SB 679

Amends GS 148-25.2 (concerning care for female incarcerated persons related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery), as follows. Instructs a sentencing court, at the time of sentencing a pregnant female person, when the court's sentence includes a term of imprisonment and the court has determined the pregnant female person poses no significant threat or danger to any person, to the community, or to any property in the community, to have the sentence deferred until at least 12 weeks after the delivery of the child or the end of the pregnancy, whichever occurs first. Requires the pregnant patient to maintain healthcare and to report monthly to the court, as described. Requires the court to allow the person to be supervised on probation prior to incarceration for at least a period of 12 weeks and up to a period of 12 months after delivery or the end of the pregnancy, whichever occurs first. Specifies that no payment of fines, fees, restitution, and probation fees will be imposed during this time. Requires the court to allow supervision to be conducted by phone or other electronic means. Requires the person to maintain perinatal healthcare, treatment, and assessments and shall participate in education and resource programs to the extent these programs are available in the pregnant female person's community or from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), with monthly reporting to their probation officer. Requires reporting of any pregnancy loss within 72 hours of the loss, as specified. Requires every prison and local confinement facility in the State to submit an annual report to DHHS on the number of female persons incarcerated, including those that were pregnant as described, to begin on March 1, 2026.