AN ACT to authorize officials elected in the State to carry a concealed firearm while performing their official duties if the official has a concealed handgun permit.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑269(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(10)    Any person who is an elected official or person appointed to fill an elective office in this State, when acting in discharge of their official duties, and who has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.24; provided that the person shall not carry a concealed weapon at any time while consuming alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance or while alcohol or an unlawful controlled substance remains in the person's body. This subdivision does not exempt the person from the provisions of G.S. 14‑269.2.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 14‑269.2(g)(1a) reads as rewritten:

(1a)    A person exempted by the provisions of subdivisions (1) through (9) of G.S. 14‑269(b).

SECTION 3.  G.S. 14‑415.11(c) reads as rewritten:

(c)      Except as provided in G.S. 14‑415.27, a permit does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun in any of the following:

(1)        Areas prohibited by G.S. 14‑269.2, 14‑269.3, and 14‑277.2.G.S. 14‑269.2.

(1a)      Areas prohibited by G.S. 14‑269.3 and G.S. 14‑277.2.

….

SECTION 4.  G.S. 14‑415.27 reads as rewritten:

§ 14‑415.27.  Expanded permit scope for certain persons.

(a)        Notwithstanding G.S. 14‑415.11(c), any of the following persons who has a concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to this Article or that is considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.24 is not subject to the area prohibitions set out in G.S. 14‑415.11(c) and may carry a concealed handgun in the areas listed in G.S. 14‑415.11(c) unless otherwise prohibited by federal law:

(1)        A district attorney.

(2)        An assistant district attorney.

(3)        An investigator employed by the office of a district attorney.

(4)        A North Carolina district or superior court judge.

(5)        A magistrate.

(6)        A person who is elected and serving as a clerk of court.

(7)        A person who is elected and serving as a register of deeds.

(8)        A person employed by the Department of Public Safety who has been designated in writing by the Secretary of the Department and who has in the person's possession written proof of the designation.

(9)        A North Carolina administrative law judge.

(b)        Notwithstanding G.S. 14‑415.11(c), any elected official or person appointed to fill an elective office in this State, when acting in discharge of their official duties, and who has a concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to this Article or that is considered valid under G.S. 14‑415.21 is not subject to the area prohibitions set out in subdivisions (1a) through (8) of G.S. 14‑415.11(c) and may carry a concealed handgun in the areas listed in subdivisions (1a) through (8) of G.S. 14‑415.11(c) unless otherwise prohibited by federal law.

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.