Current law allows persons in a personal relationship to obtain a protective order on the grounds of domestic violence if certain types of injuries occurred. GS 50B-1 defines personal relationship as including persons who either live together or who have lived together or who are in a current or former dating relationship as “persons of the opposite sex.” The act amends GS 50B-1 to remove references to persons of the opposite sex from those instances so that the law would enable couples of any sex to obtain a protective order if all other grounds for the order were present.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts to establish a public awareness and prevention campaign regarding domestic violence in same-sex relationships.