A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make violations of the public records and open meetings laws a class 3 misdemeanor.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 132‑9 reads as rewritten:  
"§ 132‑9.  Access to records.
(a)	Any person who is denied access to public records for purposes of inspection and examination, or who is denied copies of public records, may apply to the appropriate division of the General Court of Justice for an order compelling disclosure or copying, and the court shall have jurisdiction to issue such orders if the person has complied with G.S. 7A‑38.3E. Actions brought pursuant to this section shall be set down for immediate hearing, and subsequent proceedings in such actions shall be accorded priority by the trial and appellate courts. It is a Class 3 misdemeanor to deny access to public records for purposes of inspection and examination or to deny copies of public records.
…."
SECTION 2.  Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑318.18A. Violation of Article.
Violation of this Article is a Class 3 misdemeanor."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2011.