House Bill 674 passed through the legislature almost unanimously earlier this year. It adds to the list of crimes that require convicts to provide a DNA sample, including stalking and assault on children, women, and people with disabilities.
The bill also prohibits medical facilities from billing the victim of a sexual assault for a rape kit. Governor Roy Cooper said in a statement upon signing the bill that "victims of sexual assault deserve access to a rape kit without being further victimized by being charged for it."
Instead, the state will pay those costs instead, through the Rape Victim Assistance Program, up to $1500.
Cooper added, "This new law will also strengthen the state’s DNA database used to catch criminals by including domestic violence and assault crimes."
