GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999

SESSION LAW 1999-169
HOUSE BILL 975

AN ACT TO CLARIFY THAT SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE STATEWIDE AUTOMATED VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM ARE SUBJECT TO THE EXEMPTIONS FROM DAMAGE CLAIMS AND OTHER GROUNDS FOR RELIEF PROVIDED FOR BY THE VICTIMS' RIGHTS ACT.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Effective July 1, 1999, G.S. 15A-839 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A-839.  No money damages.
This Article, including the provision of a service pursuant to this Article through the Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification System established by the Governor's Crime Commission, does not create a claim for damages against the State, a county, or a municipality, or any of its agencies, instrumentalities, officers, or employees."
Section 2.  Effective July 1, 1999, G.S. 15A-840 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A-840.  No ground for relief.
The failure or inability of any person to provide a right or service under this Article, including a service provided through the Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification System established by the Governor's Crime Commission, may not be used by a defendant in a criminal case, by an inmate, by any other accused, or by any victim, as a ground for relief in any criminal or civil proceeding, except in suits for a writ of mandamus by the victim."
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 2nd day of June, 1999.

s/	Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

s/	James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/	James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor

Approved 1:05 p.m. this 9th day of June, 1999