AN ACT to make absolute the prohibition against involuntary servitude in the state.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Section 17 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:

Sec. 17. Slavery and involuntary servitude.

Slavery is forever prohibited. Involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the parties have been adjudged guilty, is and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.

SECTION 2.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the first primary election held in 2024, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

[ ] FOR          [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment providing that slavery and involuntary servitude is forever prohibited and clarifying that work performed by inmates does not fall within the scope of the prohibition.

SECTION 3.  If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act becomes effective upon certification.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.