GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2009
SESSION LAW 2009-451
SENATE BILL 202
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
PART I. INTRODUCTION AND TITLE OF ACT
SECTION 1.1. The appropriations made in this act are for maximum amounts necessary to provide the services and accomplish the purposes described in the budget. Savings shall be effected where the total amounts appropriated are not required to perform these services and accomplish these purposes and, except as allowed by the State Budget Act, or this act, the savings shall revert to the appropriate fund at the end of each fiscal year.
SECTION 1.2. This act shall be known as the "Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2009."
PART II. CURRENT OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION GENERAL FUND
CURRENT OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION/GENERAL FUND
SECTION 2.1. Appropriations from the General Fund of the State for the maintenance of the State departments, institutions, and agencies, and for other purposes as enumerated, are made for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2011, according to the following schedule:
Current Operations – General Fund 2009‑2010 2010‑2011
EDUCATION
Community Colleges System Office $ 999,833,122 $ 1,012,467,778
Department of Public Instruction 7,456,261,240 7,358,833,223
University of North Carolina – Board of Governors
Appalachian State University 146,887,779 144,187,448
East Carolina University
Academic Affairs 236,308,845 231,603,085
Health Affairs 54,594,731 54,591,731
Elizabeth City State University 37,652,375 37,192,086
Fayetteville State University 58,668,910 57,857,732
North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical State University 102,786,986 100,942,266
North Carolina Central University 94,298,521 93,012,264
North Carolina School of the Arts 27,045,523 26,875,056
North Carolina State University
Academic Affairs 411,626,246 406,156,905
Agricultural Extension 45,315,457 45,305,822
Agricultural Research 59,503,437 59,476,413
University of North Carolina at Asheville 39,276,956 38,636,109
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Academic Affairs 302,859,050 297,600,393
Health Affairs 216,773,843 216,773,343
Area Health Education Centers 52,109,208 52,109,208
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 195,043,239 190,876,806
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 171,383,465 168,107,904
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 60,106,081 59,242,397
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 103,758,288 101,481,384
Western Carolina University 87,658,263 86,534,872
Winston‑Salem State University 72,507,174 71,708,302
General Administration 42,374,063 42,373,724
University Institutional Programs (144,494,505) (130,312,471)
Related Educational Programs 68,821,524 40,217,033
UNC Financial Aid Private Colleges 101,244,515 101,278,515
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics 18,712,479 18,711,799
UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill 44,011,882 44,011,882
Total University of North Carolina –
Board of Governors $ 2,706,834,335 $ 2,656,552,008
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Department of Health and Human Services
Central Management and Support $ 75,016,712 $ 74,172,339
Division of Aging 35,899,897 37,282,029
Division of Blind Services/Deaf/HH 8,731,883 8,649,731
Division of Child Development 257,095,576 269,183,962
Division of Education Services 36,669,397 36,844,718
Division of Health Service Regulation 17,926,741 17,914,125
Division of Medical Assistance 2,318,653,169 2,720,196,757
Division of Mental Health 664,385,884 664,695,955
NC Health Choice 77,218,524 81,964,241
Division of Public Health 161,566,120 160,515,329
Division of Social Services 208,179,422 208,589,483
Division of Vocation Rehabilitation 42,006,280 41,020,173
Total Health and Human Services $ 3,903,349,605 $ 4,321,028,842
NATURAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services $ 63,034,434 $ 60,559,608
Department of Commerce
Commerce 45,028,421 40,915,209
Commerce State‑Aid 21,667,725 15,388,725
NC Biotechnology Center 14,810,000 14,501,900
Rural Economic Development Center 23,907,436 23,832,436
Department of Environment and Natural Resources 201,108,413 190,399,356
Department of Environment and Natural Resources –
Clean Water Management Trust Fund 50,000,000 50,000,000
Department of Labor 17,400,807 17,400,863
JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Department of Correction $ l,313,815,477 $ 1,326,492,230
Department of Crime Control and Public Safety 32,566,547 31,951,802
Judicial Department 466,928,250 463,753,479
Judicial Department – Indigent Defense 135,927,989 120,132,010
Department of Justice 89,736,617 88,652,538
Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention 145,654,923 146,727,475
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Department of Administration $ 67,909,562 $ 67,446,884
Office of Administrative Hearings 4,155,512 4,111,476
Department of State Auditor 13,427,042 13,255,123
Office of State Controller 23,131,801 23,188,207
Department of Cultural Resources
Cultural Resources 72,958,434 73,249,990
Roanoke Island Commission 1,990,632 1,990,632
State Board of Elections 4,807,223 6,221,208
General Assembly 54,479,008 56,584,484
Office of the Governor
Office of the Governor 6,150,309 6,067,739
Office of State Budget and Management 6,502,520 6,407,809
OSBM – Reserve for Special Appropriations 6,466,465 4,161,125
Housing Finance Agency 14,608,417 14,608,417
Department of Insurance
Insurance 32,180,522 32,242,706
Insurance – Volunteer Safety Workers' Compensation 2,000,000 1,561,846
Office of Lieutenant Governor 944,202 931,703
Department of Revenue 88,961,417 87,790,970
Department of Secretary of State 11,640,359 11,451,488
Department of State Treasurer
State Treasurer 17,758,565 17,565,400
State Treasurer –
Retirement for Fire and Rescue Squad Workers 10,804,671 10,804,671
RESERVES, ADJUSTMENTS, AND DEBT SERVICE
Salary Adjustment Fund: 2009‑2011 Fiscal Biennium $ 0 $ 0
Contingency and Emergency Fund 5,000,000 5,000,000
State Health Plan (S.L. 2009‑16) 132,214,752 276,179,709
Reserve for Teachers' and
State Employees' Retirement Contribution 21,000,000 160,000,000
Judicial Retirement System Contributions 1,300,000 1,300,000
Information Technology Fund 9,361,985 7,840,000
Reserve for Job Development Investment Grants (JDIG) 19,000,000 27,400,000
Statewide Administrative Support (3,000,000) (6,600,000)
Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC) 0 0
Convert Contract Employees to State Employees (2,500,000) (4,000,000)
Severance Expenditure Reserve 47,957,108 0
Debt Service
General Debt Service 642,512,753 707,573,496
Federal Reimbursement 1,616,380 1,616,380
TOTAL CURRENT OPERATIONS –
GENERAL FUND $ 19,003,204,980 $ 19,555,540,945
GENERAL FUND AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
SECTION 2.2.(a) The General Fund availability used in developing the 2009‑2011 biennial budget is shown below:
FY 2009‑2010 FY 2010‑2011
Projected Reversions FY 2008‑2009 91,967,011 10,524,411
Less Earmarkings of Year End Fund Balance 0 0
Savings Reserve Account 0 0
Repairs and Renovations 0 0
Beginning Unreserved Fund Balance 91,967,011 0
Revenues Based on Existing Tax Structure 16,796,300,000 17,384,400,000
Nontax Revenues
Investment Income 67,300,000 93,100,000
Judicial Fees 200,700,000 208,300,000
Disproportionate Share 100,000,000 100,000,000
Insurance 77,700,000 81,900,000
Other Nontax Revenues 148,300,000 155,200,000
Highway Trust Fund/Use Tax Reimbursement Transfer 108,500,000 72,800,000
Highway Fund Transfer 17,600,000 17,600,000
Subtotal Nontax Revenues 720,100,000 728,900,000
Total General Fund Availability 17,608,367,011 18,123,824,411
Adjustments to Availability: 2009 Session
Adjust Transfer from Insurance Regulatory Fund (1,644,300) (1,644,300)
Adjust Transfer from Treasurer's Office (398,880) (605,833)
Transfer from Disproportionate Share Reserve 25,000,000 0
Transfer of Cash Balances from Special Funds 38,318,305 0
Transfer from Capital and R&R Accounts 24,372,701 0
Transfer from Health and Wellness Trust Fund 5,000,000 5,000,000
Transfer from Tobacco Trust Fund 5,000,000 5,000,000
Transfer Excess Sales Tax for
Wildlife Resources Commission 1,650,000 1,650,000
Transfer Funds for Grape Growers Council 900,000 900,000
Department of Revenue Improved Enforcement 60,000,000 90,000,000
Department of Revenue Compliance Initiative 150,000,000 0
Individual Income Surtax 172,800,000 177,100,000
Corporate Income Surtax 23,100,000 25,500,000
Increase Sales Tax Rate 803,500,000 1,061,300,000
Digital Products & Click‑Throughs 11,800,000 24,100,000
IRC Conformity (116,300,000) (80,900,000)
Adjust Revenue Distributions 22,100,000 0
Increase Excise Taxes 68,800,000 93,800,000
Suspend Corp Income Tax Earmark‑Schools 60,500,000 64,500,000
Increase General Government Fees 7,555,995 7,365,196
Increase Justice and Public Safety Fees 47,090,559 51,475,278
Increase Health Services Regulation Fees 1,093,000 1,093,000
Subtotal Adjustments to
Availability: 2009 Session 1,410,237,380 1,525,633,341
Revised General Fund Availability 19,018,604,391 19,649,457,752
Less: General Fund Appropriations 19,008,079,980 19,555,540,945
Unappropriated Balance Remaining 10,524,411 93,916,807
SECTION 2.2.(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 105‑187.9(b)(1), the sum to be transferred under that subdivision for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year is one hundred six million dollars ($106,000,000) and for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year is seventy‑one million dollars ($71,000,000).
SECTION 2.2.(c) Pursuant to G.S. 105‑187.9(b)(2), the sum to be transferred under that subdivision for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year is two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) and for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year is one million eight hundred thousand dollars ($1,800,000).
SECTION 2.2.(d) The appropriations made in this act to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund in the amount of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) for each year of the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium are made pursuant to G.S. 113A‑253.1 and are not in addition to the statutory appropriation made in G.S. 113A‑253.1.
SECTION 2.2.(e) The appropriations made in this act to the State Health Plan for each year of the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium are made pursuant to S.L. 2009‑16 and are not in addition to the appropriations made in that act.
SECTION 2.2.(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 115C‑546.1, the Secretary of Revenue shall transfer the funds specified in G.S. 115C‑546.1(b) to the State Controller for deposit in Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intrastate Transfers) during the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium to offset continued operations of the State's public schools.
SECTION 2.2.(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, effective July 1, 2009, the following amounts shall be transferred to the State Controller to be deposited in Nontax Budget Code 18878 (Intrastate Transfers) or the appropriate budget code as determined by the State Controller. These funds shall be used to support the General Fund appropriations as specified in this act for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium.
FY 2009‑2010 FY 2010‑2011
Budget Fund
Code Code Description Amount Amount
67425 Trust Telecommunication 4,500,000 0
23515 2510 DPI IT Projects – Legacy Updates 3,000,000 0
63501 6801 DPI Trust Special‑Teaching Fellows 5,500,000 0
63501 6112 Computer Loan Revolving Fund 120,677 0
63501 6117 Business and Education Technology Alliance 26,336 0
24600 2553 Grape Growers Council 194,929 0
24600 2821 Credit Union Supervision 760,411 0
24600 2851 Cemetery Commission 259,036 0
54600 Commerce Enterprise 10,501,726 0
64605 Utilities Commission/Public Staff 12,008,720 0
64612 NC Rural Electrification Authority 210,240 0
24308 2815 VRS Geodetic Survey & DOT 5,328 0
24317 2339 ADM Fines & Penalties 230,902 0
Nurse Educators of Tomorrow Scholarship Loan 1,000,000 0
SECTION 2.2.(h) Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑9‑3, of the funds credited to the Tobacco Trust, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Budget Code 23703 (Tobacco Trust Fund), to the State Controller to be deposited in Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intrastate Transfers) to support General Fund appropriations for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years. These funds shall be transferred on or after April 30, 2010.
SECTION 2.2.(i) Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑9‑3, of the funds credited to the Health Trust Account, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) that would otherwise be deposited in the Fund Reserve shall be transferred from the Department of State Treasurer, Budget Code 23460 (Health and Wellness Trust Fund), to the State Controller to be deposited in Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intrastate Transfers) to support General Fund appropriations for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years. These funds shall be transferred on or after April 30, 2010.
SECTION 2.2.(j) Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑8‑11, the sum of twenty‑four million three hundred seventy‑two thousand seven hundred one dollars ($24,372,701) from Capital and Repair and Renovations accounts, as specified in Section 27.11 of this act, shall be transferred to the State Controller to be deposited in Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intrastate Transfers) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
PART III. CURRENT OPERATIONS/HIGHWAY FUND
CURRENT OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION/HIGHWAY FUND
SECTION 3.1. Appropriations from the State Highway Fund for the maintenance and operation of the Department of Transportation and for other purposes as enumerated are made for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2011, according to the following schedule:
Current Operations – Highway Fund 2009‑2010 2010‑2011
Department of Transportation
Administration $ 79,838,391 $ 80,925,142
Division of Highways
Administration 33,339,661 33,393,855
Construction 63,943,733 81,580,824
Maintenance 935,999,755 938,245,641
Planning and Research 4,055,402 4,055,402
OSHA Program 355,389 355,389
Ferry Operations 30,126,209 29,726,209
State Aid
Municipalities 87,813,876 87,840,220
Public Transportation 74,947,962 75,793,962
Airports 17,349,592 17,291,543
Railroads 17,101,153 17,101,153
Governor's Highway Safety 351,779 352,325
Division of Motor Vehicles 101,416,528 101,527,804
Other State Agencies, Reserves, Transfers 289,950,570 271,460,531
Total $ 1,736,590,000 $ 1,739,650,000
HIGHWAY FUND AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
SECTION 3.2. The Highway Fund availability used in developing the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennial budget is shown below:
Highway Fund Availability Statement 2009‑2010 2010‑2011
Beginning Credit Balance $ 0 $ 0
Estimated Revenue 1,736,590,000 1,739,650,000
Total Highway Fund Availability $ 1,736,590,000 $ 1,739,650,000
Unappropriated Balance $ 0 $ 0
PART IV. HIGHWAY TRUST FUND APPROPRIATIONS
HIGHWAY TRUST FUND APPROPRIATIONS
Current Operations – Highway Trust Fund 2009‑2010 2010‑2011
Intrastate $ 367,256,023 $ 391,723,281
Urban Loops 116,655,736 127,444,319
Aid to Municipalities 41,423,903 43,885,918
Secondary Roads 58,426,789 61,908,548
Program Administration 42,234,720 44,140,320
Turnpike Authority 64,000,000 99,000,000
Transfer to Gen Fund 108,561,829 72,894,864
Debt Service 82,731,000 79,992,750
GRAND TOTAL CURRENT OPERATIONS
AND EXPANSION $ 881,290,000 $ 920,990,000
HIGHWAY TRUST FUND AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
SECTION 4.2. The Highway Trust Fund availability used in developing the 2009‑2011 biennial budget is shown below:
Total Highway Trust Fund Availability $ 881,290,000 $ 920,990,000
PART V. OTHER appropriations
SECTION 5.1.(a) Appropriations. – Appropriations are made from the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2011, as follows:
FY 2009‑2010 FY 2010‑2011
School Technology Fund $ 36,183,251 $ 18,000,000
State Public School Fund 120,362,790 120,362,790
Total Appropriation $156,546,041 $138,362,790
SECTION 5.1.(b) All University of North Carolina campuses shall remit all parking fines held in escrow in the amount of eighteen million one hundred eighty‑three thousand two hundred fifty‑one dollars ($18,183,251) to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund for appropriation.
