North Carolina HB 237: Child Welfare.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 237
Committee Substitute Favorable 3/18/25

Short Title: Child Welfare. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
February 27, 2025
*H237-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE LAWS AFFECTING JUVENILES AND 2
ASSOCIATED SERVICES, COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES BOARDS AND 3
DEPARTMENTS, REGIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES BOARDS AND DEPARTMENTS, 4
CONSOLIDATED HUMAN SERVICES BOARDS AND AGENCIES, AND THE NORTH 5
CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
8
PART I. CHILD WELFARE LAW REFORMS 9
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 7B-100 reads as rewritten: 10
"§ 7B-100. Purpose. 11
This Subchapter shall be interpreted and construed so as to implement the following purposes 12
and policies: 13
... 14
(5) To provide standards, consistent with the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 15
1997, P.L. 105-89, for ensuring that the best interests of the juvenile are of 16
paramount consideration by the court and that when it is not in the juvenile's 17
best interest to be returned home, the juvenile will be placed in a safe, 18
permanent home within a reasonable amount of time.one year from the date 19
of the initial order removing custody." 20
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 7B-101 reads as rewritten: 21
"§ 7B-101. Definitions. 22
As used in this Subchapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words 23
have the listed meanings: 24
(1) Abused juveniles. – Any juvenile less than 18 years of age (i) who is found to 25
be a minor victim of human trafficking under G.S. 14-43.15 or unlawful sale, 26
surrender, or purchase of a minor under G.S. 14-43.14 or (ii) whose parent, 27
guardian, custodian, or caretaker: 28
... 29
d. Commits, permits, or encourages the commission of a violation of the 30
following laws by, with, or upon the juvenile: first-degree forcible 31
rape, as provided in G.S. 14-27.21; second-degree forcible rape as 32
provided in G.S. 14-27.22; statutory rape of a child by an adult as 33
provided in G.S. 14-27.23; first-degree statutory rape as provided in 34
G.S. 14-27.24; first-degree forcible sex offense as provided in 35
G.S. 14-27.26; second-degree forcible sex offense as provided in 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 237-Second Edition
G.S. 14-27.27; statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult as 1
provided in G.S. 14-27.28; first-degree statutory sexual offense as 2
provided in G.S. 14-27.29; sexual activity by a substitute parent or 3
custodian as provided in G.S. 14-27.31; sexual activity with a student 4
as provided in G.S. 14-27.32; unlawful sale, surrender, or purchase of 5
a minor, as provided in G.S. 14-43.14; a sexually violent offense, as 6
provided in G.S. 14-208.6(5); crime against nature, as provided in 7
G.S. 14-177; incest, as provided in G.S. 14-178; preparation of 8
obscene photographs, slides, or motion pictures of the juvenile, as 9
provided in G.S. 14-190.5; employing or permitting the juvenile to 10
assist in a violation of the obscenity laws as provided in G.S. 14-190.6; 11
dissemination of obscene material to the juvenile as provided in 12
G.S. 14-190.7 and G.S. 14-190.8; and displaying or disseminating 13
material harmful to the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14-190.14 and 14
G.S. 14-190.15; first and second degree sexual exploitation of the 15
juvenile as provided in G.S. 14-190.16 and G.S. 14-190.17; promoting 16
the prostitution of the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14-205.3(b); and 17
taking indecent liberties with the juvenile, as provided in 18
G.S. 14-202.1;G.S. 14-190.15. 19
... 20
(15) Neglected juvenile. – Any juvenile less than 18 years of age (i) who is found 21
to be a minor victim of human trafficking under G.S. 14-43.15 or (ii) whose 22
parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker does any of the following: 23
... 24
h. Uses an illegal substance, abuses alcohol, or uses a controlled 25
substance in violation of the law and is unable to care for and provide 26
a safe and appropriate home for the juvenile. 27
i. Uses an illegal substance, abuses alcohol, or uses a controlled 28
substance in violation of the law while a child is in utero. 29
In determining whether a juvenile is a neglected juvenile, it is relevant whether 30
that juvenile lives in a home where another juvenile has died as a result of 31
suspected abuse or neglect or lives in a home where another juvenile has been 32
subjected to abuse or neglect by an adult who regularly lives in the home. 33
...." 34
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 7B-503(a) reads as rewritten: 35
"(a) When a request is made for nonsecure custody, the court shall first consider release 36
of the juvenile to the juvenile's parent, relative, guardian, custodian, or other responsible adult. 37
An order for nonsecure custody shall be made only when there is a reasonable factual basis to 38
believe the matters alleged in the petition are true, and any of the following apply: 39
... 40
(7) The juvenile is an i