GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 418

Short Title:        Amend Statutory Rape/15 Yrs. Old or Younger.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators J. Jackson, Daniel, Bingham (Primary Sponsors);  Lee, McInnis, Randleman, Sanderson, and Woodard.
Referred to:	Rules and Operations of the Senate.

March 25, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to amend the criminal offense of Statutory rape or sexual offense of a person who is THIRTEEN, FOURTEEN, or FIFTEEN years old to apply to any victim who is FIFTEEN years of age or younger.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑27.7A reads as rewritten:

"§ 14‑27.7A.  Statutory rape or sexual offense of person who is 13, 14, or 15 years old.of age or younger.

(a)        A defendant is guilty of a Class B1 felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with another person who is 13, 14, or 15 years old of age or younger and the defendant is at least six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.

(b)        A Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a defendant is guilty of a Class C felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with another person who is 13, 14, or 15 years old of age or younger and the defendant is more than four but less than six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2015, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.