SECTION 5.2.(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 18C‑164, the revenue used to support appropriations made in this act is transferred from the State Lottery Fund in the amount of three hundred sixty‑eight million seventy thousand two hundred eight dollars ($368,070,208) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
SECTION 5.2.(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 18C‑164, the appropriations made from the Education Lottery Fund for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year are as follows:
Teachers in Early Grades 99,399,395
Prekindergarten Program 84,635,709
Public School Building Capital Fund 147,228,083
Scholarships for Needy Students 36,807,021
Total Appropriation $368,070,208
SECTION 5.2.(c) Notwithstanding G.S. 18C‑164, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission shall not transfer funds to the Education Lottery Reserve Fund for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year or the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUND AVAILABILITY AND APPROPRIATION
SECTION 5.3.(a) The availability used to support appropriations made in this act from the Information Technology Fund established in G.S. 147‑33.72H is as follows:
FY 2009‑2010 FY 2010‑2011
Interest Income $100,000 $100,000
IT Fund Balance June 30 $3,123,737 $1,418,553
NC OneMap Transfer $167,549 $167,549
Appropriation from General Fund $9,361,985 $7,840,000
Total Funds Available $12,753,271 $9,526,102
SECTION 5.3.(b) Appropriations are made from the Information Technology Fund for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium as follows:
Office of Information Technology Services FY 2009‑2010 FY 2010‑2011
Information Technology Operations $5,350,000 $4,990,000
Information Technology Projects $4,462,733 $4,077,467
Budget and Performance Management System $1,021,985 0
Budget/Committee Reporting System $500,000 0
Total $11,334,718 $9,067,467
APPROPRIATION OF CASH BALANCES
SECTION 5.4.(a) State funds, as defined in G.S. 143C‑1‑1(d)(25), are appropriated and authorized as provided in G.S. 143C‑1‑2 for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium as follows:
(1) For all budget codes listed in the Base Budget and Performance Management Information sections of "North Carolina State Budget, Recommended Operating Budget 2009‑2011, Volumes 1 through 6," and in the Budget Support Document, cash balances and receipts are appropriated up to the amounts specified in Volumes 1 through 6, as adjusted by the General Assembly, for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the 2010‑2011 fiscal year. Funds may be expended only for the programs, purposes, objects, and line items specified in Volumes 1 through 6, or otherwise authorized by the General Assembly. Expansion budget funds listed in those documents are appropriated only as otherwise provided in this act.
(2) For all budget codes that are not listed in "North Carolina State Budget, Recommended Operating Budget 2009‑2011, Volumes 1 through 6," or in the Budget Support Document, cash balances and receipts are appropriated for each year of the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium up to the level of actual expenditures for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year, unless otherwise provided by law. Funds may be expended only for the programs, purposes, objects, and line items authorized for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.
(3) Notwithstanding subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, any receipts that are required to be used to pay debt service requirements for various outstanding bond issues and certificates of participation are appropriated up to the actual amounts received for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the 2010‑2011 fiscal year and shall be used only to pay debt service requirements.
(4) Notwithstanding subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, cash balances and receipts of funds that meet the definition issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board of a trust or agency fund are appropriated for and in the amounts required to meet the legal requirements of the trust agreement for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.
SECTION 5.4.(b) Receipts collected in a fiscal year in excess of the amounts authorized by this section shall remain unexpended and unencumbered until appropriated by the General Assembly in a subsequent fiscal year, unless the expenditure of overrealized receipts in the fiscal year in which the receipts were collected is authorized by the State Budget Act.
Overrealized receipts are appropriated up to the amounts necessary to implement this subsection.
In addition to the consultation and reporting requirements set out in G.S. 143C‑6‑4, the Office of State Budget and Management shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and to the Fiscal Research Division within 30 days after the end of each quarter on any overrealized receipts approved for expenditure under this subsection by the Director of the Budget. The report shall include the source of the receipt, the amount overrealized, the amount authorized for expenditure, and the rationale for expenditure.
SECTION 5.4.(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, there is appropriated from the Reserve for Reimbursements to Local Governments and Shared Tax Revenues for each fiscal year an amount equal to the amount of the distributions required by law to be made from that reserve for that fiscal year.
OTHER RECEIPTS FROM PENDING GRANT AWARDS
SECTION 5.6. Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑6‑4, State agencies may, with approval of the Director of the Budget and after consultation with the Joint Legislative Committee on Governmental Operations, spend funds received from grants awarded subsequent to the enactment of this act. The Office of State Budget and Management shall work with the recipient State agencies to budget grant awards according to the annual program needs and within the parameters of the respective granting entities. Depending on the nature of the award, additional State personnel may be employed on a time‑limited basis. The Office of State Budget and Management shall consult with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations prior to expending any funds received from grant awards. Funds received from such grants are hereby appropriated and shall be incorporated into the certified budget of the recipient State agency.
PART VI. GENERAL PROVISIONs
EXPENDITURES OF FUNDS IN RESERVES LIMITED
SECTION 6.1. All funds appropriated by this act into reserves may be expended only for the purposes for which the reserves were established.
SECTION 6.2. Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑6‑4, the Office of State Budget and Management may adjust the enacted budget by making transfers among purposes or programs for the purpose of consolidating budget and fund codes or eliminating inactive budget and fund codes. The Office of State Budget and Management shall change the authorized budget to reflect these adjustments.
SECTION 6.3. Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑6‑4(b), the Office of State Budget and Management, in consultation with the Office of the State Controller and the Fiscal Research Division, may adjust the enacted budget by making transfers among purposes or programs for the sole purpose of correctly aligning authorized positions and associated operating costs with the appropriate purposes or programs as defined in G.S. 143C‑1‑1(d)(23). The Office of State Budget and Management shall change the certified budget to reflect these adjustments only after reporting the proposed adjustments to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division. Under no circumstances shall total General Fund expenditures for a State department exceed the amount appropriated to that department from the General Fund for the fiscal year.
ESTABLISHING OR INCREASING FEES PURSUANT TO THIS ACT
SECTION 6.4.(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 12‑3.1, an agency is not required to consult with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations prior to establishing or increasing a fee as authorized or anticipated in this act.
SECTION 6.4.(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 150B‑21.1A(a), an agency may adopt an emergency rule in accordance with G.S. 150B‑21.1A to establish or increase a fee as authorized by this act if the adoption of a rule would otherwise be required under Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
CONSULTATION REQUIRED BEFORE CREATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS
SECTION 6.6B. Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑1‑3 or any other provision of law to the contrary, the Office of State Budget and Management and the Office of the State Controller shall consult with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations prior to the establishment of a new special fund as defined in G.S. 143C‑1‑3.
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FUNDS APPROPRIATED
SECTION 6.6C.(a) Findings and Purpose. – The General Assembly finds that State government must serve as a facilitator in assisting local governments, communities, families, workers and other individuals, and businesses in accessing 2009 federal recovery and reinvestment funds. The purpose of this section is to fulfill the General Assembly's constitutional duty to appropriate all funds, including federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), P.L. 111‑5, and to direct the use of those funds in a manner that responsibly provides for the economic well‑being of the State.
SECTION 6.6C.(b) Appropriation of ARRA Funds. – Funds received from ARRA grants and receipts not specified in this act are hereby appropriated in the amounts provided in the notification of award from the federal government or any entity acting on behalf of the federal government to administer federal ARRA funds. Prior to allocation of funds not expressly delineated in this act, the OSBM and affected state agencies shall consult with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.
SECTION 6.6C.(c) Use of ARRA Funds. – Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑5‑2 and G.S. 143C‑6‑4, or any other provision of law to the contrary, State agencies may, with approval of the Director of the Budget and in consultation with the North Carolina Office of Economic Recovery and Investment, spend State funds as defined in G.S. 143C‑1‑1(25) and, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, funds received from federal receipts and federal grants resulting from enactment of the ARRA and awarded during the 2008‑2009 State fiscal year. State agencies may not allocate or otherwise obligate any ARRA funds prior to enactment of this act, except that a State agency, as defined in G.S. 143C‑1‑1(24), may allocate or otherwise obligate federal funds under this section if the federal government has issued rules or formal guidance stipulating that a state's lack of allocation or obligation would otherwise jeopardize its receipt of federal ARRA funds. Under these limited circumstances, the State may allocate or obligate those funds for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year only.
SECTION 6.6C.(d) Guidance. – The Office of State Budget and Management shall work with the recipient State agencies to budget federal receipts awarded according to the annual program needs and within the parameters of the respective granting entities and to incorporate federal funds into the certified budgets of the recipient State agency. State agencies shall not use federal ARRA funds for recurring purposes unless provided for in this act. However, depending on the nature of the award, additional State personnel may be employed on a temporary or time‑limited basis. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the use of federal ARRA funds to employ teachers and other school personnel for the 2009‑2010 school year.
SECTION 6.6C.(e) The State Office of Economic Investment and Recovery may use up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) during fiscal year 2009‑2010 for operating expenses.
SECTION 6.6C.(f) Effective Date. – This section is effective when it becomes law.
CONTINUATION REVIEW OF CERTAIN FUNDS, PROGRAMS, AND DIVISIONS
SECTION 6.6E.(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a process to periodically and systematically review the funds, agencies, divisions, and programs financed by State government. This process shall be known as the Continuation Review Program. The Continuation Review Program is intended to assist the General Assembly in determining whether to continue, reduce, or eliminate funding for the State's funds, agencies, divisions, and programs subject to continuation review.
SECTION 6.6E.(b) The Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate may review the funds, programs, and divisions listed in this section and shall determine whether to continue, reduce, or eliminate funding for the funds, programs, and divisions, subject to the Continuation Review Program. The Fiscal Research Division may issue instructions to the State departments and agencies subject to continuation review regarding the expected content and format of the reports required by this section. No later than December 1, 2009, the following agencies shall report to the Fiscal Research Division:
(1) Sentencing Services Program of the Office of Indigent Defense Services – Judicial Department.
(2) Driver's Education Program – Department of Transportation.
(3) Prisoner's Education Program – Community College System.
(4) Parking Office – Department of Administration.
(5) Young Offenders Forest Conservation Program (BRIDGE) – Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
SECTION 6.6E.(c) The continuation review reports required in this section shall include the following information:
(1) A description of the fund, agency, division, or program mission, goals, and objectives.
(2) The statutory objectives for the fund, agency, division, or program and the problem or need addressed.
(3) The extent to which the fund, agency, division, or program's objectives have been achieved.
(4) The fund, agency, division, or program's functions or programs performed without specific statutory authority.
(5) The performance measures for each fund, agency, division, or program and the process by which the performance measures determine efficiency and effectiveness.
(6) Recommendations for statutory, budgetary, or administrative changes needed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of services delivered to the public.
(7) The consequences of discontinuing funding.
(8) Recommendations for improving services or reducing costs or duplication.
(9) The identification of policy issues that should be brought to the attention of the General Assembly.
(10) Other information necessary to fully support the General Assembly's Continuation Review Program along with any information included in instructions from the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 6.6E.(d) State departments and agencies identified in subsection (b) of this section shall submit a final report to the General Assembly by March 1, 2010.
ESTABLISH SEVERANCE EXPENDITURE RESERVE
SECTION 6.6F.(a) There is established in the Office of State Budget and Management a General Fund reserve budget code for the purpose of funding severance‑related obligations to State employees subject to the State Personnel Act, and employees exempt from the State Personnel Act, who are separated from service due to a reduction‑in‑force action. Severance‑related expenditures from this reserve shall include obligations to fund:
(1) A State employee's severance salary continuation with an age adjustment factor as authorized by G.S. 126‑8.5 including employer‑related contributions for social security, and
(2) Noncontributory health premiums for up to 12 months as authorized by G.S. 135‑45.2(a)(8) for employees of employing units as defined by G.S. 135‑45.1(12).
SECTION 6.6F.(b) The Director of the Budget shall allocate funds appropriated in Section 2.1 of this act to the Severance Expenditure Reserve to public agencies to fund severance‑related obligations incurred by the agencies as a result of reduction‑in‑force actions that cause State‑supported public employees to be terminated from public employment. Funds appropriated to the Severance Expenditure Reserve shall be expended in their entirety before funds appropriated to a public agency for State‑supported personal services expenditures may be used to fund any severance‑related obligations. For the purposes of this subsection, the term 'public employee' means an employee of a State agency, department, or institution; The University of North Carolina; the North Carolina Community College System Office; or a local school administrative unit.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
SECTION 6.7.(a) Office of Information Technology Services Budget. – Notwithstanding G.S. 147‑33.88, the Office of Information Technology Services shall develop an annual budget for review and approval by the Office of State Budget and Management in accordance with a schedule prescribed by the Director of the Office of State Budget and Management. The approved Office of Information Technology Services budget shall be included in the Governor's budget recommendations to the General Assembly.
The Office of State Budget and Management shall ensure that State agencies have an opportunity to adjust their budgets based on any rate changes proposed by the Office of Information Technology Services.
SECTION 6.7.(b) Enterprise Projects. – The State Chief Information Officer shall consult the respective State agency chief information officers to identify specific State agency requirements prior to the initiation of any enterprise project. State agency requirements shall be incorporated into any enterprise agreement signed by the State Chief Information Officer. Enterprise projects shall not exceed the participating State agencies' ability to financially support the contracts.
The State Chief Information Officer shall not enter into any information technology contracts without obtaining written agreements from participating State agencies regarding apportionment of funding. State agencies agreeing to participate in a contract shall:
(1) Ensure that sufficient funds are budgeted to support their agreed shares of enterprise agreements throughout the life of the contract.
(2) Transfer the agreed‑upon funds to the Office of Information Technology Services in sufficient time for the Office of Information Technology Services to meet contract requirements.
SECTION 6.7.(c) Notwithstanding the cash management provisions of G.S. 147‑86.11, the Office of Information Technology Services may procure information technology goods and services for periods of up to a total of three years where the terms of the procurement contract require payment of all, or a portion, of the contract purchase price at the beginning of the agreement. All of the following conditions shall be met before payment for these agreements may be disbursed:
(1) Any advance payment complies with the Office of Information Technology Services budget.
(2) The State Controller receives conclusive evidence that the proposed agreement would be more cost‑effective than a multiyear agreement that complies with G.S. 147‑86.11.
(3) The procurement complies in all other aspects with applicable statutes and rules.
(4) The proposed agreement contains contract terms that protect the financial interests of the State against contractor nonperformance or insolvency through the creation of escrow accounts for funds, source codes, or both, or by any other reasonable means that have legally binding effect.
The Office of State Budget and Management shall ensure the savings from any authorized agreement shall be included in the Office of Information Technology Services calculation of rates before the Office of State Budget and Management annually approves the proposed rates. The Office of Information Technology Services shall report to the Office of State Budget and Management on any State agency budget impacts resulting from multiyear contracts.
The Office of Information Technology Services shall submit a quarterly written report of any authorizations granted under this subsection to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and to the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 6.7.(d) State agencies developing and implementing information technology projects shall use the State infrastructure to host their projects. The State Chief Information Officer may grant an exception if the State agency can demonstrate any of the following:
(1) Using an outside contractor would be more cost‑effective for the State.
(2) The Office of Information Technology Services does not have the technical capabilities required to host the application.
(3) Valid security requirements preclude the use of State infrastructure, and a contractor can provide a more secure environment.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION CONSOLIDATION
SECTION 6.8.(a) Findings. – The General Assembly finds that there is a critical need for consolidating the investments made in geographic information systems and developing common infrastructures in order for the State to reap all the potential benefits of geographic information systems at the lowest cost.
SECTION 6.8.(b) Implementation Plan. – The recommendations outlined in the 2008 legislative report prepared by the State Chief Information Officer, the Geographic Information Coordinating Council, and the Office of State Budget and Management, made pursuant to Section 6.13 of S.L. 2008‑107, entitled "State Geographic Information Consolidation Implementation Plan," shall be implemented in four distinct work streams, as follows:
(1) Transferring the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis to the Office of the State Chief Information Officer and establishing appropriated funding for staff activities supporting the Geographic Information Coordinating Council, statewide standards, and the coordination of data acquisition.
(2) Reestablishing the professional services component and refocusing that effort toward current needs of the community while reducing those overhead costs.
(3) Revitalizing the NC OneMap project by leveraging new technology in the market to reduce costs while increasing utility of the service.
SECTION 6.8.(c) Transfers of Agencies, Powers, Duties. – The statutory authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds of the State agencies and subunits listed in this subsection are transferred from those entities to the State Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology Services, with all of the elements of a Type II transfer as defined by G.S. 143A‑6:
(1) The North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council.
(2) The Center for Geographic Information and Analysis.
The Center for Geographic Information and Analysis shall remain in its current office space unless the State Chief Information Officer determines otherwise.
SECTION 6.8.(d) Center for Geographic Information and Analysis Coordination. – The State Chief Information Officer shall coordinate a professional services component for geographic information systems coordination with the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis that is refocused toward current community needs.
SECTION 6.8.(e) North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council Coordination. – The State Chief Information Officer, in cooperation with the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council, shall coordinate the refocusing of the NC OneMap geographic information systems infrastructure project to leverage new technology, to increase the utility of geographic information systems services, and to reduce geographic information systems data layer costs through singly managed contracts.
