Create Annual Sex Offense Registry Fee.

HB 827 would require North Carolina sex offenders on the registry to pay an annual fee equal to 1.25% of the federal poverty level for a one-person household. Sheriffs would collect this fee each year on the anniversary of registration to fund registry maintenance, including verification and record-keeping. The fee can be waived for indigent individuals or those incarcerated, with written documentation required for all waiver requests. Failure to pay does not affect registration compliance, though counties may pursue collection later.