Law to ban sex offenders from NC State Fair sought

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — State Agriculture Department officials say North Carolina needs tougher laws that will ban registered sex offenders from the N.C. State Fair.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that policy analyst Joy Hicks raised the issue Thursday with a legislative agriculture study committee.

While she says Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison is aggressive about fair security, she also called on lawmakers to do more.

State law now offenders from “any place where minors gather for regularly scheduled educational, recreational or social programs.” It doesn’t specify whether the definition includes the State Fair.

Sex offenders were arrested around the State Fairgrounds twice during last year’s fair.

An update to the sex offender law could come in the legislature’s short session, which begins in late April.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)