Identical to S 28, filed 2/1/17.

Enacts new GS 147-33.124 to require the Office of Information Technology Services to contract with a third party to operate an electronic database to store and access information reported by pawnbrokers, currency converters, precious metals dealers, and secondary metal recyclers. Specifies four things that the database must do, including allowing state law enforcement officers and agencies to access the database via the Internet and ensure that the information in the database is secure and accessible only by law enforcement. Specifies that information in the database is not a public record.

Amends GS 66-391, GS 66-392, GS 66-410, and GS 66-421 to require pawnbrokers, currency converters, precious metals dealers, and secondary metal recyclers to enter the information recorded for each purchase or transaction into the database within 12 hours of the transaction. 

Adds a new Part 4 to Article 45 of GS Chapter 66. Enacts new GS 66-432 providing that nothing in Article 45 (pawnbrokers, metal dealers, and scrap dealers) is to be construed to require information be entered into the database when (1) the database is offline or inaccessible (in which case, the reporting deadline is extended from 12 hours after the transaction to 36 hours from the time that the database is accessible again) or (2) an entity that would otherwise be required to enter information lacks the technology needed to access the database.

Effective October 1, 2017.