S429 - 2025 Public Safety Act. (SL 2025-70)

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Session Year 2025

Overview: Section 9 of S.L. 2025-70 (Senate Bill 429) modifies G.S. 14-27.31, which prohibits sexual activity by a substitute parent or custodian to include religious organizations or institutions.  G.S. 14-27.31(b) prohibits a person having custody of a victim of any age or a person who works for an institution having custody over a person from engaging in sexual activity with the person.  Section 9 modifies this law to provide that an institution having custody over a person includes a "religious organization or institution."  This section also creates a new definition of "custody" to clarify that definition.   

This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.