A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to REQUIRE JUDICIAL APPROVAL FOR PLEA ARRANGEMENTS IN SEX OFFENSE CASES THAT RESULT IN THE VICTIM BECOMING PREGNANT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Article 57 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 15A-1013.  Judicial approval required for plea arrangement in certain cases.
If the offense is a sex offense that resulted in the victim becoming pregnant, the parties shall not include any consideration of parental rights with regard to the adoption, visitation, custody, care, or welfare of the child as part of the negotiations or substance of a plea arrangement without the prior permission of the presiding, or resident, superior court judge. If the judge grants the permission requested, the judge may participate in the discussions. If the State and defendant agree upon a plea arrangement in a case described in this subsection, they must disclose the substance of their plea negotiations and the substance of the plea agreement to the judge before the time the defendant is called upon to plead, unless the judge participated in the discussions and knows the full details of the negotiations and the substance of the plea agreement."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2003, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.