SECTION 6.8.(f) Information Technology Fund. – The Information Technology Fund shall be used for the purpose of acquiring and managing, at the lowest cost, data layers useful to multiple State and local organizations, according to the priorities set by the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council. The Information Technology Fund may receive private grants and may include State, federal, local, and matching funds. Any funding received for GIS may be used only for that purpose.
SECTION 6.8.(g) Geographic Information Systems Funding. – Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Information Technology Fund, the sum of seven hundred forty thousand dollars ($740,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of seven hundred forty thousand dollars ($740,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year shall be used to effectuate the transfer of the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, including the cost of moving personnel positions, as provided by this act.
SECTION 6.9.(a) The Office of the State Controller, in cooperation with the State Chief Information Officer, shall continue the implementation of the BEACON Strategic Plan for Data Integration, issued in April 2008. The plan shall be implemented under the governance of the BEACON Project Steering Committee and in conjunction with leadership in appropriate State agencies and with the support and cooperation of the Office of State Budget and Management.
While it is the intent that this initiative provide broad access to information across State government, the plan shall comply with all necessary security measures and restrictions to ensure that access to any specific information held confidential under federal or State law shall be limited to appropriate and authorized persons.
SECTION 6.9.(b) The Office of State Controller shall give the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program first priority for funding and for system development and implementation.
The Office of State Controller shall determine the amount of funding required to (i) fully support the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program effort and (ii) develop full operational capability in Wake County during the 2009‑2010 fiscal year. The Office of State Controller shall not otherwise obligate these funds.
SECTION 6.9.(c) By September 1, 2009, the Office of State Controller shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and to the Fiscal Research Division on (i) funding requirements and sources of funds for the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and (ii) the anticipated uses of any remaining funds for the BEACON Data Integration Program. The Office of State Controller shall spend funds to support the BEACON Data Integration Program only as is specifically authorized in Section 6.16(d) of S.L. 2008‑107.
By October 1, 2009, the Office of State Controller, in coordination with the State Chief Information Officer, shall also report on future costs for implementing the BEACON Data Integration Program, including outside vendor costs. This report shall include a detailed explanation of potential costs and the efforts participating agencies are making to reduce these costs. This report shall be presented to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and written reports shall be provided to the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees and to the Fiscal Research Division.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA INTEGRATION PILOT PROGRAM
SECTION 6.10.(a) The Office of the State Controller, in cooperation with the State Chief Information Officer and under the governance of the BEACON Project Steering Committee, shall continue the development of the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program in Wake County as specified in Section 6.15 of S.L. 2008‑107. The Office of State Controller shall achieve and demonstrate full operational capability of the pilot program in Wake County before the system is expanded to other areas of the State.
SECTION 6.10.(b) The Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program shall continue to comply with all necessary security measures and restrictions to ensure that access to any specific information held confidential under federal and State law shall be limited to authorized persons.
SECTION 6.10.(c) The Office of State Controller shall develop a detailed plan for the statewide expansion of the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program. This plan shall include the following:
(1) An implementation schedule;
(2) The requirements individual users must meet to participate in the program;
(3) Detailed cost information for the development and implementation of a statewide system, including any user costs;
(4) A governance structure for management and oversight of the system; and
(5) Any other issues associated with the implementation of the system.
The Office of State Controller shall submit this plan to the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and the Fiscal Research Division by January 31, 2010.
SECTION 6.10.(d) The Office of State Controller shall work with the data integration software vendor to ensure that licenses are obtained at the least possible cost.
SECTION 6.10.(e) A State agency data center shall host the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program. The Office of State Controller shall identify a State data center to host the program and shall report its recommendation to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology by August 31, 2009.
SECTION 6.10.(f) Funds appropriated for the Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program shall only be used for that program. The Criminal Justice Data Integration Pilot Program shall have first priority for funds available to the BEACON Data Integration Program.
SECTION 6.10.(g) The Office of State Controller shall continue to provide quarterly written reports on the program's progress to the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and to the Fiscal Research Division beginning October 1, 2009.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ADMINISTRATION BULK PRICING/PURCHASING OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SECTION 6.11.(a) The General Administration of The University of North Carolina, with assistance from the Office of Information Technology Services, to the extent practicable, shall consolidate information technology infrastructure purchasing which includes, but is not limited to, personal computer and printer purchases for all 16 State universities, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and General Administration, by ensuring access to a bulk and shared pricing process that will realize savings through efficiencies. General Administration may choose to utilize the Office of Information Technology Services' or existing bulk contracts of The University of North Carolina. Information technology infrastructure expenditure shall not be authorized by the General Administration of The University of North Carolina without complying with this section.
SECTION 6.11.(b) By April 1, 2010, the General Administration of The University of North Carolina shall submit a written report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and to the Fiscal Research Division on the results of the University's bulk pricing and purchasing initiative. The report shall explain the following related to the initiative:
(1) The procedures established for implementation.
(2) Any savings realized as a result of the initiative.
(3) Any issues associated with implementation of this initiative.
JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/ REVIEW AND REPORT ON CURRENT LAW
SECTION 6.12. By April 1, 2010, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology shall review State information technology‑related legislation and develop recommendations for amendment of current laws and shall submit its written report of recommendations for legislative action to the Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology shall provide interested parties with the opportunity to identify and define pertinent information technology issues by offering testimony on (i) issues associated with current legislation, (ii) the impact of information technology laws on specific entities; and, (iii) recommendations for improving information technology organization and operations within the State.
OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES/NETWORK INTEGRATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY AND COORDINATION PLAN
SECTION 6.13.(a) The State Chief Information Officer shall negotiate and coordinate with MCNC to identify efficiencies that might be achieved through increased cooperation and elimination of duplicative efforts in management of the State's network infrastructure operated by the Office of Information Technology Services and by the North Carolina Research and Education Network operated by MCNC. Potential efficiencies include, but are not limited to, shared infrastructure, personnel, contracted services, and support.
SECTION 6.13.(b) Based on guidance provided by the Program Evaluation Division and the Fiscal Research Division, the Office of Information Technology Services and the Office of State Budget and Management, in conjunction with MCNC, shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of coordinating the operation of the North Carolina Research and Education Network and the State network infrastructure. The feasibility study shall define the capabilities and limitations of the Office of Information Technology Services and MCNC and document services currently provided by the Office of Information Technology Services and MCNC. Further, the feasibility study shall identify:
(1) Current and potential State agency network requirements.
(2) The organization currently supporting each network requirement.
(3) Requirements that are currently unsupported by either organization.
(4) Costs associated with each requirement.
(5) Potential cost savings resulting from network integration.
(6) Policy and operational issues associated with the coordination.
The study shall be reviewed by the Program Evaluation Division and the Fiscal Research Division, both of which shall verify the identified efficiencies and cost savings. The Office of Information Technology Services and MCNC shall complete the feasibility study and present it to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology by October 31, 2009.
SECTION 6.13.(c) Following completion of the feasibility study by the Office of State Budget and Management, and if the Program Evaluation Division and the Fiscal Research Division can verify that the efficiencies and savings identified in the study are valid, accurate, and substantial enough to justify increased coordination, then the Office of Information Technology Services and MCNC shall develop a plan to coordinate their operations. The coordination plan shall include at least the following:
(1) Definition of requirements to achieve statewide integration.
(2) Detailed information on the allocation of responsibility for each requirement and component.
(3) An estimate of the associated costs with each requirement or component, including what the costs to each agency would be without coordination.
(4) Priorities for integration.
(5) A schedule for implementation.
(6) Detailed cost information for the development and integration of a single network.
(7) A governance structure for management and oversight of the network.
(8) A means for resolution of any issues identified during the feasibility study.
The coordination plan shall be completed by February 28, 2010, and shall be presented to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology.
SECTION 6.13.(d) Prior to implementation of the plan, the Office of Information Technology Services and MCNC shall complete a memorandum of agreement that specifies their respective roles and responsibilities and defines payment schedules. By January 1 each year, the Office of State Budget and Management shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology regarding the status of the coordination plan and the cost savings realized during the previous fiscal year.
SECTION 6.14.(a) The Office of State Budget and Management, in coordination with the Office of the State Chief Information Officer, shall develop a detailed plan to upgrade the State portal. The upgrade plan shall include consideration of the need to (i) improve State services for citizens and businesses; (ii) offer online services; (iii) provide crucial, up‑to‑the‑minute emergency information; and (iv) provide a multipurpose, interactive Web portal.
SECTION 6.14.(b) Prior to developing the plan, the Office of State Budget and Management shall obtain the advice and assistance of State and local government agencies, businesses operating within the State, and private citizens to ensure that all potential users have the opportunity to submit recommendations for inclusion in the final plan.
The Office of State Budget and Management shall also conduct an inventory of capabilities that are available on other states' portals. With the assistance of State agencies, the Office of State Budget and Management shall prioritize potential capabilities. Based on these priorities, the Office of State Budget and Management shall develop a phased plan to allow incremental implementation that includes a detailed time line for each phase and shall include the cost associated with each phase.
SECTION 6.14.(c) The interactive Web portal shall include the capability for citizens, businesses, and State and local government agencies to complete online transactions, obtain live help from State agencies, and access emergency information in real time. The portal shall include appropriate security measures and devices to include encryption, enterprise‑class firewalls/gateway security, real‑time intrusion prevention and detection, virtual private networks, vulnerability management, and virus protection.
SECTION 6.14.(d) By December 1, 2009, the Office of State Budget and Management shall submit the upgrade plan to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and to the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include an explanation of any recommendations that were not included in the final plan with an explanation as to why each was not included and the cost associated with implementation of those items.
IMPLEMENT GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SCHEDULES FOR STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES
SECTION 6.14A.(a) G.S. 147‑33.95(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(2a) Establish procedures to permit State agencies and local government agencies to use the General Services Administration (GSA) Cooperative Purchasing Program to purchase information technology (i) awarded under General Services Administration Supply Schedule 70 Information Technology and (ii) from contracts under the GSA's Consolidated Schedule containing information technology special item numbers."
SECTION 6.14A.(b) By October 1, 2009, the Office of Information Technology Services shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and Fiscal Research Division on its plan for implementing GSA Schedules for information technology procurement.
USE OF ELECTRONIC FORMS AND DIGITAL SIGNATURES
SECTION 6.16.(a) The Office of State Budget and Management shall develop a plan to increase the use of electronic forms and digital signatures throughout State government. In developing the plan, first the Office of State Budget and Management shall conduct an inventory of all paper or electronic forms currently in use by executive branch agencies. The Office of State Budget and Management may hire temporary help for the collection and compiling of the data for the inventory.
SECTION 6.16.(b) After completing the inventory, the Office of State Budget and Management shall develop a plan for converting one or more paper forms to an electronic format. The plan shall include a detailed business case for the conversion, including cost, cost savings, cost avoidance, and any impact on productivity.
SECTION 6.16.(c) The Office of State Budget and Management shall assess the potential cost of converting all identified forms in the inventory to an electronic format and establish a timetable for achieving conversion as soon as practicable.
SECTION 6.16.(d) The Office of Information Technology Services shall provide technical assistance to the Office of State Budget and Management in the development of the plan to increase the use of electronic forms and digital signatures.
SECTION 6.16.(e) Executive branch State agencies shall provide all information requested by Office of State Budget and Management in conducting the inventory and in all other issues related to the development of this plan.
SECTION 6.16.(f) The Office of State Budget and Management shall submit the plan to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology on or before March 1, 2010.
POSITION TRANSFER REPORTS/OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES/OFFICE OF STATE CONTROLLER/OFFICE OF STATE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT
SECTION 6.17.(a) By November 1, 2009, the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), in coordination with the Office of Information Technology Services, shall submit a written report to the Appropriation Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and to the Fiscal Research Division regarding the transfer of information technology (IT) positions associated with IT consolidation. The report shall include the following:
(1) The numbers and types of positions transferred to the Office of Information Technology Services from other State agencies, an explanation as to why each position was moved to the Office of Information Technology Services, the cost associated with each position, and how that cost is allocated.
(2) The number and types of information technology positions remaining with each State agency, an explanation as to why the positions were retained by the agency, and the total cost for each position.
(3) The number and location of positions eliminated as a result of IT consolidation and the associated cost savings.
(4) Any new positions created within the Office of Information Technology Services to support IT consolidation, the reason each position was created, and the associated cost.
SECTION 6.17.(b) By November 1, 2009, OSBM, in coordination with the Office of the State Controller, shall submit a written report to the Appropriations Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and to the Fiscal Research Division on the transfer of positions associated with the implementation of the BEACON HR/Payroll project. The report shall include the following:
(1) The numbers and types of positions transferred to the Office of the State Controller from other State agencies, an explanation as to why each position was moved to the Office of the State Controller, the cost associated with each position, and how that cost is allocated.
(2) The number and types of positions remaining with each State agency, an explanation as to why the positions were retained by the agency, and the total cost for each position.
(3) The number and location of positions eliminated as a result of the implementation of the BEACON HR/Payroll system and the associated cost savings.
(4) Any new positions created within the Office of the State Controller to support BEACON HR/Payroll, the reason each position was created, and the associated cost.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTED PERSONNEL
SECTION 6.18.(a) Beginning July 1, 2009, and notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary:
(1) No contract for information technology personal services, or providing personnel to perform information technology functions, may be established or renewed for any term longer than 12 months unless otherwise specifically required by a contract in effect on June 30, 2009.
(2) Before any State agency, department, or institution may renew a contract position for information technology personnel, the State agency must report to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), to the Office of State Personnel (OSP), to the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), and to the Fiscal Research Division (FRD) on the justification for the contract. The report shall explain:
a. The proposed duration of the contract position. If the contract term is for more than 12 months, why recruitment for an in‑house State employee position is not feasible.
b. Whether the contract position requires unique skills for which the State has a short‑term need.
c. Whether the contract position is required by a specific information technology project and if the position will be terminated upon completion of the project.
d. The specific work products and completion time lines for the contract position.
(3) Contract positions subject to this subsection shall be reviewed and approved by the Statewide Information Technology Procurement Office and shall be entered in the project portfolio management tool.
(4) Once approved, contract positions will be reviewed by the Office of State Personnel to determine what the market rate is for the type of contractor required, as well as to determine the comparable cost for a State employee. Agencies may not exceed the market rate determined by OSP. However, SAP employees may be paid based on the rate structure currently in use by the State Chief Information Officer for ITS employees.
(5) After OSP provides cost data, funding for the position is subject to the approval of OSBM.
(6) Whenever a State agency, department, or institution determines that only a contractor can fill a position and the position is required to perform an ongoing function within the agency, the head of the State agency must develop and implement a plan to hire or train a qualified State employee to fill that position within 12 months. Within 60 days of hiring the contractor, this plan shall be forwarded to the Office of State Budget and Management, to the Office of State Personnel, to the Office of Information Technology Services, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office.
(7) Any contract position requiring information technology skills is subject to this provision. OSBM may immediately terminate the funding for any information technology position that is filled without following defined procedures.
(8) All information technology personnel contracts shall be competitive and shall be subject to competition each time they expire. Exceptions must be approved by ITS, OSP, and OSBM and can only be approved once for a particular individual. Approved exceptions must be immediately reported to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office.
SECTION 6.18.(b) By October 1, 2009, and monthly thereafter, each State agency, department, and institution employing information technology personal services contractors, or personnel to perform information technology functions, shall provide a detailed report on those contracts to the Office of State Budget and Management, to the Office of State Personnel, to the Office of Information Technology Services, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office. Each State agency's report shall include at least the following:
(1) For each contracted information technology position:
a. The title of the position, a brief synopsis of the essential functions of the position, and how long the position has existed.
b. The name of the individual filling the position and the vendor company, if any, that regularly employs that individual.
c. The type, start date, and the termination date of the contract.
d. The length of time that the individual filling the contracted position has been employed as a contractor.
e. The contracted position salary or hourly rate, the number of hours per year, and the total annualized cost of the contracted position.
f. The salary and benefits cost for a State employee performing the same function.
g. The purchase order number for the position.
(2) The total annual cost for information technology contractors and the total annual salary and benefits cost for filling the contract positions with State employees.
(3) A determination of whether the information technology functions performed by contractors can be performed by State employees, which shall be validated by the Statewide Information Technology Procurement Office.
(4) All information required by this subsection related to information technology contractors regardless of the contracting source.
STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE CONSOLIDATION
SECTION 6.19.(a) The Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), in conjunction with the State Chief Information Officer (State CIO), shall continue to consolidate State government's information technology infrastructure where a statewide approach would be more economical, reduce security risks, or minimize potential disruption to services. In carrying out the consolidation, the Office of Information Technology Services shall utilize the authority set out in G.S. 147‑33.83.
SECTION 6.19.(b) Information technology infrastructure includes personal computers, hosting and network environments, the help desk, and information technology security of personal computers, servers, and networks.
SECTION 6.19.(c) As part of the consolidation effort, OSBM shall identify (i) contractor positions that have been filled for 12 months or more, beginning March 1, 2009, (ii) the hourly cost of each position, and (iii) any cost savings or other benefits that could be achieved by using State employees to carry out the same duties and responsibilities.
SECTION 6.19.(d) In setting consolidation priorities, OSBM and the State CIO shall target IT infrastructure issues that pose significant risk to agency operations or data, or that provide opportunities for immediate cost savings to the State.
SECTION 6.19.(e) The consolidation of information technology infrastructure conducted by OSBM and the State CIO shall not include The University of North Carolina and its constituent institutions, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the General Assembly.
SECTION 6.19.(f) Beginning December 1, 2009, and regularly thereafter, the Office of State Budget and Management, in conjunction with the State CIO, shall provide written reports to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and the Fiscal Research Division relating to State information technology infrastructure consolidation.
PILOT PROGRAM TO ALLOW PUBLIC‑PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO MEET DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS
SECTION 6.20.(a) To
speed the implementation of the Tax Information Management System (TIMS) and the
additional components of the Planning and Design Project (PDP) during the 2009‑2011
fiscal biennium, the Secretary of the Department of Revenue may enter into
public‑private arrangements where (i) the funding of projects
under the arrangement comes from revenue generated by the project and (ii) the
project is related to the implementation of TIMS and additional components of
the PDP. As used in this section, the "additional components of the PDP"
are Enterprise Data Warehouse, Management Reporting and Decision Analytics,
Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Case Management, and E‑Services.
Work under a public‑private arrangement may be contracted by requests for proposals, modifications to existing contracts, and purchases using existing contract vehicles.
The Secretary of Revenue shall establish a measurement process to determine the increased revenue attributable to the public‑private arrangements. To accomplish this, the Secretary shall consult subject matter experts outside the Department of Revenue, both within State government and from private industry. The measurement process shall include:
(1) Calculation of a revenue baseline against which the increased revenue attributable to the project is measured;
(2) Periodic evaluation to determine if the baseline needs to be modified based on significant measurable changes in the economic environment; and
(3) Monthly calculation of increased revenue attributable to contracts executed under this program.
Of funds generated from collections above the baseline established by subdivision (1) of this subsection, in both the General and Highway Funds, up to forty‑one million dollars ($41,000,000) may be authorized by the Office of State Budget and Management (i) for the purchases related to the implementation of TIMS and the additional components of the PDP, including payment for services from non‑State entities and (ii) toward internal State costs related to the implementation of TIMS and PDP components. The total of any funds expended during the 2009‑2011 biennium for implementation of TIMS and the additional PDP components shall not exceed the sum of forty‑one million dollars ($41,000,000).
If the Department of Revenue finds that it cannot generate additional benefits totaling forty‑one million dollars ($41,000,000) in the 2009‑2011 biennium, the Department shall immediately notify the Chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees and Fiscal Research Division, identify any obligations to vendors, identify options for meeting obligations to vendors, and provide costs associated with each option. The Department shall ensure that this notification is made in sufficient time to allow the General Assembly to properly evaluate the options presented.
SECTION 6.20.(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 114‑2.3, the Department of Revenue shall engage the services of private counsel with the pertinent information technology and computer law expertise to review requests for proposals, and to negotiate and review contracts associated with TIMS and the additional components of the Planning and Design Project (PDP) (Enterprise Data Warehouse, Management Reporting and Decision Analytics, Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Case Management, and E‑Services).
SECTION 6.20.(c) There is established within the Department of Revenue the Oversight Committee for reviewing and approving the benefits measurement methodology and calculation process. The Oversight Committee shall review and approve all contracts executed under this section. This shall include (i) details of each public‑private contract, (ii) the benefits from each contract, and (iii) a comprehensive forecast of the benefits of using public‑private agreements to implement TIMS and the additional PDP components, including the measurement process established for the Secretary of Revenue. The Oversight Committee shall approve all of the fund transfers for this project.
The members of the Committee shall include the following:
(1) The State Budget Director;
(2) The Secretary of the Department of Revenue;
(3) The State Chief Information Officer;
(4) Two persons appointed by the Governor;
(5) One member of the general public having expertise in information technology appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(6) One member of the general public having expertise in economic and revenue forecasting appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro‑Tempore of the Senate.
The State Budget Director shall serve as chair of the Committee. The Committee shall set its meeting schedule and adopt its rules of operation by majority vote. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority. Administrative support staff shall be provided by the Department of Revenue. Members of the Committee shall receive reimbursements for subsistence and travel expenses as provided by Chapter 138 of the General Statutes. The Committee shall terminate on June 30, 2011.
SECTION 6.20.(d) Beginning October 1, 2009 and quarterly thereafter, the Department of Revenue shall submit reports to the Chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Appropriation, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office. The report shall include (i) details of each public‑private contract, (ii) the benefits from each contract, (iii) a comprehensive forecast of the benefits of using public‑private agreements to implement TIMS and the additional PDP components, including cost savings and the acceleration of the project timeline, (iv) and any issues associated with the operation of the public‑private partnership. Within 60 days of implementing the public‑private partnership, the Department of Revenue shall provide to the Chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees, and Fiscal Research Division, a schedule for vendor payments that identifies sources and amounts of funding anticipated as a result of the project's implementation.
SECTION 6.20.(e) In addition to the oversight provided by the Oversight Committee established in subsection (c) of this section, the TIMS project shall be subject to existing Information Technology project oversight legislation, including, but not limited to, G.S. 147‑33.72C and G.S. 147‑33.72E.
repayment of medicaid funds
SECTION 6.21. Notwithstanding Chapter 143C of the General Statutes or any other provision of law, the Director of the Budget shall use funds appropriated in this act to repay any outstanding federal Medicaid funds not repaid pursuant to Section 5 of S.L. 2009‑399. If funds available in the Department of Health and Human Services over the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium are not sufficient to repay the funds, the Director may use any funds within the State budget.
The Director of the Budget shall report the amount of funds repaid no later than 30 days after payment to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Committees, and the Fiscal Research Division.
PART VII. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SECTION 7.1. The State Board of Education shall allocate funds for children with disabilities on the basis of three thousand five hundred dollars and seventy‑seven cents ($3,500.77) per child for a maximum of 168,947 children for the 2009‑2010 school year. Each local school administrative unit shall receive funds for the lesser of (i) all children who are identified as children with disabilities, or (ii) twelve and five‑tenths percent (12.5%) of the 2009‑2010 allocated average daily membership in the local school administrative unit.
The dollar amounts allocated under this section for children with disabilities shall also adjust in accordance with legislative salary increments, retirement rate adjustments, and health benefit adjustments for personnel who serve children with disabilities.
FUNDS FOR ACADEMICALLY GIFTED CHILDREN
SECTION 7.2. The State Board of Education shall allocate funds for academically or intellectually gifted children on the basis of one thousand one hundred sixty‑three dollars and seven cents ($1,163.07) per child. A local school administrative unit shall receive funds for a maximum of four percent (4%) of its 2009‑2010 allocated average daily membership, regardless of the number of children identified as academically or intellectually gifted in the unit. The State Board shall allocate funds for no more than 58,597 children for the 2009‑2010 school year.
The dollar amounts allocated under this section for academically or intellectually gifted children shall also adjust in accordance with legislative salary increments, retirement rate adjustments, and health benefit adjustments for personnel who serve academically or intellectually gifted children.
USE OF SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING IN LOW‑WEALTH COUNTIES
SECTION 7.3.(a) Use of Funds for Supplemental Funding. – All funds received pursuant to this section shall be used only: (i) to provide instructional positions, instructional support positions, teacher assistant positions, clerical positions, school computer technicians, instructional supplies and equipment, staff development, and textbooks and (ii) for salary supplements for instructional personnel and instructional support personnel. Local boards of education are encouraged to use at least twenty‑five percent (25%) of the funds received pursuant to this section to improve the academic performance of children who are performing at Level I or II on either reading or mathematics end‑of‑grade tests in grades 3‑8 and children who are performing at Level I or II in grades 4 and 7.
SECTION 7.3.(b) Definitions. – As used in this section:
(1) "Anticipated county property tax revenue availability" means the county‑adjusted property tax base multiplied by the effective State average tax rate.
(2) "Anticipated total county revenue availability" means the sum of the:
a. Anticipated county property tax revenue availability,
b. Local sales and use taxes received by the county that are levied under Chapter 1096 of the 1967 Session Laws or under Subchapter VIII of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes,
c. Sales tax hold harmless reimbursement received by the county under G.S. 105‑521, and
d. Fines and forfeitures deposited in the county school fund for the most recent year for which data are available.
(3) "Anticipated total county revenue availability per student" means the anticipated total county revenue availability for the county divided by the average daily membership of the county.
(4) "Anticipated State average revenue availability per student" means the sum of all anticipated total county revenue availability divided by the average daily membership for the State.
(5) "Average daily membership" means average daily membership as defined in the North Carolina Public Schools Allotment Policy Manual, adopted by the State Board of Education. If a county contains only part of a local school administrative unit, the average daily membership of that county includes all students who reside within the county and attend that local school administrative unit.
(6) "County‑adjusted property tax base" shall be computed as follows:
a. Subtract the present‑use value of agricultural land, horticultural land, and forestland in the county, as defined in G.S. 105‑277.2, from the total assessed real property valuation of the county,
b. Adjust the resulting amount by multiplying by a weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies,
c. Add to the resulting amount the:
1. Present‑use value of agricultural land, horticultural land, and forestland, as defined in G.S. 105‑277.2,
2. Value of property of public service companies, determined in accordance with Article 23 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, and
3. Personal property value for the county.
(7) "County‑adjusted property tax base per square mile" means the county‑adjusted property tax base divided by the number of square miles of land area in the county.
(8) "County wealth as a percentage of State average wealth" shall be computed as follows:
a. Compute the percentage that the county per capita income is of the State per capita income and weight the resulting percentage by a factor of five‑tenths,
b. Compute the percentage that the anticipated total county revenue availability per student is of the anticipated State average revenue availability per student and weight the resulting percentage by a factor of four‑tenths,
c. Compute the percentage that the county‑adjusted property tax base per square mile is of the State‑adjusted property tax base per square mile and weight the resulting percentage by a factor of one‑tenth,
d. Add the three weighted percentages to derive the county wealth as a percentage of the State average wealth.
(9) "Effective county tax rate" means the actual county tax rate multiplied by a weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies.
(10) "Effective State average tax rate" means the average of effective county tax rates for all counties.
(11) "Local current expense funds" means the most recent county current expense appropriations to public schools, as reported by local boards of education in the audit report filed with the Secretary of the Local Government Commission pursuant to G.S. 115C‑447.
(12) "Per capita income" means the average for the most recent three years for which data are available of the per capita income according to the most recent report of the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, including any reported modifications for prior years as outlined in the most recent report.
(13) "Sales assessment ratio studies" means sales assessment ratio studies performed by the Department of Revenue under G.S. 105‑289(h).
(14) "State average current expense appropriations per student" means the most recent State total of county current expense appropriations to public schools, as reported by local boards of education in the audit report filed with the Secretary of the Local Government Commission pursuant to G.S. 115C‑447.
(15) "State average adjusted property tax base per square mile" means the sum of the county‑adjusted property tax bases for all counties divided by the number of square miles of land area in the State.
(16) "Supplant" means to decrease local per student current expense appropriations from one fiscal year to the next fiscal year.
(17) "Weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies" means the weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies in the most recent years for which county current expense appropriations and adjusted property tax valuations are available. If real property in a county has been revalued one year prior to the most recent sales assessment ratio study, a weighted average of the two most recent sales assessment ratios shall be used. If property has been revalued the year of the most recent sales assessment ratio study, the sales assessment ratio for the year of revaluation shall be used.
SECTION 7.3.(c) Eligibility for Funds. – Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, the State Board of Education shall allocate these funds to local school administrative units located in whole or in part in counties in which the county wealth as a percentage of the State average wealth is less than one hundred percent (100%).
SECTION 7.3.(d) Allocation of Funds. – Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, the amount received per average daily membership for a county shall be the difference between the State average current expense appropriations per student and the current expense appropriations per student that the county could provide given the county's wealth and an average effort to fund public schools. (To derive the current expense appropriations per student that the county could be able to provide given the county's wealth and an average effort to fund public schools, multiply the county's wealth as a percentage of State average wealth by the State average current expense appropriations per student.) The funds for the local school administrative units located in whole or in part in the county shall be allocated to each local school administrative unit located in whole or in part in the county based on the average daily membership of the county's students in the school units. If the funds appropriated for supplemental funding are not adequate to fund the formula fully, each local school administrative unit shall receive a pro rata share of the funds appropriated for supplemental funding.
SECTION 7.3.(e) Formula for Distribution of Supplemental Funding Pursuant to This Section Only. – The formula in this section is solely a basis for distribution of supplemental funding for low‑wealth counties and is not intended to reflect any measure of the adequacy of the educational program or funding for public schools. The formula is also not intended to reflect any commitment by the General Assembly to appropriate any additional supplemental funds for low‑wealth counties.
SECTION 7.3.(f) Minimum Effort Required. – Counties that had effective tax rates in the 1996‑1997 fiscal year that were above the State average effective tax rate but that had effective rates below the State average in the 1997‑1998 fiscal year or thereafter shall receive reduced funding under this section. This reduction in funding shall be determined by subtracting the amount that the county would have received pursuant to Section 17.1(g) of Chapter 507 of the 1995 Session Laws from the amount that the county would have received if qualified for full funding and multiplying the difference by ten percent (10%). This method of calculating reduced funding shall apply one time only. This method of calculating reduced funding shall not apply in cases in which the effective tax rate fell below the statewide average effective tax rate as a result of a reduction in the actual property tax rate. In these cases, the minimum effort required shall be calculated in accordance with Section 17.1(g) of Chapter 507 of the 1995 Session Laws. If the county documents that it has increased the per student appropriation to the school current expense fund in the current fiscal year, the State Board of Education shall include this additional per pupil appropriation when calculating minimum effort pursuant to Section 17.1(g) of Chapter 507 of the 1995 Session Laws.
SECTION 7.3.(g) Nonsupplant Requirement. – A county in which a local school administrative unit receives funds under this section shall use the funds to supplement local current expense funds and shall not supplant local current expense funds. For the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium, the State Board of Education shall not allocate funds under this section to a county found to have used these funds to supplant local per student current expense funds. The State Board of Education shall make a finding that a county has used these funds to supplant local current expense funds in the prior year, or the year for which the most recent data are available, if:
(1) The current expense appropriation per student of the county for the current year is less than ninety‑five percent (95%) of the average of the local current expense appropriations per student for the three prior fiscal years; and
(2) The county cannot show: (i) that it has remedied the deficiency in funding or (ii) that extraordinary circumstances caused the county to supplant local current expense funds with funds allocated under this section. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 7.3.(h) Reports. – The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee prior to May 1, 2010, if it determines that counties have supplanted funds.
SECTION 7.3.(i) Department of Revenue Reports. – The Department of Revenue shall provide to the Department of Public Instruction a preliminary report for the current fiscal year of the assessed value of the property tax base for each county prior to March 1 of each year and a final report prior to May 1 of each year. The reports shall include for each county the annual sales assessment ratio and the taxable values of (i) total real property, (ii) the portion of total real property represented by the present‑use value of agricultural land, horticultural land, and forestland, as defined in G.S. 105‑277.2, (iii) property of public service companies determined in accordance with Article 23 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, and (iv) personal property.
