NC lawmakers again toughen sex offender rules

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

RALEIGH (AP) ó The General Assembly has agreed again to toughen laws against convicted sex offenders, this time on social networking sites.
The House and Senate unanimously agreed Friday to a compromise bill that would bar sex offenders registered with the state from places such as MySpace and Facebook.
The bill also would increase penalties for child exploitation and for someone who attempts to meet a child in person after contacting him or her on the Internet for sex. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Easleyís desk.
On Thursday, the Legislature agreed to require minimum 25-year prison sentences for those who commit certain sex crimes against children under the age of 13.