North Carolina SB 1060: Milit. Sexual Trauma/Study Comm./Pilot Prog.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 1060

Short Title: Milit. Sexual Trauma/Study Comm./Pilot Prog. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Applewhite, Theodros, and Chitlik (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S1060-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA 2
STUDY COMMISSION AND TO CREATE A MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA 3
SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. Legislative Findings. – The General Assembly finds all of the 6
following: 7
(1) Sexual assault and harassment within military populations undermines 8
readiness, unit cohesion, survivor well-being, and family stability. 9
(2) Members of the National Guard and other reserve components face distinct 10
barriers due to part-time service, geographic dispersion, and transitions 11
between State and federal duty status. 12
(3) Access to trained response personnel is critical, particularly for geographically 13
dispersed or isolated units. 14
(4) Service members, veterans, and military families may experience difficulty 15
navigating available military and civilian support systems. 16
(5) North Carolina has a compelling State interest in supporting 17
military-connected populations. 18
(6) Establishing a State-level pilot program to connect survivors to existing 19
providers while incorporating military-informed peer support and navigation 20
will strengthen access to care, improve service utilizations, and inform future 21
statewide implementation without duplicating existing services. 22
SECTION 2. Definitions. – As used in this act, the following definitions apply: 23
(1) Military sexual trauma. – Sexual assault or repeated threatening sexual 24
harassment during military service. 25
(2) Reserve components. – Defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101. 26
SECTION 3.(a) Military Sexual Trauma Study Commission. – There is established 27
the North Carolina Military Sexual Trauma Study Commission (Commission). The Commission 28
shall have the following functions and duties: 29
(1) Study the following subject matters with regard to military sexual trauma: 30
a. The prevalence of military sexual trauma among active duty military 31
personnel and reserve components. 32
b. Barriers to reporting military sexual trauma such as retaliation and 33
confidentiality concerns. 34
c. Coordination gaps between federal, State, and civilian systems for 35
reporting and reduction of military sexual trauma. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 1060-First Edition
d. Availability and accessibility of support services. 1
e. Jurisdictional challenges on and off military installations. 2
f. Impact on women in military service and military spouses and 3
dependents. 4
g. Challenges specific to reserve components and National Guard 5
transitions to active duty. 6
h. Capacity of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to serve 7
as a coordinating entity in the support of those affected by military 8
sexual trauma. 9
(2) Submit a final report to the General Assembly on the Commission's findings 10
and any legislative recommendations no later than April 1, 2027. 11
SECTION 3.(b) Membership. – The North Carolina Military Sexual Trauma Study 12
Commission shall consist of 14 members. The makeup of the Commission is as follows: 13
(1) Two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. 14
(2) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 15
(3) One member currently serving with the North Carolina National Guard. 16
(4) One member currently serving with a non-National Guard reserve component 17
of the Armed Forces. 18
(5) One member currently employed by the Department of Military and Veterans 19
Affairs. 20
(6) One member currently employed by the Department of Health and Human 21
Services. 22
(7) One member currently employed by the Administrative Office of the Courts. 23
(8) Two members with expertise in military justice. 24
(9) Two members currently involved with sexual trauma survivor advocacy 25
organizations. 26
(10) One member who is a licensed mental health professional. 27
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall provide staff support, 28
logistical assistance, and subject-matter expertise to the Commission. 29
SECTION 3.(c) Termination. – The North Carolina Military Sexual Trauma Study 30
Commission shall terminate upon submission of its final report required pursuant to Section 31
3(a)(2) of this act. 32
SECTION 4.(a) Pilot Program. – The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs 33
shall partner with the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement the 34
Military Sexual Trauma Support Pilot Program (Pilot Program), a two-year pilot program 35
providing support to victims of military sexual trauma. The Pilot Program shall consist of the 36
following initiatives: 37
(1) Creating and implementing a 24/7 confidential hotline to report i