A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to create the criminal offense of endangering a juvenile.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 39 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14‑318.5.  Endangering a juvenile.
(a)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Juvenile. – Defined in G.S. 7B‑101.
(2)	Serious bodily injury. – Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement, coma, a permanent or protracted condition that causes extreme pain, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or that results in prolonged hospitalization.
(3)	Serious injury. – The term includes physical injury that causes great pain and suffering and also includes serious mental injury.
(b)	Offense. – A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a juvenile whose willful act or omission in the care of the juvenile is so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class G felony unless the offense results in serious injury or serious bodily injury to the juvenile. An offense under this subsection that results in serious injury is a Class F felony. An offense under this subsection that results in serious bodily injury is a Class E felony.
(c)	No Prosecution for Voluntary Abandonment of Certain Infants. – A parent who abandons an infant less than seven days of age pursuant to G.S. 14‑322.3 shall not be prosecuted under this section for any acts or omissions related to the care of that infant."SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2007, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.