A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing that any person who knows or has reason to know that another is in need of emergency assistance has a duty to dial 911 to summon police, fire department, or ambulance.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 26 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read as follows:
"§ 14‑202.7.  Duty to summon emergency assistance; liability limitation.
(a)	Any person who knows or has reason to know that another is in need of emergency assistance shall dial 911 to summon police, fire department, or ambulance to the scene or shall use another means to summon emergency assistance. A person is not required to summon emergency assistance as provided in this section if doing so would place the person in danger or emergency assistance is being summoned by others. Violation of this section shall be a Class A1 misdemeanor. Violation of this section shall be a Class I felony if the failure to dial 911 is willful or grossly negligent and the person in need of emergency assistance dies as a result of the failure to dial 911. The felony of failure to summon emergency assistance is an offense additional to other civil and criminal provisions and is not intended to repeal or preclude any other sanctions or remedies.
(b)	Any person who renders first aid or emergency care to a person in need of emergency medical assistance shall not be liable in civil damages for any acts or omissions relating to the services rendered unless the acts or omissions amount to wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2017.