North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions § 143-162.5. Use of mobile electronic devices

(a) Every executive branch agency within State government shall develop a policy to limit the issuance and use of mobile electronic devices to the minimum required to carry out the agency's mission. As used herein, mobile communication device includes goods provided by commercial mobile radio service providers and services for mobile telecommunications governed by Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. By September 1, 2011, each agency shall provide a copy of its policy to the Chairs of the Appropriations Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government of the House of Representatives, the Chairs of the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee on General Government and Information Technology of the Senate, the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office of State Budget and Management.

State-issued mobile electronic devices shall be used only for State business. Agencies shall limit the issuance of cell phones, smart phones, and any other mobile electronic devices to employees for whom access to a mobile electronic device is a critical requirement for job performance. The device issued and the plan selected shall be the minimum required to support the employees' work requirements. This shall include considering the use of pagers in lieu of a more sophisticated device. The requirement for each mobile electronic device issued shall be documented in a written justification that shall be maintained by the agency and reviewed annually. All State agency heads, in consultation with the Office of Information Technology Services and the Office of State Budget and Management, shall document and review all authorized cell phone, smart phone, and other mobile electronic communications device procurement, and related phone, data, Internet, and other usage plans for and by their employees. Agencies shall conduct periodic audits of mobile device usage to ensure that State employees and contractors are complying with agency policies and State requirements for their use.

Beginning October 1, 2012, each agency shall report annually to the Chairs of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations and the House of Representatives Subcommittee on General Government, the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Appropriations Committee on General Government and Information Technology, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office of State Budget and Management on the following:

(b) This section does not apply to the legislative branch or the judicial branch of State government.