A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to create a presumption that allows one law enforcement agency to easily assist another law enforcement agency whenever necessary.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 160A‑288(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑288.  Cooperation between law‑enforcement agencies.
(a)	Unless specifically prohibited or limited by an ordinance officially adopted by the governing body of the city or county by which the person is employed, appointed, or elected to serve, the head of any law‑enforcement agency may temporarily provide assistance to another agency in enforcing the laws of North Carolina if so requested in writing by the head of the requesting agency. The assistance may comprise allowing officers of the agency to work temporarily with officers of the requesting agency (including in an undercover capacity) and lending equipment and supplies. While working with the requesting agency under the authority of this section, an officer shall have the same jurisdiction, powers, rights, privileges and immunities (including those relating to the defense of civil actions and payment of judgments) as the officers of the requesting agency in addition to those the officer normally possesses. While on duty with the requesting agency, the officer shall be subject to the lawful operational commands of the officer's superior officers in the requesting agency, but the officer shall for personnel and administrative purposes, remain under the control of the officer's own agency, including for purposes of pay. The officer shall furthermore be entitled to workers' compensation and the same benefits when acting pursuant to this section to the same extent as though the officer were functioning within the normal scope of the officer's duties."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 16A‑288.2(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑288.2.  Assistance to State law‑enforcement agencies.
(a)	Unless specifically limited or prohibited by an ordinance officially adopted by the governing body of the city or county by which the person is employed,  appointed, or elected to serve, the head of any local law‑enforcement agency may temporarily provide assistance to a State law‑enforcement agency in enforcing the laws of North Carolina if so requested in writing by the head of the State agency. The assistance may comprise allowing officers of the local agency to work temporarily with officers of the State agency (including in an undercover capacity) and lending equipment and supplies. While working with the State agency under the authority of this section, an officer shall have the same jurisdiction, powers, rights, privileges and immunities (including those relating to the defense of civil actions and the payment of judgments) as the officers of the State agency in addition to those the officer normally possesses. While on duty with the State agency, the officer shall be subject to the lawful operational commands of the officer's superior officers in the State agency, but the officer shall for personnel and administrative purposes, remain under the control of the local agency, including for purposes of pay. The officer shall furthermore be entitled to workers' compensation and the same benefits when acting pursuant to this section to the same extent as though the officer were functioning within the normal scope of the officer's duties."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.