North Carolina General Statutes 122C-17. (This Article has a contingent effective date – see note) State/Local Consumer Advocate; confidentiality
(a) Except as required by law, a Consumer Advocate shall not disclose the following:
(1) Any confidential or privileged information obtained pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-15 unless the affected individual authorizes disclosure in writing; or
(2) The name of anyone who has furnished information to a Consumer Advocate unless the individual authorizes disclosure in writing.
(b) Violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor, punishable only by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(c) All confidential or privileged information obtained under this section and the names of persons providing information to a Consumer Advocate are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Chapter 132 of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. Access to substance abuse records and redisclosure of protected information shall be in compliance with federal confidentiality laws protecting medical records. (2001-437, s. 2; 2002-126, s. 10.30; 2003-284, s. 10.10; 2005-276, s. 10.27.)
Attorney's Note
Under the N.C. Gen. Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 misdemeanor | up to 20 days | up to $200 |
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 122C-17
- Consumer: means an individual who is a client or a potential client of public services from a State or area facility. See North Carolina General Statutes 122C-11
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- in writing: may be construed to include printing, engraving, lithographing, and any other mode of representing words and letters: Provided, that in all cases where a written signature is required by law, the same shall be in a proper handwriting, or in a proper mark. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3