SMALL SCHOOL SYSTEM SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING
SECTION 7.4.(a) Funds for Small School Systems. – Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the State Board of Education shall allocate funds appropriated for small school system supplemental funding (i) to each county school administrative unit with an average daily membership of fewer than 3,175 students and (ii) to each county school administrative unit with an average daily membership from 3,175 to 4,000 students if the county in which the local school administrative unit is located has a county‑adjusted property tax base per student that is below the State‑adjusted property tax base per student and if the total average daily membership of all local school administrative units located within the county is from 3,175 to 4,000 students. The allocation formula shall:
(1) Round all fractions of positions to the next whole position.
(2) Provide five and one‑half additional regular classroom teachers in counties in which the average daily membership per square mile is greater than four, and seven additional regular classroom teachers in counties in which the average daily membership per square mile is four or fewer.
(3) Provide additional program enhancement teachers adequate to offer the standard course of study.
(4) Change the duty‑free period allocation to one teacher assistant per 400 average daily membership.
(5) Provide a base for the consolidated funds allotment of at least seven hundred seventeen thousand three hundred sixty dollars ($717,360), excluding textbooks, for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and a base of seven hundred seventeen thousand three hundred sixty dollars ($717,360) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.
(6) Allot vocational education funds for grade 6 as well as for grades 7‑12. If funds appropriated for each fiscal year for small school system supplemental funding are not adequate to fully fund the program, the State Board of Education shall reduce the amount allocated to each county school administrative unit on a pro rata basis. This formula is solely a basis for distribution of supplemental funding for certain county school administrative units and is not intended to reflect any measure of the adequacy of the educational program or funding for public schools. The formula also is not intended to reflect any commitment by the General Assembly to appropriate any additional supplemental funds for such county administrative units.
SECTION 7.4.(b) Nonsupplant Requirement. – A county in which a local school administrative unit receives funds under this section shall use the funds to supplement local current expense funds and shall not supplant local current expense funds. For the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium, the State Board of Education shall not allocate funds under this section to a county found to have used these funds to supplant local per student current expense funds. The State Board of Education shall make a finding that a county has used these funds to supplant local current expense funds in the prior year, or the year for which the most recent data are available, if:
(1) The current expense appropriation per student of the county for the current year is less than ninety‑five percent (95%) of the average of the local current expense appropriations per student for the three prior fiscal years; and
(2) The county cannot show: (i) that it has remedied the deficiency in funding or (ii) that extraordinary circumstances caused the county to supplant local current expense funds with funds allocated under this section. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 7.4.(c) Phase‑Out Provisions. – If a local school administrative unit becomes ineligible for funding under this formula because of (i) an increase in the population of the county in which the local school administrative unit is located or (ii) an increase in the county‑adjusted property tax base per student of the county in which the local school administrative unit is located, funding for that unit shall be continued for seven years after the unit becomes ineligible.
SECTION 7.4.(d) Definitions. – As used in this section:
(1) "Average daily membership" means within two percent (2%) of the average daily membership as defined in the North Carolina Public Schools Allotment Policy Manual adopted by the State Board of Education.
(2) "County‑adjusted property tax base per student" means the total assessed property valuation for each county, adjusted using a weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies, divided by the total number of students in average daily membership who reside within the county.
(3) "Local current expense funds" means the most recent county current expense appropriations to public schools, as reported by local boards of education in the audit report filed with the Secretary of the Local Government Commission pursuant to G.S. 115C‑447.
(4) "Sales assessment ratio studies" means sales assessment ratio studies performed by the Department of Revenue under G.S. 105‑289(h).
(5) "State‑adjusted property tax base per student" means the sum of all county‑adjusted property tax bases divided by the total number of students in average daily membership who reside within the State.
(6) "Supplant" means to decrease local per student current expense appropriations from one fiscal year to the next fiscal year.
(7) "Weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies" means the weighted average of the three most recent annual sales assessment ratio studies in the most recent years for which county current expense appropriations and adjusted property tax valuations are available. If real property in a county has been revalued one year prior to the most recent sales assessment ratio study, a weighted average of the two most recent sales assessment ratios shall be used. If property has been revalued during the year of the most recent sales assessment ratio study, the sales assessment ratio for the year of revaluation shall be used.
SECTION 7.4.(e) Reports. – The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee prior to May 1, 2010, if it determines that counties have supplanted funds.
SECTION 7.4.(f) Use of Funds. – Local boards of education are encouraged to use at least twenty percent (20%) of the funds they receive pursuant to this section to improve the academic performance of children who are performing at Level I or II on either reading or mathematics end‑of‑grade tests in grades 3‑8 and children who are performing at Level I or II on the writing tests in grades 4 and 7.
REPLACEMENT SCHOOL BUSES/FUNDS
SECTION 7.5.(a) The State Board of Education may impose any of the following conditions on allotments to local boards of education for replacement school buses:
(1) The local board of education shall use the funds only to make the first, second, third, or fourth year's payment on a financing contract entered into pursuant to G.S. 115C‑528.
(2) The term of a financing contract entered into under this section shall not exceed four years.
(3) The local board of education shall purchase the buses only from vendors selected by the State Board of Education and on terms approved by the State Board of Education.
(4) The Department of Administration, Division of Purchase and Contract, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, shall solicit bids for the direct purchase of school buses and activity buses and shall establish a statewide term contract for use by the State Board of Education. Local boards of education and other agencies shall be eligible to purchase from the statewide term contract. The State Board of Education shall also solicit bids for the financing of school buses.
(5) A bus financed pursuant to this section shall meet all federal motor vehicle safety regulations for school buses.
(6) Any other condition the State Board of Education considers appropriate.
SECTION 7.5.(b) Any term contract for the purchase or lease‑purchase of school buses or school activity buses shall not require vendor payment of the electronic procurement transaction fee of the North Carolina E‑Procurement Service.
DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN ANTICIPATED AND ACTUAL ADM
SECTION 7.6.(a) If the State Board of Education does not have sufficient resources in the ADM Contingency Reserve line item to make allotment adjustments in accordance with the Allotment Adjustments for ADM Growth provisions of the North Carolina Public Schools Allotment Policy Manual, the State Board of Education may use funds appropriated to State Aid for Public Schools for this purpose.
SECTION 7.6.(b) If the higher of the first or second month average daily membership in a local school administrative unit is at least two percent (2%) or 100 students lower than the anticipated average daily membership used for allotments for the unit, the State Board of Education shall reduce allotments for the unit. The reduced allotments shall be based on the higher of the first or second month average daily membership plus one‑half of the number of students overestimated in the anticipated average daily membership.
The allotments reduced pursuant to this subsection shall include only those allotments that may be increased pursuant to the Allotment Adjustments for ADM Growth provisions of the North Carolina Public Schools Allotment Policy Manual.
SECTION 7.7. The State Board of Education may expend up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) each year for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years from unexpended funds for certified employees' salaries to pay expenses related to litigation.
PROTECTION OF THE CLASSROOM WHILE MAXIMIZING FLEXIBILITY
SECTION 7.8.(a) The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt emergency rules in accordance with G.S. 150B‑21.1A to grant maximum flexibility to local school administrative units regarding the expenditure of State funds. These rules shall not be subject to the limitations on transfers of funds between funding allotment categories set out in G.S. 115C‑105.25. These rules:
(1) Shall authorize the transfer of textbook funds to other allotments to manage funding cuts; and
(2) Shall not permit the transfer of funds from school‑based positions to the central office.
SECTION 7.8.(b) For fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011, local school administrative units shall make every effort to reduce spending whenever and wherever such budget reductions are appropriate with the goal of protecting direct classroom services and services for students at risk and children with special needs. Local school administrative units shall implement administrative and other operating efficiencies and minimize the dismissal of classroom‑based personnel by maximizing funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), P.L. 111‑5. Notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑301 or any other law, local school administrative units shall have the maximum flexibility to use allotted teacher positions to maximize student achievement in grades 4‑12. Allocation of teachers and class size requirements in grades K‑3 shall remain unchanged.
SECTION 7.8.(c) Within 14 days of the date this act becomes law, the State Board of Education shall notify each local school administrative unit and charter school of the amount the unit must reduce from the State General Fund appropriations. The State Board shall determine the amount of the reduction for each unit on the basis of average daily membership.
SECTION 7.8.(d) Each unit shall report to the Department of Public Instruction on the flexibility budget reductions it has identified for the unit within 30 days of the date this act becomes law.
NORTH CAROLINA VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SECTION 7.9.(a) The North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program shall report to the State Board of Education and shall maintain an administrative office at the Department of Public Instruction.
SECTION 7.9.(b) The Director of NCVPS shall continue to ensure that course quality standards are established and met and that all e‑learning opportunities offered by State‑funded entities to public school students are consolidated under the North Carolina Virtual Public School program, eliminating course duplication.
SECTION 7.9.(c) Subsequent to course consolidation, the Director shall prioritize e‑learning course offerings for students residing in rural and low‑wealth county local school administrative units, in order to expand available instructional opportunities. First‑available e‑learning instructional opportunities should include courses required as part of the standard course of study for high school graduation and AP offerings not otherwise available.
SECTION 7.9.(d) Beginning with the 2010‑2011 fiscal year, the State Board of Education shall implement an allotment formula for e‑learning developed pursuant to Section 7.16(d) of S.L. 2006‑66.
The North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) shall be available at no cost to all high school students in North Carolina who are enrolled in North Carolina's public schools, Department of Defense schools, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Department of Public Instruction shall communicate to local school administrative units all applicable guidelines regarding the enrollment of nonpublic school students in these courses.
SECTION 7.9.(e) The State Board of Education shall project funds needed to operate the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) for fiscal year 2009‑2010. In order to ensure funds are available, the State Board of Education is directed to utilize funding sources in the following order:
(1) The General Fund appropriation for NCVPS;
(2) Available American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds; and
(3) Up to six million dollars ($6,000,000) from the School Technology appropriation.
SECTION 7.9.(f) NCVPS shall only provide high school courses.
SECTION 7.9.(g) The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by December 15, 2009, on its implementation of this section.
If the State Board of Education fails to report a new allotment formula for NCVPS to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by December 15, 2009, the State Treasurer, the Office of State Budget and Management, and the Office of State Controller shall prevent the expenditure of funds related to the operation of the State Board of Education.
SECTION 7.10.(a) Funds are appropriated in this act for the Learn and Earn Online program. This program will allow high school students to enroll in college courses to qualify for college credit. Online courses shall be made available to students through The University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System.
SECTION 7.10.(b) Funds shall be used for:
(1) Course tuition and only those technology and course fees and textbooks required for course participation; and
(2) A liaison position in the Department of Public Instruction to coordinate with The University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System and to communicate course availability and related information to high school administrators, teachers, and counselors.
SECTION 7.10.(c) The State Board of Education shall determine the allocation of Learn and Earn Online course offerings across the State.
SECTION 7.10.(d) The State Board of Education shall allot funds for tuition, fees, and textbooks on the basis of and after verification of the credit hour enrollment of high school students in Learn and Earn Online courses. The Office of State Budget and Management shall transfer sufficient funds from the State Public School Fund to the Community Colleges System Office for courses offered by community colleges.
SECTION 7.10.(e) The University of North Carolina program shall report to The University of North Carolina Board of Governors, and the North Carolina Community College program shall report to the State Board of Community Colleges. The Department of Public Instruction shall report to the State Board of Education.
SECTION 7.10.(f) Both The University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System shall provide oversight and coordination, including coordination with the Department of Public Instruction and with the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), to avoid course duplication.
SECTION 7.10.(g) The programs shall establish course quality and rigor standards and shall conduct course evaluations to ensure that the online courses meet the established standards.
SECTION 7.10.(h) Local school administrative units may purchase textbooks for Learn and Earn Online courses through the Department of Public Instruction's textbook warehouse in the same manner as textbooks that have been adopted for public school students by the State Board of Education.
SECTION 7.10.(i) G.S. 115D‑1.2(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) Notwithstanding
115D‑1, a public school student enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11, or
12 and participating in the Learn and Earn Online program shall be permitted to
enroll in online courses through a community college for college credit.
Students participating in the Learn and Earn Online program may enroll in Learn
and Earn Online courses regardless of the college service areas in which they
reside."
SECTION 7.10.(j) For the 2009‑2011 biennium, high school students attending a nonpublic school may enroll in any Learn and Earn Online course with space available that has been offered to but not filled by any eligible public school student. Notwithstanding subsection (h) of this section, nonpublic school students shall be responsible for supplying their own textbooks and other instructional materials.
SECTION 7.10.(k) Funds appropriated for Learn and Earn Online that are unexpended or unencumbered at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure.
SECTION 7.10.(l) Subsection (k) of this section becomes effective June 30, 2009.
SECTION 7.11.(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑105.36, the State Board of Education shall place a one‑year moratorium on financial awards paid to school personnel in the 2009‑2010 fiscal year based on 2008‑2009 student academic performance.
SECTION 7.11.(b) The State Board of Education shall develop a plan to restructure the ABCs Accountability System and report the restructuring plan to the Governor and Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 31, 2010.
The State Board of Education shall not implement a plan unless authorized by an act of the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE
SECTION 7.12.(a) Up to three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) may be transferred annually to the Office of the Governor for NC Virtual (NCV) within the Education Cabinet and for the Education E‑Learning Portal. These funds shall be used to provide services to coordinate e‑learning activities across all State educational agencies and to make the Education E‑Learning Portal fully operational by December 1, 2009.
SECTION 7.12.(b) Section 7.6(a) of S.L. 2008‑107 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 7.6.(a) Up
to six three hundred thousand dollars ($600,000)($300,000)
may be transferred annually through June 30, 2013, to the Friday Institute at
North Carolina State University to evaluate the effectiveness of using technology
and its impact on 21st Century Teaching and Learning outcomes
approved by the State Board of Education. The Friday Institute shall report
annually to the State Board of Education on the evaluation results,
including recommendations for continued implementation of the school
connectivity initiative that improves teaching and learning.results."
SECTION 7.12.(c) Funds allocated to the School Connectivity Initiative shall carry forward to the next fiscal year until the project is fully implemented by June 30, 2010.
SECTION 7.12.(d) Subsection (c) of this section becomes effective on June 30, 2009.
SECTION 7.13.(a) Dropout Prevention Grants. – The Committee on Dropout Prevention, as reestablished in Section 7.14 of S.L. 2008‑107, may use the funds appropriated in this act to provide grants to new recipients and to extend additional funding to organizations that received funding previously.
SECTION 7.13.(b) Criteria for Dropout Prevention Grants. – The following criteria apply to all types of dropout prevention grants approved by the Committee:
(1) Grants shall be issued in varying amounts up to a maximum of one hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars ($175,000).
(2) These grants shall be provided to innovative programs and initiatives that target students at risk of dropping out of school and that demonstrate the potential to (i) be developed into effective, sustainable, and coordinated dropout prevention and reentry programs in middle schools and high schools and (ii) serve as effective models for other programs.
(3) Grants shall be distributed geographically throughout the State and throughout the eight educational districts as defined in G.S. 115C‑65. No more than three grants shall be awarded in any one county under this section in a single fiscal year.
(4) Grants may be made to local school administrative units, schools, local agencies, or nonprofit organizations. Applications from nonprofits shall be subject to the additional fiscal accountability controls described in subsection (e) of this section.
(5) Grants shall be to programs and initiatives that hold all students to high academic and personal standards.
(6) Grant applications shall state (i) how grant funds will be used, (ii) what, if any, other resources will be used in conjunction with the grant funds, (iii) how the program or initiative will be coordinated to enhance the effectiveness of existing programs, initiatives, or services in the community, and (iv) a process for evaluating the success of the program or initiative.
(7) Programs and initiatives that receive grants under this section shall be based on best practices for helping at‑risk students achieve successful academic progress, preventing students from dropping out of school, or for increasing the high school completion rate for those students who already have dropped out of school.
(8) Priority for grants shall be given to proposals that (i) demonstrate input from the local community and coordination with other available programs or resources and (ii) provide clear plans for sustaining the program in future years when State funding will no longer be provided.
(9) Grantees shall assure their compliance with applicable laws and rules regulating conflicts of interest.
(10) Priority for grants shall be given to programs that would serve students in local schools that have a four‑year cohort graduation rate of less than sixty‑five percent (65%). The Committee shall establish a grant rating cutoff score at such a level as to allow for consideration of all viable grants in this priority category. The Committee may require grantees to provide supplemental information in response to any prior reviewer comments.
(11) Priority for grants shall be given to proposals demonstrating the potential for success.
(12) The demonstrated need for a grant, level of collaboration, ability to increase attendance, persistence, academic success, ability to increase parental involvement, and graduation shall be given more weight than the quality of the written grant.
