North Carolina 2021-2022 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 7 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 647 — End Racial Profiling in Traffic Stops Act.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

13 added · 14 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised SB 647 now specifies that an annual study on routine traffic stops by North Carolina State troopers will be conducted by the School of Government at the University of North Carolina. This change adds clarity about who is responsible for the study, which is important for accountability and transparency in understanding traffic stop practices. Overall, it emphasizes the state's commitment to examining and potentially improving law enforcement procedures.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Apr 6, 2021 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2021 S 1 SENATE BILL 647 Short Title:
647 SESSION 2021 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35228-ND-110 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP POLICIES PROHIBITING THE USE OF RACIAL PROFILING IN TRAFFIC STOPS AND SEARCHES, TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL TO GATHER AND STUDY DATA REGARDING TRAFFIC STOPS, AND TO CREATE A TRAFFIC STOP ADVISORY BOARD.
Rules and Operations of the Senate April 7, 2021 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP POLICIES PROHIBITING THE USE OF RACIAL PROFILING IN TRAFFIC STOPS AND SEARCHES, TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL TO GATHER AND STUDY DATA REGARDING TRAFFIC STOPS, AND TO CREATE A TRAFFIC STOP ADVISORY BOARD.
Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended byadding a new Article to read:
– The School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall conduct an annual study of routine traffic stops made by North Carolina State troopers, municipal police officers, and county sheriffs and sheriffs' deputies.
– The School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall conduct an annual studyof routine traffic stops made by North Carolina State troopers, municipal police officers, and county sheriffs and sheriffs' deputies.
The study shall include an *DRS35228-ND-110* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 analysis of the data received from the State Highway Patrol and municipal police departments pursuant to this section, which shall include the following information, at a minimum, for each traffic stop conducted:
The study shall include an *S647-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 analysis of the data received from the State Highway Patrol and municipal police departments pursuant to this section, which shall include the following information, at a minimum, for each traffic stop conducted:
– Based upon the results of the studies required undersubsections (a) and (b)ofthis section,the School ofGovernment at theUniversity ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill shall develop and implement guidelines that may be used by all law enforcement agencies to avoid the use of racial profiling in stops and searches.
– Based upon the results of the studies required undersubsections (a) and (b)ofthis section,the School ofGovernment at theUniversityofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill shall develop and implement guidelines that may be used by all law enforcement agencies to avoid the use of racial profiling in stops and searches.
– The Traffic Stop Advisory Board shall consist of the following members:
– The Traffic Stop AdvisoryBoard shall consist of the following members:
Page 2 DRS35228-ND-110 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (4) One member to be appointed by the Attorney General.
Page 2 Senate Bill 647-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (4) One member to be appointed by the Attorney General.
DRS35228-ND-110 Page 3
Senate Bill 647-First Edition Page 3
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes new policies and a framework to prevent racial profiling in traffic stops by law enforcement agencies in North Carolina.

  • Chapter 20

    Article 2E. End Racial Profiling in Traffic Stops Act.

    This creates a new article specifically focused on ending racial profiling in traffic stops.

  • § 20-38.50

    Policy against racial profiling in traffic stops; definition; purpose. (a) Policy. – The General Assembly declares that the use of racial profiling to stop and search motorists on our public highways is against public policy and violates the civil rights of the motorist.

    This establishes a formal policy declaring racial profiling in traffic stops as against public policy.

  • § 20-38.50

    Definition. – For purposes of this Article, "racial profiling" means the detention, interdiction, or other disparate treatment of an individual on the basis, in whole or in part, of the perceived racial or ethnic status of the individual...

    This defines what constitutes racial profiling within the context of traffic stops.

  • § 20-38.51

    Law enforcement agency written policy. All law enforcement agencies in the State shall adopt a written policy that prohibits the stopping, detention, interdiction, or search of any person when the action is motivated, in whole or in part, by considerations of race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation...

    This mandates that all law enforcement agencies must have a written policy against racial profiling.

  • § 20-38.52

    Study of traffic stops. (a) Study. – The School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall conduct an annual study of routine traffic stops made by North Carolina State troopers, municipal police officers, and county sheriffs and sheriffs' deputies...

    This requires an annual study of traffic stops to collect data on potential racial profiling.

  • § 20-38.52

    Data Analysis. – The School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall perform an in-depth analysis of data from at least eight municipal police departments per year...

    This requires deeper analysis of data from police departments, prioritizing data from those with high racial disparity.

  • § 20-38.53

    Traffic Stop Advisory Board. (a) Established. – Using available resources, there is established a Traffic Stop Advisory Board for the purpose of advising the School of Government...

    This establishes a new Traffic Stop Advisory Board to assist in overseeing the implementation of anti-racial profiling measures.

Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 169 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (169)

169 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 647?
SB 647 is sponsored by Jay J. Chaudhuri (Democratic), Mujtaba A. Mohammed (Democratic), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Paul A. Lowe, Jr. (Democratic), Marcus, Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Nickel, Gladys A. Robinson (Democratic), DeAndrea Salvador (Democratic), and Brent Jackson (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 647?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 647?
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