HB 790 Summary

• Modifies North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission procedures by extending prehearing conference notice requirements from 10 to 30 days and requiring subsequent prehearing conferences if hearings are continued.

• Grants district attorneys and claimant's counsel the right to access and inspect the Commission's entire case file at least 60 days before Commission hearings, with all evidence provided at least 10 days prior to proceedings.

• Requires electronic recording of all custodial interrogations for juveniles and felony investigations involving Class A, B1, B2 felonies, or Class C felonies of rape, sex offense, or assault with deadly weapon, effective October 1, 2023.

• Mandates the State Crime Laboratory notify district attorney offices of all CODIS (DNA database) matches, effective October 1, 2023.

• Creates new requirements for visual recording of all law enforcement interviews with in-custody informants and prohibits destruction of such recordings until one year after completion of all appeals, effective October 1, 2023.