In November 2019, North Carolina passed Senate Bill 199, known as the SAFE Child Act. This law updates sexual assault regulations. It also extends the time survivors must take legal action.
Key provisions of the SAFE Child Act
The SAFE Child Act aims to protect children and punish abusers. It includes several important provisions:
- Duty to report: the law requires anyone eighteen or older to report violence or sexual offenses against minors. Authorities classify failing to report these crimes as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
- Statute of limitations: People can now file charges within 10 years of the crime. For civil cases, survivors can file a lawsuit until they turn twenty-eight.
- Online protection: The law bans sex offenders from contacting anyone under sixteen online. It also prohibits inappropriate behavior on social networking sites. Violations result in a Class H felony.
- Revoking consent: The bill updates the right to revoke sexual consent. Consent must be freely given throughout a sexual act.
- Modernizing sexual assault laws: The bill makes it a crime to drug someone’s food or drink. The law also classifies tampering with a person’s drink as a crime, even if no assault or injury occurs.
Open window for expired claims
One of the most important parts of the SAFE Child Act is the provision for expired claims. The statute of limitations once barred survivors. Now, they can sue. This temporary window offers a crucial chance for survivors to seek justice.
In summary, the SAFE Child Act is a big step forward in protecting children. Survivors now have more opportunities to seek justice.