(13) Grants shall be made no later than November 1, 2009.
The Committee shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the grants awarded under this section by March 1, 2010.
SECTION 7.13.(c) Evaluation. – The Committee shall evaluate the impact of the dropout prevention grants awarded under this section. In evaluating the impact of the grants, the Committee shall consider:
(1) How grant funds were used, including the services provided for teen pregnancy prevention and for pregnant and parenting teens;
(2) The success of the program or initiative, as indicated by the evaluation process stated in its grant application;
(3) The extent to which the program or initiative has improved students' attendance, test scores, persistence, and graduation rates;
(4) How the program or initiative was coordinated to enhance the effectiveness of existing programs, initiatives, or services in the community;
(5) What, if any, other resources were used in conjunction with the grant funds;
(6) The sustainability of the program;
(7) The number, gender, ethnicity, and grade level of students being served as well as whether the students left school due to pregnancy or parenting responsibilities;
(8) The potential for the program to serve as a model for achieving successful academic progress for at‑risk students; and
(9) Other indicators of the impact of the grant on dropout prevention.
The recipients of the dropout prevention grants awarded under this section shall report to the Committee on Dropout Prevention by January 31, 2011, and by September 30, 2011. The reports shall provide information to assist the Committee in conducting its evaluation. The reports shall include a statement that the recipients used grant funds for the purposes appropriated by the General Assembly and complied with applicable laws, regulations, and terms and conditions of the grant documents. The Committee shall make an interim report of the results of its evaluation of the grants awarded under this section by March 31, 2011, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation and to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. The Committee shall make a final report of the results of its evaluation of the grants awarded under subsection (c) of this section by November 15, 2011, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation and to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.
SECTION 7.13.(d) Program Modification. – The Committee shall develop a formal process for allowing grant recipients to modify their programs which includes, at a minimum, a formal review by the Committee prior to the allowance of any changes to the program that will result in activities not included in the grant application.
SECTION 7.13.(e) Additional Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations Receiving Dropout Prevention Grants. – As a condition for release of grant funds to a grantee, the Committee shall require each grantee to enter into a contract that requires the grantee to be (i) subject to monitoring by the Committee, (ii) fidelity bonded unless the grant is for less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), (iii) subject to audit oversight by the State Auditor, and (iv) subject to the requirements of Article 6, Part 3 of Chapter 143C of the General Statutes.
SECTION 7.13.(f) Of the funds appropriated in this act for dropout prevention, the sum of:
(1) One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years may be used to extend a current contract or to issue a request for proposals from qualified vendors on a competitive basis to contract as a consultant to assist with the evaluation. The factors to be considered in awarding the contract shall be identified in the request for proposals;
(2) Up to one hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars ($175,000) for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years may be used by the Department of Public Instruction for its administrative assistance to the Committee and to provide technical assistance under this section;
(3) Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) in nonrecurring funds shall be used by the North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization, to continue the North Carolina PTA Parent Involvement/Dropout Prevention Initiative; and
(4) Fifty percent (50%) of the remainder shall be used by the Committee on Dropout Prevention to award grants to new recipients, and fifty percent (50%) shall be used to award successive grants to previous grant recipients. All grants shall be awarded in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
SECTION 7.13.(g) Grant funds shall be expended by June 30 of the first full fiscal year following the issuance of the grants.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION/BUDGET FLEXIBILITY
SECTION 7.14. Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑6‑4, the Department of Public Instruction may reorganize, if necessary, to implement the budget reductions set out in this act. The Department shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on any reorganization.
BUSINESS EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE
SECTION 7.15.(a) G.S. 115C‑102.15 is repealed.
SECTION 7.15.(b) The State Controller shall transfer the fund balance from the Business Education Technology Alliance Fund to Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intra State Transfers) to support General Fund appropriations for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
NORTH CAROLINA 1:1 LEARNING PROJECT
SECTION 7.17.(a) Funds appropriated for the North Carolina 1:1 Learning Project that are unexpended or unencumbered at the end of the 2008‑2009 fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure through June 30, 2010. State funds may be used to develop a statewide plan for extending the program to additional high schools.
SECTION 7.17.(b) This section becomes effective June 30, 2009.
SECTION 7.18.(a) Funds appropriated in this act for assessment and accountability shall be used to develop new end‑of‑course and end‑of‑grade tests, identify national assessments, or both, as determined by the State Board of Education. The development of any new tests replacing end‑of‑course and end‑of‑grade tests shall be aligned with the new essential standards and included in the State Board of Education's new accountability restructuring plan.
SECTION 7.18.(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑174.11, the State Board of Education shall investigate and pilot a developmentally appropriate diagnostic assessment for students in elementary grades during the 2009‑2010 school year. This assessment will (i) enable teachers to determine student learning needs and individualize instruction and (ii) ensure that students are adequately prepared for the next level of coursework as set out by the standard course of study.
The State Board of Education shall report the results of the pilot to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office of State Budget and Management, by December 1, 2010.
SECTION 7.18.(c) Funds appropriated for assessment and accountability that remain unexpended and unencumbered at the end of the 2009‑2010 fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure through June 30, 2011.
DEVELOPMENT OF A PREK‑20 DATA SYSTEM
SECTION 7.19.(a) The Department of Public Instruction, with the cooperation and assistance of the North Carolina Community College System and The University of North Carolina, shall collaboratively develop and systematically determine the technical specifications and data standards for a PreK‑20 data system to centralize student data collected about students enrolled in prekindergarten programs through doctoral programs. The PreK‑20 data system shall build upon the current capacity, programs, and initiatives of the Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina Community College System, and The University of North Carolina.
The Department of Public Instruction, in collaboration with the North Carolina Community College System and The University of North Carolina, shall also develop a strategy for tracking students for five years after they complete their education at a North Carolina public educational institution.
The General Assembly urges private colleges and universities to advise and assist the Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina Community College System, and The University of North Carolina on the implementation of this section.
SECTION 7.19.(b) The PreK‑20 data standards and specifications shall include:
(1) The types and forms of data to be included in a PreK‑20 data system, including longitudinal data and the use of a unique student identifier;
(2) The capacity of a shared PreK‑20 data system;
(3) The degree and extent of cooperation between a shared PreK‑20 data system and the current data collection systems of the Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina Community College System, and The University of North Carolina;
(4) The minimum capacity and technical specifications needed for each data system to feed into a shared PreK‑20 data system;
(5) The ability for data in a shared PreK‑20 data system to be understood and used by interested stakeholders, including federal and other State agencies; and
(6) The feasibility of broadening the PreK‑20 data system to include other sources of data that are needed for a unified statewide data collection system.
SECTION 7.19.(c) Standards and specifications shall conform to the guidelines and instructions governing any funds received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for this purpose.
SECTION 7.19.(d) Standards and specifications shall be submitted to the Education Cabinet no later than January 1, 2010. The Education Cabinet shall review these standards and submit its recommendations regarding them to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office of State Budget and Management by March 1, 2010.
SECTION 7.20.(a) G.S. 115C‑174.10 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑174.10. Purposes of the Statewide Testing Program.
The three testing programs
in this Article have three purposes: (i) to assure that all high school
graduates possess those minimum skills and that knowledge thought necessary to
function as a member of society; (ii) to provide a means of identifying
strengths and weaknesses in the education process in order to improve
instructional delivery; and (iii) to establish additional means for making the
education system at the State, local, and school levels accountable to the public
for results."
SECTION 7.20.(c) G.S. 115C‑174.11 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑174.11. Components of the testing program.
(a) Assessment Instruments for First and Second Grades. – The State Board of Education shall adopt and provide to the local school administrative units developmentally appropriate individualized assessment instruments consistent with the Basic Education Program for the first and second grades, rather than standardized tests. Local school administrative units may use these assessment instruments provided to them by the State Board for first and second grade students, and shall not use standardized tests except as required as a condition of receiving a federal grant under the Reading First Program.
(b) Competency
Testing Program.
(1) The State
Board of Education shall adopt tests or other measurement devices which may be
used to assure that graduates of the public high schools and graduates of
nonpublic schools supervised by the State Board of Education pursuant to the
provisions of Part 1 of Article 39 of this Chapter possess the skills and
knowledge necessary to function independently and successfully in assuming the
responsibilities of citizenship.
(2) The tests
shall be administered annually to all ninth grade students in the public schools.
Students who fail to attain the required minimum standard for graduation in the
ninth grade shall be given remedial instruction and additional opportunities to
take the test up to and including the last month of the twelfth grade. Students
who fail to pass parts of the test shall be retested on only those parts they
fail. Students in the ninth grade who are enrolled in special education
programs or who have been officially designated as eligible for participation
in such programs may be excluded from the testing programs.
(3) The State
Board of Education shall:
a. Adopt one or
more nationally standardized tests or other nationally standardized equivalent
measures that measure competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas; or
b. Develop and
validate alternate means and standards for demonstrating minimum competence.
These standards must be as difficult as the tests adopted pursuant to
subdivision (1) of this subsection.
The State Board
of Education shall adopt a policy to identify which students and under what
circumstances students may pass one of these tests in lieu of the testing
requirement of subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(3a) Students with
disabilities who fail to pass the competency test adopted pursuant to
subdivision (2) of this subsection after two attempts shall be given the
opportunity to take and pass one of the alternate tests adopted pursuant to
subdivision (3) of this subsection.
(4) Repealed by Session Laws 1996, Second Extra Session, c. 18, s. 18.14.
(c) Annual Testing Program.
(1) The State Board of
Education shall adopt a system of annual testing for grades three through 12.
These tests shall be designed to measure progress toward reading, communication
skills, and mathematics for grades three through eight, and toward competencies
designated by the State Board for grades nine through 12. The State Board may
develop and implement a plan for high school end‑of‑course tests
that must be aligned with the content standards developed under G.S. 115C‑12(9c).
Students who do not pass the tests adopted for eighth grade shall be provided
remedial instruction in the ninth grade. This assistance shall be calculated
to prepare the students to pass the competency test administered under
subsection (b) of this section.
(2) If the State Board of Education finds that additional testing in grades three through 12 is desirable to allow comparisons with national indicators of student achievement, that testing shall be conducted with the smallest size sample of students necessary to assure valid comparisons with other states."
SECTION 7.20.(d) G.S. 115C‑174.12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑174.12. Responsibilities of agencies.
(a) The State Board of Education shall establish policies and guidelines necessary for minimizing the time students spend taking tests administered through State and local testing programs, for minimizing the frequency of field testing at any one school, and for otherwise carrying out the provisions of this Article. These policies and guidelines shall include the following:
(1) Schools shall devote no more than two days of instructional time per year to the taking of practice tests that do not have the primary purpose of assessing current student learning;
(2) Students in a school shall not be subject to field tests or national tests during the two‑week period preceding the administration of end‑of‑grade tests, end‑of‑course tests, or the school's regularly scheduled final exams; and
(3) No school shall participate in more than two field tests at any one grade level during a school year unless that school volunteers, through a vote of its school improvement team, to participate in an expanded number of field tests.
These policies shall reflect standard testing practices to insure reliability and validity of the sample testing. The results of the field tests shall be used in the final design of each test. The State Board of Education's policies regarding the testing of children with disabilities shall (i) provide broad accommodations and alternate methods of assessment that are consistent with a child's individualized education program and section 504 (29 U.S.C. § 794) plans, (ii) prohibit the use of statewide tests as the sole determinant of decisions about a child's graduation or promotion, and (iii) provide parents with information about the Statewide Testing Program and options for students with disabilities. The State Board shall report its proposed policies and proposed changes in policies to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee prior to adoption.
The State Board of Education may appoint an Advisory Council on Testing to assist in carrying out its responsibilities under this Article.
(b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be responsible, under policies adopted by the State Board of Education, for the statewide administration of the testing program provided by this Article.
(b1) The Superintendent shall notify local boards of education by October 1 of each year of any field tests that will be administered in their schools during the school year, the schools at which the field tests will be administered, and the specific field tests that will be administered at each school.
(c) Local boards of
education shall cooperate with the State Board of Education in implementing the
provisions of this Article, including the regulations and policies established
by the State Board of Education. Local school administrative units shall use
the annual and competency testing programs tests to fulfill the
purposes set out in this Article. Local school administrative units are encouraged
to continue to develop local testing programs designed to diagnose student needs
further.needs."
REMOVE BARRIERS TO LATERAL ENTRY INTO TEACHING
SECTION 7.21.(a) The State Board of Education shall:
(1) Review the lateral entry program and identify and remove from it barriers to the lateral entry of skilled individuals from the private sector into the teaching profession;
(2) Reduce the coursework requirements for lateral entry by consolidating the required competencies into fewer courses and fewer semester hours of coursework; and
(3) Provide additional opportunities for individuals to complete coursework online and at community colleges.
SECTION 7.21.(b) The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 15, 2010, on its implementation of this section.
NO PAY DECREASE FOR TEACHERS WHO BECOME ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
SECTION 7.22.(a) G.S. 115C‑285(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C‑285. Salary.
(a) Principals and supervisors shall be paid promptly when their salaries are due provided the legal requirements for their employment and service have been met. All principals and supervisors employed by any local school administrative unit who are to be paid from local funds shall be paid promptly as provided by law and as State‑allotted principals and supervisors are paid.
Principals and supervisors paid from State funds shall be paid as follows:
…
(8) A teacher who becomes an assistant principal without a break in service shall be paid, on a monthly basis, at least as much as he or she would earn as a teacher employed by that local school administrative unit."
SECTION 7.22.(b) This section becomes effective July 1, 2009, and applies to all persons initially employed as assistant principals on or after that date.
TEACHERS FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED K‑12 SCHOOLS
SECTION 7.26. The State Board of Education shall modify its policy on the allotment of additional classroom teachers to schools containing grades K‑12 when consolidation is not feasible due to the geographic isolation of the school. In administering this policy with regard to a school located in a local school administrative unit in which the average daily membership is less than 1.5 per square mile, the State Board of Education shall, at a minimum:
(1) Allot teachers to the geographically isolated school on the basis of one classroom teacher per grade level; and
(2) Allot teachers to the remainder of the local school administrative unit under the regular teacher allotment formula.
The State Board of Education may allot additional teachers to the local school administrative unit if demographic conditions warrant.
ENSURE ACCESS TO THE EVAAS SYSTEM
SECTION 7.27. The State Board of Education shall use funds appropriated to the State Public School Fund for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium to ensure that all local school administrative units and charter schools have access to SAS EVAAS (Education Value Added Assessment System).
LOCAL BOARDS MUST INFORM PUBLIC ABOUT SCHOOL REPORT CARDS
SECTION 7.28. G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C‑47. Powers and duties generally.
In addition to the powers and duties designated in G.S. 115C‑36, local boards of education shall have the power or duty:
…
(58) To Inform the Public About the North Carolina School Report Cards Issued by the State Board of Education. – Each local board of education shall ensure that the report card issued for it by the State Board of Education receives wide distribution to the local press or otherwise."
PLAN FOR STATEWIDE MOTOR COACH PERMIT
SECTION 7.29.(a) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Division of Motor Vehicles, shall develop a plan for a Statewide permit for commercial motor coach companies that seek to contract with local school systems to transport students, school personnel, and other persons authorized by the school system on school‑sponsored trips. The purpose of the permit shall be (i) to ensure student safety, (ii) to ensure safe operations by motor coach companies, (iii) to minimize paperwork, (iv) to minimize visits to the motor coach companies by local school systems, and (v) to minimize the need for motor coach companies to respond to multiple requests for information from multiple local school systems.
SECTION 7.29.(b) In developing the plan for a permit, the State Board of Education and the Division of Motor Vehicles shall consult with the North Carolina School Boards Association, the State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina Pupil Transportation Association, the North Carolina Motor Coach Association, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and other interested parties.
SECTION 7.29.(c) The components of the plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Scope of the permit.
(2) Standards for issuing the permit.
(3) Duration of the permit.
(4) Process for required inspections.
(5) Entity to conduct required inspections.
(6) Conditions for revoking the permit.
(7) Renewal process.
(8) Schedule of fees to cover the cost of implementation and administration.
(9) Application form and other required documentation.
(10) Dissemination of current permit holders to school systems.
(11) Estimate of costs to implement and number of new positions required.
(12) Impact on motor coach companies that have interstate operations.
