North Carolina § 120-132 - Testimony by legislative employees.

§ 120-132. Testimony by legislative employees.

Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, no present or former legislative employee may disclose any information that the individual, while employed or retained by the State, may have acquired: In a standing, select, or conference committee or subcommittee of either house of the General Assembly or a legislative commission; On the floor of either house of the General Assembly, in any office of a legislator, or at any other location of the State legislative buildings and grounds as defined in G.S. 120-32.1(d); As a result of communications that are confidential under G.S. 120-130 and G.S. 120-131. A present or former legislative employee may disclose information acquired under subsection (a) of this section that would be reflected in the official public record or was otherwise publicly disseminated. Subject to G.S. 120-9, G.S. 120-133, and the common law of legislative privilege and legislative immunity, the presiding judge may compel disclosure of information acquired under subsection (a) of this section if in the judge's opinion, the disclosure is necessary to a proper administration of justice. History (1983, c. 900, s. 1; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1038, s. 5; 2010-169, s. 24(b).) Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2010-169, s. 24(b), effective October 1, 2010, inserted subsection designations in the introductory paragraph in subsection (a), added the exception, and substituted "legislative employee may disclose any information" for "legislative employees may be required to disclose any information"; in subdivision (a)(2), added "or at any other location of the State legislative buildings and grounds as defined in G.S. 120-32.1(d)"; added subsection (b); and rewrote subsection (c), which formerly read: "Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sentence, the presiding judge of a court of competent jurisdiction may compel that disclosure, if in his opinion, the same is necessary to a proper administration of justice."