AN ACT concerning personally identifiable records relating to county animal services.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 132 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 132‑1.15.  Personally identifiable records relating to county animal services.

(a)        Personally identifiable information held by an animal shelter as defined in G.S. 19A‑23(5) that relates to any of the following is not a public record as defined in G.S. 132‑1:

(1)        An individual who has surrendered ownership, custody, or possession of an animal to an animal shelter.

(2)        An individual who has placed an animal in a long‑term hold or foster program designed to hold animals due to domestic violence situations.

(3)        An individual who has adopted a shelter animal or to whom a shelter animal has been placed through a foster program.

(4)        The disposition of animals confiscated under G.S. 14‑363.2.

(b)        When a county animal control service places animals with an animal rescue organization, the identity of the animal rescue organization is a public record as defined in G.S. 132‑1.

(c)        Disclosure or nondisclosure of information that is not a public record under this section may be made in the county's discretion.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.