(13) Other related issues.
SECTION 7.29.(d) The State Board of Education and the Division of Motor Vehicles shall consult on the proposed plan to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and to the Fiscal Research Division by January 1, 2010. Before the plan is implemented, the Commission shall make any recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the 2009 General Assembly in 2010.
SECTION 7.30.(a) For the 2010‑2011 fiscal year, if the cost of application fees for teachers applying for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards exceeds three million two hundred seventy‑four thousand five hundred dollars ($3,274,500), funds from the State Public School Fund shall be used to pay the excess amount.
SECTION 7.30.(b) G.S. 115C‑296.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑296.2. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification.
(a) State Policy. – It is
the goal of the State to provide opportunities and incentives for good teachers
to become excellent teachers and to retain them in the teaching profession; to
attain this goal, the State shall support the efforts of teachers to achieve
national certification by providing approved paid leave time for teachers
participating in the process, paying the participation fee, lending
teachers the participation fee, and paying a significant salary
differential to teachers who attain national certification from the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was established in 1987 as an independent, nonprofit organization to establish high standards for teachers' knowledge and performance and for development and operation of a national voluntary system to assess and certify teachers who meet those standards. Participation in the program gives teachers the time and the opportunity to analyze in a systematic way their professional development as teachers, successful teaching strategies, and the substantive areas in which they teach. Participation also gives teachers an opportunity to demonstrate superior ability and to be compensated as superior teachers. To receive NBPTS certification, a teacher must successfully (i) complete a process of developing a portfolio of student work and videotapes of teaching and learning activities and (ii) participate in NBPTS assessment center simulation exercises, including performance‑based activities and a content knowledge examination.
(b) Definitions. – As used in this subsection:
(1) A "North Carolina public school" is a school operated by a local board of education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Correction, the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention or The University of North Carolina; a school affiliated with The University of North Carolina; or a charter school approved by the State Board of Education.
(2) A "teacher" is a person who:
a. Either:
1. Is certified to teach in North Carolina; or
2. Holds a certificate or license issued by the State Board of Education that meets the professional license requirement for NBPTS certification;
b. Is a State‑paid employee of a North Carolina public school;
c. Is paid on the teacher salary schedule; and
d. Fulfills one of the following:
1. Spends at least seventy percent (70%) of his or her work time in classroom instruction, if the employee is employed as a teacher. Most of the teacher's remaining time shall be spent in one or more of the following: mentoring teachers, doing demonstration lessons for teachers, writing curricula, developing and leading staff development programs for teachers;
2. Spends at least seventy percent (70%) of his or her work time in work within the employee's area of certification or licensure, if the employee is employed in an area of NBPTS certification other than direct classroom instruction; or
3. Serves as a full‑time mentor under subsection (e1) of this section.
(c) Payment of the NBPTS
Participation Fee; Paid Leave. – The State shall pay the NBPTS participation
feelend teachers the participation fee and shall provide up to three
days of approved paid leave to all teachers participating in the NBPTS program
who:
(1) Have completed three full years of teaching in a North Carolina public school; and
(2) Have (i) not previously received State funds for participating in any certification area in the NBPTS program, (ii) repaid any State funds previously received for the NBPTS certification process, or (iii) received a waiver of repayment from the State Board of Education.
Teachers participating in the program shall take paid leave only with the approval of their supervisors.
(d) Repayment by
a Teacher Who Does Not Complete the Process. – A teacher for whom the State pays
the participation fee who does not complete the process shall repay the
certification fee to the State.
Repayment is not required if a
teacher does not complete the process due to the death or disability of the
teacher. Upon the application of the teacher, the State Board of Education may
waive the repayment requirement if the State Board finds that the teacher was
unable to complete the process due to the illness of the teacher, the death or
catastrophic illness of a member of the teacher's immediate family, parental
leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or other extraordinary
circumstances.
(d1) Repayment of the Application Fee. – A teacher shall repay the application fee to the State Education Assistance Authority within three years.
All funds appropriated to, or otherwise received by, the Authority to provide loans to teachers pursuant to this section, all funds received as repayment of loans, and all interest earned on these funds shall be placed in a trust fund. This fund shall be used only for loans made pursuant to this section and administrative costs of the Authority.
(e) Repayment by
a Teacher Who Does Not Teach for a Year After Completing the Process. – A
teacher for whom the State pays the participation fee who does not teach for a
year in a North Carolina public school after completing the process shall repay
the certification fee to the State.
Repayment is not required if a
teacher does not teach in a North Carolina public school for at least one year
after completing the process due to the death or disability of the teacher.
Upon the application of the teacher, the State Board of Education may extend
the time before which a teacher must either teach for a year or repay the
participation fee if the State Board finds that the teacher is unable to teach
the next year due to the illness of the teacher, the death or catastrophic
illness of a member of the teacher's immediate family, parental leave to care
for a newborn or newly adopted child, or other extraordinary circumstances.
(e1) Assignment of Teachers With NBPTS Certification to Serve as Full‑Time Mentors. – A local board of education may assign teachers with NBPTS certification to serve as full‑time mentors as follows:
(1) The maximum number of teachers with NBPTS certification that a local board of education may assign to serve as full‑time mentors is the greater of (i) five or (ii) five percent (5%) of the number of teachers with NBPTS certification it has employed during the school year immediately preceding the assignment of teachers as full‑time mentors.
(2) A teacher must teach in a classroom for at least two years after receiving NBPTS certification to be eligible for assignment as a full‑time mentor.
(3) A teacher must have completed the mentor training required by the teacher's local school administrative unit to be eligible for assignment as a full‑time mentor.
(4) A teacher may serve as a full‑time mentor for up to three consecutive years.
(5) After service as a full‑time mentor, a teacher must teach in a classroom for at least three years to be eligible for reassignment as a full‑time mentor.
(6) A teacher serving as a full‑time mentor shall be school‑based, work at one or more schools, and mentor each year at least 15 newly hired teachers who are in their first through third year of teaching.
(f) Rules. – The State Education Assistance Authority shall adopt rules and guidelines regarding the loan and repayment of the NBPTS application fee. The State Board shall adopt policies and guidelines to implement the remainder of this section."
SECTION 7.30.(c) Subsection (b) of this section becomes effective July 1, 2010, and applies beginning with the 2010‑2011 school year.
SECTION 7.31. Part 3A of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Part 3A. School Technology.
"§ 115C‑102.5. Commission on School Technology created; membership.
(a) There is created the
Commission on School Technology. The Commission shall be located
administratively in the Department of Public Instruction Instruction.but
shall exercise all its prescribed statutory powers independently of the
Department of Public Instruction.
The purpose of the Commission shall be to advise the State Board of Education on the development of a State School Technology Plan that (i) ensures the effective use of technology is built into the North Carolina Public School System for the purpose of preparing a globally competitive workforce and citizenry for the 21st century and (ii) ensures equity and access to school technology for all segments of the public school population in North Carolina.
The Commission shall meet at least twice each fiscal year and shall provide input and feedback on the State School Technology Plan prior to approval.
(b) The Commission shall
consist of the following 19 members:
(1) The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee;
(2) One representative of The University of North Carolina, appointed by the President of The University of North Carolina;
(3) One representative of the North Carolina Community College System, appointed by the President of the North Carolina Community College System;
(4) A person with
management responsibility concerning information technology related State
Government functions, designated by the Secretary of Commerce;
(5) Four Two members
appointed by the Governor;
(6) Six Two members
appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate two of whom shall be
members of the Senate. One of these six members shall be appointed by the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate to serve as cochair;Senate;
(7) Six Two members
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives two of whom shall
be members of the House of Representatives. One of these six members shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as cochair;
andRepresentatives; and
(8) The Secretary
of Health and Human Services or a designee.
(9) The State Chief Information Officer, or a designee.
In appointing members pursuant to subdivisions (5), (6), and (7) of this subsection, the appointing persons shall select individuals with technical or applied knowledge or experience in learning and instructional management technologies or individuals with expertise in curriculum or instruction who have successfully used learning and instructional management technologies.
No producers, vendors, or consultants to producers or vendors of learning or instructional management technologies shall serve on the Commission.
Members shall serve for two‑year terms. Vacancies in terms of members shall be filled by the appointing officer. Persons appointed to fill vacancies shall qualify in the same manner as persons appointed for full terms.
(c) Repealed by Session Laws 1997‑443, s. 8.26(a).
(d) Members of the Commission who are also members of the General Assembly shall be paid subsistence and travel expenses at the rate set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1. Members of the Commission who are officials or employees of the State shall receive travel allowances at the rate set forth in G.S. 138‑6. All other members of the Commission shall be paid the per diem and allowances set forth in G.S. 138‑5.
(d1) The Chair of the State Board of Education shall select the Commission member or members who shall serve as chair or cochairs of the Commission.
(e) The Department of
Public Instruction, the Department of Community Colleges, and the Office of
Information Technology ServicesInstruction shall provide requested
professional and clerical staff to the Commission. The Commission may also
employ professional and clerical staff and may hire outside consultants to
assist it in its work. The Commission shall use an outside consultant to
perform a requirements analysis for learning and instructional management
technologies on a statewide basis that is based on information gathered from each
local school administrative unit and that considers the needs of teachers,
students, and administrators.
"§
115C‑102.6. Duty to prepare a requirements analysis and propose a
State school technology plan.
The Commission shall prepare a
requirements analysis andState Board of Education shall propose a
State school technology plan for improving student performance in the public
schools through the use of learning and instructional management technologies.
that ensures the effective use of technology is built into the North Carolina
Public School System for the purpose of preparing a globally competitive
workforce and citizenry for the 21st century. The Commission on School
Technology will advise the State Board of Education on the State School
Technology Plan and its components.
In developing this plan, the
Commission shall:
(1) Assess factors
related to the current use of learning and instructional management
technologies in the schools, including what is currently being used, how the
current use of technology relates to the standard course of study, how the
effectiveness of learning and instructional management technologies is being
evaluated, how schools are paying for learning and instructional management
technologies, and what training school employees have received in the use of
learning and instructional management technology and networks.
(2) Identify the
instructional goals that can be met through the use of learning and
instructional management technologies. The goals may include teaching the standard
course of study, reaching students with a broad range of abilities, and
ensuring that all students have access to a complete curriculum regardless of
the geographical location or the financial resources of the school.
(3) Examine the
types of learning and instructional management technologies available to meet
the identified instructional goals, including computers, audiovisual aids,
science laboratory equipment, vocational education equipment, and distance
learning networks. The Commission shall consider the compatibility and
accessibility of different types of learning and instructional management
technologies, including compatibility with the planned statewide broadband ISDN
network, and whether they may be easily communicated from one site to another.
The Commission shall also consider linkages between learning and instructional
management technologies and existing State and local administrative systems.
(4) Develop a
basic level of learning and instructional management technology for every
school in the State. The basic level may include:
a. A computer lab
with student stations or a specified number of student computer stations in
each classroom for the use of instructional software such as computer‑assisted
instruction, integrated learning systems, instructional management systems, and
applications software such as word processing, database, spreadsheet, and
desktop publishing.
b. A computer
workstation in every classroom for teachers to use in preparation and delivery
of instruction and for administrative record keeping.
c. A television
monitor and video cassette‑recorder in every classroom to take advantage
of open‑air broadcast programs, satellite programs, and instructional
video tapes available from the library/media center.
d. Computer
workstations at each elementary and secondary school, housed in the
library/media center, for individual students to use for basic skills
instructional software.
e. A
telecommunications line, modem, and software in each school's library/media
center that will allow students and teachers access to external databases and
resources for research purposes.
f. The
availability of telephones for teachers.
g. Initial
training for the principal and teachers from each school in the use of the new
technology.
(5) Consider staffing
required to operate the learning and instructional management technologies and
options for maintaining the equipment.
(6) Consider the
types of staff development necessary to maximize the benefits of learning and
instructional management technologies and determine the appropriate ways to
provide the necessary staff development.
(7) Develop a cost
analysis of any plans and proposals that it develops.
"§ 115C‑102.6A. Elements of the State school technology plan.
(a) The State school
technology plan shall be a long‑termcomprehensive State
implementation plan for using funds from the State School Technology Fund and
other sources to improve student performance in the public schools through the
use of learning and instructional management technologies. The purpose of the
plan shall be to provide a cost‑effective foundation of flexible and
long‑lasting technology and infrastructure to promote
substantial gains in student achievement.
(b) In developing
the plan the Commission shall consider and plan for the relationship of the
North Carolina Information Highway to the plan. In particular the plan shall
establish priorities for the acquisition of school technologies including how
the Information Highway fits into those priorities.
(c) Components of the State school technology plan shall include at least the following:
(1) Common technical standards and uniform practices and procedures that provide statewide economies of scale in procurements, training, support, planning, and operations.
(2) Conceptual technical architecture that includes:
a. Principles – Statements of direction, goals, and concepts to guide the development of technical architecture;
b. Standards for interoperability – Detailed specifications to ensure hardware, software, databases, and other products that may have been developed independently or purchased from different vendors or manufacturers will work together, to the extent that interoperability facilitates meeting instructional or administrative goals; and
c. Implementation strategies – Approaches or guidelines for developing and installing the components of the technical infrastructure.
(3) A quality assurance policy for all school technology projects, training programs, systems documentation, and maintenance plans.
(4) Policies and procedures for the fair and competitive procurement of school technology that provide local school administrative units with a vendor‑neutral operating environment in which different school technology hardware, software, and networks operate together easily and reliably, to the extent feasible consistent with meeting instructional or administrative goals. The operating environment includes all hardware and software components and configurations necessary to accomplish the integrated functions for school technology such as (i) types and sizes of computer platforms, telecommunications equipment, and associated communications protocols; (ii) operating systems for the computer processors; (iii) applications and other operating and support software; and (iv) other equipment, items, and software, such as printers, terminals, data and image storage devices, and other input, output, and storage devices.
(5) A comprehensive policy for inventory control.
(6) Parameters for continuous, ongoing training for all personnel involved in the use of school technology. Training shall focus on the integration of technology and instruction and on the use of particular applications.
(7) Recommendations to the State Board of Education of requirements for preservice teacher training on the integration of teaching and school technology.
(8) Proposals for leadership training on the use of school technology to improve instruction and as a management tool.
(9) Development of expertise at the State and regional levels on school technology.
(10) Flexibility to enable local school administrative units and individual schools to meet individual school unit and building needs.
(11) Flexibility to meet the needs of all students, allow support to students with a wide range of abilities, and ensure access to challenging curricula and instruction for children at risk of school failure.
(12) Use of technologies to
support challenging State State, federal, and local educational
performance goals.
(13) Effective and integrated use of technologies compatible with (i) the standard course of study, (ii) the State assessment program, and (iii) related student data management.
(14) Use of technologies as a communication, instructional, and management tool and for problem‑solving, exploration, and advanced skills.
(15) Proposals for addressing
equipment needs for vocational education, Tech Prep, and science
instruction.State curricula areas.
(16) Specifications for minimum components of local school system technology plans.
(17) A baseline template for:
a. Technology and service application infrastructure, including broadband connectivity, personnel recommendations, and other resources needed to operate effectively from the classroom desktop to local, regional, and State networks, and
b. An evaluation component that provides for local school administrative unit accountability for maintaining quality upgradeable systems.
"§ 115C‑102.6B. Approval of State school technology plan.
(a) The Commission shall
present the State school technology plan it develops to the Joint Legislative
Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee for their comments prior to January 1, 1995. At least every
two years thereafter, the Commission shall develop any necessary modifications
to the State school technology plan and present them to the Joint Legislative
Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee. The State Board of Education shall review, revise
as needed, and approve the State School Technology Plan at a minimum every two
years in the odd‑numbered year, beginning in 2011. The plan shall be
updated more often, as required, as in cases where significant changes occur
related to Board goals, curriculum standards, and available technology.
(b) After presenting the
plan or any proposed modifications to the plan to the Joint Legislative
Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee, the Commission The Board shall submit the plan or
any proposed modifications to (i) to the State Chief Information
Officer for approval of the technical components of the plan set out in G.S. 115C‑102.6A(1)
through (4), and (ii) the State Board of Education for information purposes
only. The State Board shall adopt a plan that includes the components of a plan
set out in G.S. 115C‑103.6A(1) through (16).
At (4). At least one‑fourth
of the members of any technical committee that reviews the plan for the State
Chief Information Officer shall be people actively involved in primary or
secondary education.
