§ 110-20.1. Exhibition of certain children prohibited. - North Carolina Statutes

Article 1A.

Exhibition of Children.

§ 110‑20.1.  Exhibition of certain childrenprohibited.

(a)        Except to the extent otherwise provided in subsection (d) ofthis section, it is unlawful to exhibit publicly for any purpose, or to exhibitprivately for the purpose of entertainment, or solely or primarily for thesatisfaction of the curiosity of any observer, any child under the age of 18years who is mentally ill or mentally retarded or who presents the appearanceof having any deformity or unnatural physical formation or development, whetheror not the exhibiting of the child is in return for a monetary or otherconsideration.

(b)        It is unlawful to employ, use, have custody of, or in anyway be associated with any child described in subsection (a) for the purpose ofan exhibition forbidden therein, or for one who has the care, custody orcontrol of the child as a parent, relative, guardian, employer or otherwise, toneglect or refuse to restrain the child from participating in the exhibition.

(c)        It is unlawful to procure or arrange for, or participate inprocuring or arranging for, anything made unlawful by subsections (a) and (b).

(d)        This section does not apply to the transmission of an imageby television by a duly licensed television station, or to any exhibition by afederal, State, county or municipal government, or political subdivision oragency thereof, or to any exhibition by any corporation, unincorporatedassociation, or other organization organized and operated exclusively forreligious, charitable, or educational purposes, no part of the net earnings ofwhich inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

(e)        Any violation of this Article shall be a Class 3misdemeanor.  Each day during which any violation of this Article continuesafter notice to the violator, from any county social services director, tocease and desist from any violation of this section shall constitute a separateand distinct offense. Any act or omission forbidden by this Article shall, withrespect to each child described therein constitute a separate and distinctoffense. (1969, c. 457, s.1; c. 982; 1993, c. 539, s. 821; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)