AN ACT to create the criminal offense of removing, destroying, or circumventing the operation of an electronic monitoring device.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 30 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14‑226.3.  Interference with electronic monitoring devices.
(a)	For purposes of this section, the term "electronic monitoring device" includes any electronic device that is used to track the location of a person.
(b)	It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and without authority remove, destroy, or circumvent the operation of an electronic monitoring device that is being used for the purpose of monitoring a person who is:
(1)	Complying with a house arrest program;
(2)	Wearing an electronic monitoring device as a condition of bond or pretrial release;
(3)	Wearing an electronic monitoring device as a condition of probation;
(4)	Wearing an electronic monitoring device as a condition of parole; or
(5)	Wearing an electronic monitoring device as a condition of post‑release supervision.
(c)	It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and without authority request or solicit any other person to remove, destroy, or circumvent the operation of an electronic monitoring device that is being used for the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section.
(d)	This section does not apply to persons who are being monitored by an electronic monitoring device pursuant to the provisions of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, or Chapter 7B of the General Statutes.
(e)	Violation of this section by a person who is required to comply with electronic monitoring as a result of a conviction for a criminal offense is a felony one class lower than the most serious underlying felony or a misdemeanor one class lower than the most serious underlying misdemeanor, except that, if the most serious underlying felony is a Class I felony, then violation of this section is a Class A1 misdemeanor. Violation of this section by a person who is required to comply with electronic monitoring as a condition of bond or pretrial release is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Violation of this section by any other person is a Class 2 misdemeanor."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2009, and applies to acts committed on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28th day of July, 2009.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved 2:21 p.m. this 5th day of August, 2009