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Sexual assault bill becomes effective Dec. 1

RALEIGH—North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed new legislation into law Thursday that reforms sexual assault laws. 

Cooper told a group gathered in Greensboro Thursday that “Finally, in North Carolina, no means no.” 

The bill includes provisions to allow prosecutors to charge and convict people of sexual assault who continue to have sex with a person after being told to stop. 

The bill also includes provisions that it is now considered a crime to have sex with a person who is incapacitated from drugs or alcohol and makes it illegal to drug a person’s drink. 

Prior to Thursday, North Carolina was the only state in the nation where sex after a person revoked consent was not considered a crime. Prosecutors across the state have said it is difficult to prosecute a sexual assault case because of the loopholes in the previous law in North Carolina. 

Cooper said during the public signing of the law that he thinks the publicity around the legislation will send a message to people who may be predators that North Carolina law is changing and they better watch out. 

“If someone tells you no, at any point, it’s not OK and you are violating the law,” Cooper said. 

Tampering with someone’s drink, whether or not a sexual crime happens afterwards is now considered a felony in North Carolina. 

Sen. Jeff Jackson (D) out of Mecklenburg County proposed the sexual assault reform three times prior without it being heard. 

Another part of the new law increases the statue of limitations for civil actions by child abuse victims. 

There are also provisions in the new law that requires adults to report violent or sexual crimes against children to law enforcement, bans online conduct with juveniles by sex offenders and requires sex trafficking training for school employees.