Bill Summaries: H37 CHILD SEX ABUSE/EXTEND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

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  • Summary date: Jun 19 2019 - View Summary

    House amendment to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Amends proposed GS 115C-375.20 to require each employing entity (rather than each local board of education) to adopt and implement a child sexual abuse and sex trafficking program for school personnel who work directly with students in grades K through 12 that provides education and awareness related to child sexual abuse and sex trafficking, as specified. Makes organizational changes, adding a definitions subsection to define the term school personnel as teachers, instructional support personnel, principals, and assistant principals. Provides that school personnel can include, in the discretion of the employing entity, other school employees who work directly with students in grades K through 12. Adds to the elements required of the training to now include the best practices from the field of prevention and the grooming process of sexual predators. Specifies that all school personnel who work with students in grades K through 12 must receive two hours of training in even-numbered years beginning in 2020.


  • Summary date: Jun 12 2019 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

    Amends proposed GS 1-17 to authorize plaintiffs to file civil actions against a defendant for sexual abuse suffered while the plaintiff was under 18 years of age, until the plaintiff reaches 38 years of age (was, 45 years of age).

    Changes the effect of the proposed changes to GS 1-52, now reviving any civil action for child sexual abuse otherwise time-barred under GS 1-52 as it existed immediately before the enactment of the act, effective January 1, 2020, until December 31, 2021 (was, until December 31, 2020).

    Enacts GS 115C-375.20 to require each local board of education to adopt and implement a child sexual abuse and sex trafficking program for school personnel who work directly with students in grades K through 12 that provides education and awareness related to child sexual abuse and sex trafficking, as specified. Allows the training to be provided by local nongovernmental organizations with expertise in the area, local law enforcement officers, or other court officers. Requires all school personnel who work with K through 12 students to receive two hours of training consistent with the statute's requirements biennially. Provides immunity for all entities required to adopt a child sexual abuse and sex trafficking program and its members, employees, designees, agents, or volunteers with regard to the provision of, participation in, or implementation of the training program, unless the conduct amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. Specifies that the statute does not impose a specific duty of care. Enacts GS 115C-47(64), GS 115C-218.75(g), GS 115C-238.66(14), and GS 116-239.8(b)(17) to require local boards of education, charter schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools to adopt and implement a child sex abuse and sex trafficking training program in accordance with new GS 115C-375.20.

    Requires the entities to adopt and implement the training program by January 1, 2020, with training required for school personnel beginning with the 2020-21 school year. Appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2019-20 fiscal year to assist the entities in implementing the training requirement. 

    Adds a severability clause.

    Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.


  • Summary date: Feb 6 2019 - View Summary

    Amends GS 1-17 to authorize plaintiffs to file civil actions against a defendant for sexual abuse suffered while the plaintiff was under 18 years of age, until the plaintiff reaches 45 years of age.

    Makes conforming changes to GS 1-52 and GS 1-56.

    Effective from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, this act revives any civil action for child sexual abuse otherwise time-barred under GS 1-52 as it existed immediately before the enactment of this act.

    Except as otherwise provided, effective when the act becomes law and applies to civil actions commenced on or after that date.