GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 160

Short Title:  Increase Child Abuse Penalty.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Goodwin; Melton, Barefoot, Bridgeman, Cansler, Gardner, Hensley, Hill, Hunter, and Mosley.

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Referred to:  Judiciary III.

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February 25, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCREASE THE CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR CHILD ABUSE THAT RESULTS IN A PERMANENT AND DEBILITATING INJURY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 14-318.4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14-318.4.  Child abuse a felony.
(a)	A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 16 years of age who intentionally inflicts any serious physical injury upon or to the child or who intentionally commits an assault upon the child which results in any serious physical injury to the child is guilty of a Class E felony, except as otherwise provided by subsection (a3) of this section.
	(a1)  Any parent of a child less than 16 years of age, or any other person providing care to or supervision of the child, who commits, permits, or encourages any act of prostitution with or by the juvenile is guilty of child abuse and shall be punished as a Class E felon.
(a2)	Any parent or legal guardian of a child less than 16 years of age who commits or allows the commission of any sexual act upon a juvenile is guilty of a Class E felony.
(a3)	If a person commits an offense under subsection (a) of this section, and the serious physical injury is a permanent and debilitating injury, then the person is guilty of a Class C felony.
(b)	The felony of child abuse is an offense additional to other civil and criminal provisions and is not intended to repeal or preclude any other sanctions or remedies."
Section 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 1999, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.