GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1991

H	1

HOUSE BILL 949*

Short Title:  Privacy/Child Witness.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Rhyne; Bowman, Russell, and Wilson.

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Referred to:  Judiciary I.

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April 19, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF CHILDREN REQUIRED TO TESTIFY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 7A-675(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	Disclosure of information concerning any juvenile under investigation, any juvenile victim of abuse or neglect, or any juvenile alleged to be within the jurisdiction of the court that would reveal the identity of that juvenile is prohibited except that publication of pictures of runaways is permitted with the permission of the parents."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 15-166 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15-166. Exclusion of bystanders in trials for rape, sex offenses, and child abuse or neglect.
(a)	In the trial of cases for rape or sex offense or attempt to commit rape or attempt to commit a sex offense, the trial judge may, during the taking of the testimony of the prosecutrix, exclude from the courtroom all persons except the officers of the court, the defendant and those engaged in the trial of the case.
(b)	In the trial of cases for child abuse or neglect, the trial judge may, during the taking of the testimony of the victim or any material witness who is less than 16 years of age, exclude from the courtroom all persons except the officers of the court, the defendant and those engaged in the trial of the case."
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1991, and applies to any trial held on or after that date.