department, and "deputy sheriff" also includes any sworn officer of the Gaston County Police Department."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2011.