RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The General Assembly has approved new or expanded crimes for North Carolina prisoners who expose themselves to correctional workers or perform other malicious acts.

The House and Senate on Friday gave final legislative approval to a measure created as prison issues were studied in the aftermath of the deaths of five correctional officers and staff workers in 2017.

The bill now heading to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk passed by wide margins, but not until after debate about whether prisoners convicted of these crimes would have to serve the sentence only after completing punishments for which they are incarcerated. Legislators approved the amendment requiring the consecutive sentencing.

The measure also creates annual reporting requirements to legislators providing information about the number and resolution of prisoner assaults and other malicious conduct.

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