GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1400

Short Title:  Victim and Witness Assistants.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives R. Hunter; Baddour, Culpepper, Hardy, McCrary, Rayfield, and Sexton.

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Referred to:  Judiciary I.

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May 21, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO RESTORE PROVISIONS THAT VICTIM AND WITNESS ASSISTANTS SHALL ONLY PROVIDE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WITNESSES IN CRIMINAL CASES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 7A-347 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7A-347.  Victim and witness assistants.
Victim and witness assistant positions are established under the district attorneys' offices. Each prosecutorial district is allocated at least one victim and witness assistant to be employed by the district attorney. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall allocate additional assistants to prosecutorial districts on the basis of need and within available appropriations. Each district attorney may also use any volunteer or other personnel to assist the assistant. The assistant is responsible for coordinating efforts of the law-enforcement and judicial systems to assure that each victim and witness is provided fair treatment under Article 45 of Chapter 15A, Fair Treatment for Victims and Witnesses and shall be used for no other purpose, except as may be approved pursuant to G.S. 7A-348."
Section 2.  G.S. 7A-348 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7A-348.  Training and supervision of victim and witness assistants.
Pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 7A-413, the Conference of District Attorneys shall:
(1)	Assist in establishing uniform statewide training for victim and witness services;
(2)	Assist in the implementation and supervision of this program; and
(3)	With the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, report annually to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on the implementation and effectiveness of this act, beginning on or before February 1, 1987."
Section 3.  G.S. 15A-826 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A-826.  Victim and witness assistants.
Victim and witness assistants are responsible for coordinating efforts within the law-enforcement and judicial systems to assure that each victim and witness is treated in accordance with this Article."
Section 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.