A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to modify provisions regarding the preservation of and appeal rights for dna evidence.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 15A‑268 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑268.  Preservation of biological evidence.
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(a4)	When physical evidence collected by law enforcement as part of an investigation is offered or admitted into evidence in a criminal proceeding of the General Court of Justice, the clerk of superior court that takes custody of evidence pursuant to the rules of practice and procedure for the superior and district courts as adopted by the Supreme Court pursuant to G.S. 7A‑34 shall preserve such evidence consistent with subsection (a1) of this section. Upon conclusion of the defendant's direct appeal to the State courts, the clerk shall return such evidence to the collecting agency in a manner that ensures the chain of custody is maintained and documented.
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(a6)	The evidence described by subsection (a1) of this section shall be preserved for the following period:
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(3)	For conviction of any homicide, sex offense, assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson or burning, for which a Class B1‑E felony punishment is imposed, the evidence shall be preserved during the period of incarceration and mandatory supervised release, including sex offender registration pursuant to Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes.
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(a7)	Upon written request by the defendant, the custodial agency shall prepare an inventory of biological evidence relevant to the defendant's case that is in the custodial agency's custody. If the evidence was destroyed through court order or other written directive, the custodial agency shall provide the defendant with a copy of the court order or written directive.
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SECTION 1.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2021, and applies to evidence in criminal proceedings prior to, on, or after that date.
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 15A‑269(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The court shall grant the motion for DNA testing and, if testing complies with FBI requirements, the run of any profiles obtained from the testing, upon its determination that:
(1)	The conditions set forth in subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of this section have been met.
	
(3)	The defendant has signed a sworn affidavit of innocence."
SECTION 2.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to motions filed on or after that date.
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 15A‑270.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑270.1.  Right to appeal.
The defendant may appeal determinations under this Article, including by an interlocutory appeal. The court shall appoint counsel in accordance with rules adopted by the Office of Indigent Defense Services upon a finding of indigency."
SECTION 3.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to appeals of determinations made on or after that date.
SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 15A‑1415(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	In the case of a defendant who is represented by counsel in postconviction proceedings in superior court, including proceedings pursuant to G.S. 15A‑269, the defendant's prior trial or appellate counsel shall make available to the defendant's counsel their complete files relating to the case of the defendant. The State, to the extent allowed by law, shall make available to the defendant's counsel the complete files of all law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies involved in the investigation of the crimes committed or the prosecution of the defendant. If the State has a reasonable belief that allowing inspection of any portion of the files by counsel for the defendant would not be in the interest of justice, the State may submit for inspection by the court those portions of the files so identified. If upon examination of the files, the court finds that the files could not assist the defendant in investigating, preparing, or presenting a motion for appropriate relief, the court in its discretion may allow the State to withhold that portion of the files."
SECTION 4.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to postconviction proceedings beginning on or after that date.
SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.