State House Strengthens Laws Against Child Sex Abuse and Sexual Assault in North Carolina

Raleigh, N.C. – A bill to strengthen child sex abuse laws and protect victims of sexual assault in North Carolina was unanimously approved by the state House of Representatives on Thursday.

Senate Bill 199 Child Sex Abuse/Strengthen Laws protects children from online predators, expands the duty to report child abuse, clarifies the right to revoke consent to sexual relations, and extends the statute of limitations for a civil action for child sexual abuse, among other provisions.

The bill makes it a Class 1 Misdemeanor for any person 18 years of age or older who knows or should have reasonably known a juvenile was the victim of a violent or sexual offense not to report that case to an appropriate law enforcement agency in the county where the juvenile resides.

To protect minors from internet predators.  S.B. 199 further bans online conduct, including social media contact, by high-risk sex offenders that endangers children.

New training programs for public school personnel regarding child sexual abuse and sex trafficking are also required under the measure, to include best practices for prevention, warnings signs, intervention techniques, and available resources for assistance. 

The bill strengthens the right to revoke consent to protect sexual assault victims and prohibits the knowing distribution of a beverage that contains any substance that could be injurious to a person’s health. 

S.B. 199 also extends the civil statute of limitations for misdemeanor crimes involving abuse against children and clarifies that sex offender residential restrictions apply to public schools currently under construction.  

Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance) said the bill is a big step forward for victims of child abuse and sexual assault.

“I have received dozens and dozens of letters, emails, text messages, and phone calls, from victims who have followed the progress of our bill,” Rep. Riddell said. 

“To those victims, I want to say this bill is for you.  If you’re a victim of child abuse, this bill is for you.  If you’re an adult victim of sexual assault, this bill is for you.  If you had your childhood innocence ripped out of your soul by an adult predator, this bill is for you.”