NC H827

Creates an annual fee for sex offender registrants equal to 1.25% of the federal poverty level for a one-person household, collected by the sheriff on each registration anniversary date

Fee proceeds are retained by the collecting sheriff's office to support registry verification, maintenance, and dissemination of registrant records

Each sheriff decides annually on January 1 whether to collect the fee in their county; if no determination is made, collection is required by default

Sheriffs may waive all or part of the fee upon determining a registrant is indigent, with decisions required within 10 business days of request

Registrants who are incarcerated or under Department of Adult Correction supervision are automatically deemed indigent and exempt from the fee

Effective January 1, 2026