H561: Local Confinement Facility Inspection Appeals. Latest Version

Session: 2021 - 2022

House
Passed 1st Reading
Committee
Rules
Passed 3rd Reading
Senate
Passed 1st Reading
Rules



AN ACT to expand the rights of appeal pursuant to inspections of local confinement facilities.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 153A‑222 reads as rewritten:

§ 153A‑222.  Inspections of local confinement facilities.

(a)        Department personnel shall visit and inspect each local confinement facility at least semiannually. The purpose of the inspections is to investigate the conditions of confinement, the treatment of prisoners, the maintenance of entry level employment standards for jailers and supervisory and administrative personnel of local confinement facilities as provided for in G.S. 153A‑216(4), and to determine whether the facilities meet the minimum standards published pursuant to G.S. 153A‑221. The inspector shall make a written report of each inspection and submit it within 30 days after the day the inspection is completed to the governing body and other local officials responsible for the facility. The report shall specify each way in which the facility does not meet the minimum standards.is alleged to be deficient.

(b)        The Within 30 days of receiving the inspection report under subsection (a) of this section, the governing body shall consider the report at its first regular meeting after receipt of the report and shall promptly (i) initiate any action necessary to bring the facility into conformity with the standards.minimum standards published pursuant to G.S. 153A‑221 or (ii) request a contested case hearing regarding any or all findings in the report pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.

(c)        A governing body, sheriff, or other administrator of a local confinement facility has a right to request a contested case hearing regarding any or all findings in the report pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Appeals of any contested case hearing shall be conducted pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

(d)       Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 8‑53 or any other provision of law relating to the confidentiality of communications between physician and patient, the representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services who make these inspections under this section may review any writing or other record in any recording medium which pertains to the admission, discharge, medication, treatment, medical condition, or history of persons who are or have been inmates of the facility being inspected. Physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and anyone else involved in giving treatment at or through a facility who may be interviewed by representatives of the Department may disclose to these representatives information related to an inquiry, notwithstanding the existence of the physician‑patient privilege in G.S. 8‑53 or any other rule of law; provided the patient, resident or client inmate has not made written objection to such disclosure. The facility, its employees, and any person interviewed during these inspections shall be immune from liability for damages resulting from the disclosure of any information to the Department. Any confidential or privileged information received from review of records or interviews shall be kept confidential by the Department and not disclosed without written authorization of the inmate or legal representative, or unless disclosure is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Department shall institute appropriate policies and procedures to ensure that this information shall not be disclosed without authorization or court order. The Department shall not disclose the name of anyone who has furnished information concerning a facility without the consent of that person. Neither the names of persons furnishing information nor any confidential or privileged information obtained from records or interviews shall be considered public records within the meaning of G.S. 132‑1. Prior to releasing any information or allowing any inspections referred to in this section section, the patient, resident or client inmate must be advised in writing that he has the of the inmate's right to object in writing to such the release of information or review of his records the inmate's records, and that by an objection objecting in writing he the inmate may prohibit the inspection or release of his the inmate's records.

SECTION 2.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt temporary rules under G.S. 150B‑21.1 to comply with this act and shall adopt permanent rules to comply with this act by October 1, 2022.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2021.