(a)        The records comprising a volunteer file of a local school administrative unit are not public records as provided in Chapter 132 of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. These records shall be open for inspection only to the following individuals:

(1)        The volunteer, former volunteer, individual who applied to be a volunteer, or that individual’s properly authorized agent who may examine the individual’s file in its entirety at any reasonable time.

(2)        The superintendent and other supervisory personnel.

(3)        The parent or guardian of any student with whom the volunteer has or had contact.

(4)        Members of the local board of education and the board’s attorney.

(5)        A party to a lawsuit, by authority of a subpoena or proper court order, only to the extent authorized by and in accordance with that subpoena or court order.

(b)        A local board of education shall also release or permit the inspection of a volunteer file, except as prohibited by State or federal law, if prior to the release of the information or inspection of the file:

(1)        The local board of education determines that the release of the information or inspection of the file is essential (i) to maintaining the integrity of the local board of education or (ii) to maintaining the level or quality of services provided by the local board of education; or

(2)        The local board of education makes a written finding that there is a substantial showing of the criteria set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection. The local board of education’s written finding shall be a public record.

(c)        A volunteer shall be notified at the time the individual applies to volunteer that the local board of education may maintain a volunteer file on the individual, and that information in that file may be open to inspection in accordance with this section.

(d)       This section shall not be construed to require a local school administrative unit to maintain records on volunteers, former volunteers, or individuals applying to be volunteers.

(e)        As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1)        Volunteer. – An individual who provides services to a local board of education without expectation of compensation and with the understanding that the local board of education is under no obligation to continue accepting those services or to compensate the volunteer for them.

(2)        Volunteer file. – Any information collected by the local board of education regarding volunteers, former volunteers, and individuals applying to be volunteers that relates to the individual’s application, selection or nonselection, performance, disciplinary action, or termination, wherever that information is located or in whatever form it is maintained. (2003-353, s. 1.)