The Board shall report annually by February 1 of each year to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the status of the State School Technology Plan.
(c) If no changes
are made to the plan or the proposed modifications to the plan after the
submission to the State Chief Information Officer and the State Board of
Education, the plan or the proposed modifications shall take effect upon
approval by the State Chief Information Officer and the State Board of
Education.
"§ 115C‑102.6C. Approval of local school system technology plans.
(a) Each local board of education shall develop a local school system technology plan that is aligned with and meets the requirements of the State school technology plan. In developing a local school system technology plan, a local board of education is encouraged to incorporate this plan into its strategic planning and to bring together stakeholders from various areas of the local school administrative unit, including curriculum leaders, teachers, administrators, representatives from technology services and instructional technology, and finance, as well as other departments of the unit as required. In addition, the local board is encouraged to coordinate its planning with other agencies of State and local government, including other local school administrative units.
The Office of Information
Technology Services shall assist the local boards of education in developing
the parts of the plan related to its technological aspects, to the extent that
resources are available to do so. The Department of Public Instruction
shall assist the local boards of education in developing the instructional and
technological aspects of the plan.
Each local board of education
shall submit the local plan it develops to the Office of Information
Technology Servicesthe Department of Public Instruction for its evaluation
of the parts of the plan related to its technological aspects and to the
Department of Public Instruction for its evaluation of the technological
and instructional aspects of the plan. The State Board of Education, after
consideration of the evaluations of the Office of Information Technology
Services and the Department of Public Instruction, shall approve all local
plans that comply with the requirements of the State school technology plan.
(b) After a local school system technology plan is approved by the State Board of Education, all State funds spent by the local board of education for any aspect of school technology shall be used to implement the local school system technology plan.
(c) After a local school
system technology plan is approved by the State Board of Education, the local
board of education may use funds in the State School Technology Fund dollars
that are allocated to the local school administrative unit to implement the
plan.plan shall not be expended until the plan has been approved by
the State Board of Education.
"§ 115C‑102.6D. Establishment of the State School Technology Fund; allocation and use of funds.
(a) There is established under the control and direction of the State Board of Education the State School Technology Fund. This fund shall be a nonreverting special revenue fund consisting of any monies appropriated to it by the General Assembly and any monies credited to it under G.S. 20‑81.12 from the sale of School Technology special license plates.
(b) Funds in the State School Technology Fund shall be allocated to local school administrative units as directed by the General Assembly. Funds allocated to each local school administrative unit shall be credited with interest by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.2 and G.S. 147‑69.3.
(c) Each local
school administrative unit with a local school system technology plan approved
by the State Board of Education may use funds allocated to it to implement its
local plan or as otherwise specified by the General Assembly.
(d) No local school administrative unit may access technology‑related funds until the State Board of Education has approved its school technology plan.
"§ 115C‑102.7. Monitoring and evaluation of State and local school system technology plans; reports.
(a) The Commission Department
of Public Instruction shall monitor and evaluate the development and
implementation of the State and local school system technology plans. The
evaluation shall consider the effects of technology on student learning, the
effects of technology on students' workforce readiness, the effects of
technology on teacher productivity, and the cost‑effectiveness of the
technology.
(a1) Repealed by Session Laws 1997‑18, s. 15(k).
(b) The
Commission shall provide notice of meetings, copies of minutes, and periodic
briefings to the Office of Information Technology Services.
(c) The Department of
Public Instruction shall randomly check local school system technology plans to
ensure that local school administrative units are implementing their plans as
approved. The Department shall report to the State Board of Education and
the State Chief Information Officer on which local school administrative
units are not complying with their plans. The report shall include the reasons
these local school administrative units are out of compliance and a recommended
plan of action to support each of these local school administrative units in
carrying out their plans."
SECTION 7.32.(a) To the extent that federal law and the conditions of federal grants permit, the General Assembly urges local school administrative units to redirect IDEA funds received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to other at‑risk students.
SECTION 7.32.(b) Local school administrative units receiving IDEA funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the detailed expenditure of funds by March 15, 2010, and by March 15, 2011.
ACCESS TO NCVPS AND LEARN AND EARN ONLINE
SECTION 7.33. Notwithstanding section 7.10(j) of this act, the State Board shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division prior to December 1, 2009, on (i) its policy regarding access for nonpublic school children to the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Program and Learn and Earn Online and (ii) funding sources it authorizes, including tuition, for nonpublic school students in the programs.
SECTION 7.34. Local school administrative units may use funds received from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund authorized in Title XIV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to offset budget cuts in the primary budget formulae for the State of North Carolina. For the purpose of distributing Education Stabilization Funds only, the following allotment categories, presented in no particular order, constitute the primary budget formulae:
(1) Classroom Teachers;
(2) Instructional Support Personnel – Certified;
(3) Instructional Support Personnel – Noncertified;
(4) Noninstructional Support Personnel;
(5) Children with Disabilities;
(6) Teacher Assistants;
(7) Transportation of Pupils;
(8) At‑Risk Student Services/Alternative Schools;
(9) Career Technical Education – Months of Employment;
(10) Career Technical Education – Program Support Funds;
(11) Classroom Materials/Instructional Supplies/Equipment;
(12) Mentor Positions;
(13) Academically or Intellectually Gifted;
(14) Limited English Proficiency;
(15) School Technology Fund;
(16) Staff Development;
(17) Textbooks;
(18) School Building Administration;
(19) Central Office Administration; and
(20) Driver Training.
SALARY OF TEACHERS WITH GRADUATE DEGREES
SECTION 7.35. G.S. 115C‑302.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(b1) The State Board of Education shall maintain the same policies related to masters pay for teachers that were in effect for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year."
ABOLISH COMPUTER LOAN REVOLVING FUND
SECTION 7.36.(a) Article 32B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is repealed.
SECTION 7.36.(b) The State Controller shall transfer the fund balance from the Computer Loan Revolving Fund to Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intra State Transfers) to support General Fund appropriations for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
LOANS FROM STATE LITERARY FUND PROHIBITED
SECTION 7.37.(a) G.S. 115C‑458 reads as rewritten:
"§
115C‑458. Loans by State Board from State Literary Fund.
The State Literary Fund includes all funds derived from the sources enumerated in Sec. 6, Article IX, of the Constitution, and all funds that may be hereafter so derived, together with any interest that may accrue thereon. This Fund shall be separate and distinct from other funds of the State.
The State Board of Education,
under such rules and regulations as it may deem advisable, not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Article, may make loans from the State Literary
Fund to the counties for the use of local boards of education under such rules
and regulations as it may adopt and according to law for the purpose of aiding
in the erection and equipment of school plants, maintenance buildings and
transportation garages. No warrant for the expenditure of money for such
purposes shall be issued except upon the order of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction with the approval of the State Board of Education.
The State Literary Fund shall be faithfully appropriated and used exclusively for establishing and maintaining a uniform system of free public schools."
SECTION 7.37.(b) The title of Article 32 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Article 32.
Loans from State
Literary Fund."
SECTION 7.37.(c) G.S. 115C‑460 through G.S. 115C‑467 are repealed.
SECTION 7.37.(d) Subsection (c) of this section does not apply to outstanding loans from the State Literary Fund.
SECTION 7.37.(e) There is appropriated from the State Literary Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the unencumbered cash balance of the Fund for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year for school technology.
SECTION 7.38.(a) Of the funds appropriated to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units, up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) a year for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years shall be used by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, Inc., to evaluate charter schools. In particular, the evaluation shall consider the advantages and disadvantages of North Carolina's method of financing charter school operations, as well as the extent to which charter schools have accomplished the following six objectives, which are set out in G.S. 115C‑238.29A:
(1) Improve student learning;
(2) Increase learning opportunities for all students, with special emphasis on expanded learning experiences for students who are identified as at risk of academic failure or academically gifted;
(3) Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods;
(4) Create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunities to be responsible for the learning program at the school site;
(5) Provide parents and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system; and
(6) Hold the schools established under this Part accountable for meeting measurable student achievement results and provide the schools with a method to change from rule‑based to performance‑based accountability systems.
SECTION 7.38.(b) The State Board of Education shall report the results of its evaluation to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 7.39.(a) G.S. 115C‑12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C‑12. Powers and duties of the Board generally.
The general supervision and administration of the free public school system shall be vested in the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall establish policy for the system of free public schools, subject to laws enacted by the General Assembly. The powers and duties of the State Board of Education are defined as follows:
…
(36) Duty to charge tuition for the Governor's School of North Carolina. – The State Board of Education shall implement a five‑hundred‑dollar ($500.00) tuition charge for students attending the Governor's School of North Carolina."
SECTION 7.39.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2010, and applies to sessions of Governor's School beginning after that date.
SECTION 7.40. The State Board of Education shall establish a school calendar pilot program in the Wilkes County Schools. The purpose of the pilot program is to determine whether and to what extent a local school administrative unit can save money during this extreme fiscal crisis by consolidating the school calendar.
Notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑84.2(a)(1), the school calendar for the 2009‑2010 calendar year for the Wilkes County Schools shall include a minimum of 180 days or 1,000 hours of instruction covering at least nine calendar months. Notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑84.2(d), the opening date for students shall not be before August 24.
If the Wilkes County Board of Education adds instructional hours to previously scheduled days under this section, the local school administrative unit is deemed to have a minimum of 180 days of instruction and teachers employed for a 10‑month term are deemed to have been employed for the days being made up and shall be compensated as if they had worked the days being made up.
The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2010, on the administration of the pilot program, cost‑savings realized by it, and its impact on student achievement.
SECTION 7.41.(a) Session Law 2008‑86 is repealed.
SECTION 7.41.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2011.
PART VIII. COMMUNITY COLLEGES
COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACULTY SALARY PLAN
(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to encourage community colleges to make faculty salaries a priority and to reward colleges that have taken steps to achieve the national average community college faculty salary, therefore:
a. If the average faculty salary at a community college is one hundred percent (100%) or more of the national average community college faculty salary, the college may transfer up to eight percent (8%) of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries.
b. If the average faculty salary at a community college is at least ninety‑five percent (95%) but less than one hundred percent (100%) of the national average community college faculty salary, the college may transfer up to six percent (6%) of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries.
c. If the average faculty salary at a community college is at least ninety percent (90%) but less than ninety‑five percent (95%) of the national average community college faculty salary, the college may transfer up to five percent (5%) of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries.
d. If the average faculty salary at a community college is at least eighty‑five percent (85%) but less than ninety percent (90%) of the national average community college faculty salary, the college may transfer up to three percent (3%) of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries.
e. If the average faculty salary at a community college is eighty‑five percent (85%) or less of the national average community college faculty salary, the college may transfer up to two percent (2%) of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries.
Except as provided by subdivision (2) of this subsection, a community college shall not transfer a greater percentage of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries than is authorized by this subsection.
(2) With the approval of the State Board of Community Colleges, a community college at which the average faculty salary is eighty‑five percent (85%) or less of the national average may transfer a greater percentage of the State funds allocated to it for faculty salaries than is authorized by sub‑subdivision e. of subdivision (1) of this subsection. The State Board shall approve the transfer only for purposes that directly affect student services.
The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt guidelines to implement the provisions of this subdivision.
(3) A local community college may use all State funds allocated to it except for Literacy Funds and Funds for Customized Training to increase faculty salaries.
SECTION 8.1.(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Average faculty salary at a community college" means the total nine‑month salary from all sources of all nine‑month, full‑time, curriculum faculty at the college, as determined by the North Carolina Community College System on October 1 of each year.
(2) "National average community college faculty salary" means the nine‑month, full‑time, curriculum salary average, as published by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), for the most recent year for which data are available.
SECTION 8.2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local community college may use up to five percent (5%) of the Literacy Funds allocated to it by the State Board of Community Colleges to procure instructional technology for literacy labs. This technology may include computers, instructional software and software licenses, scanners for testing, and classroom projection equipment.
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
SECTION 8.4. G.S. 115D‑40.1(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) Administration of Program. – The State Board shall adopt rules and policies for the disbursement of the financial assistance provided in this section. Degree, diploma, and certificate students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for financial assistance. The State Board may contract with the State Education Assistance Authority for administration of these financial assistance funds. These funds shall not revert at the end of each fiscal year but shall remain available until expended for need‑based financial assistance.
The State Board shall ensure that at least one counselor is available at each college to inform students about federal programs and funds available to assist community college students including, but not limited to, Pell Grants and HOPE and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits and to actively encourage students to utilize these federal programs and funds. The interest earned on the funds provided in this section may be used to support the costs of administering the Community College Grant Program."
CARRYFORWARD OF NORTH CAROLINA RESEARCH CAMPUS BIOTECHNOLOGY TRAINING FUNDS
SECTION 8.5.(a) Funds appropriated in S.L. 2006‑66, S.L. 2007‑323, and S.L. 2008‑103 for the Rowan‑Cabarrus Community College Biotechnology Training Center and Greenhouse at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis shall not revert, but shall remain available until expended.
SECTION 8.5.(b) This section becomes effective June 30, 2009.
SECTION 8.6.(a) Community college student enrollments in Learn and Earn Online shall be considered regular budget full‑time equivalent in the curriculum enrollment formula regardless of the term during which the instruction is provided. The North Carolina Community College System may only seek reimbursement from the Department of Public Instruction for technology, course fees, and textbooks required for course participation.
SECTION 8.6.(b) The Office of State Budget and Management shall transfer sufficient funds from the State Public School Fund to the Community Colleges System Office to implement subsection (b) of this section.
CARRYFORWARD OF COLLEGE INFORMATION SYSTEM FUNDS
SECTION 8.7.(a) Funds appropriated in this act to the Community Colleges System Office for the College Information System shall not revert at the end of the 2008‑2009 fiscal year but shall remain available until expended. These funds may be used to purchase periodic system upgrades.
SECTION 8.7.(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑6‑4, the Community Colleges System Office may, subject to the approval of the Office of State Budget and Management and in consultation with the Office of Information Technology Services, use funds appropriated in this act for the College Information System to create a maximum of three positions if doing so is cost‑effective. Personnel positions created pursuant to this subsection shall be dedicated to maintaining and administering information technology and software upgrades to the College Information System.
SECTION 8.7.(c) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective July 1, 2009.
MODIFY MULTICAMPUS AND OFF CAMPUS CENTER REPORT DATE
SECTION 8.8. G.S. 115D‑5(o) reads as rewritten:
"(o) The General
Assembly finds that additional data are needed to determine the adequacy of
multicampus and off‑campus center funds; therefore, multicampus colleges
and colleges with off‑campus centers shall report annually, beginning
September 1, 2005, to the Community Colleges System Office on all expenditures
by line item of funds used to support their multicampuses and off‑campus
centers. The Community Colleges System Office shall report on these expenditures
to the Education Appropriation Subcommittees of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Office of State Budget and Management, and the Fiscal
Research Division by October 1 December 1 of each year."
REPEAL REPORT ON THE USE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACILITIES BY PRIVATE BUSINESSES
SECTION 8.9. G.S. 115D‑5(q) is repealed.
ELIMINATE SOME TUITION WAIVERS
SECTION 8.11.(a) G.S. 115B‑2(a)(1) is repealed.
SECTION 8.11.(b) G.S. 115B‑2.1 is repealed.
SECTION 8.11.(c) G.S. 115B‑5(a) is repealed.
SECTION 8.11.(d) Effective July 1, 2009, G.S. 115D‑5(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) In order to make
instruction as accessible as possible to all citizens, the teaching of
curricular courses and of noncurricular extension courses at convenient
locations away from institution campuses as well as on campuses is authorized
and shall be encouraged. A pro rata portion of the established regular tuition
rate charged a full‑time student shall be charged a part‑time
student taking any curriculum course. In lieu of any tuition charge, the State
Board of Community Colleges shall establish a uniform registration fee, or a
schedule of uniform registration fees, to be charged students enrolling in
extension courses for which instruction is financed primarily from State funds;
provided, however, that the State Board of Community Colleges may provide by
general and uniform regulations for waiver of tuition and registration fees for
persons not enrolled in elementary or secondary schools taking courses leading
to a high school diploma or equivalent certificate, for training courses for
volunteer firemen, local fire department personnel, volunteer rescue and
lifesaving department personnel, local rescue and lifesaving department
personnel, Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Team (REACT) members when the
REACT team is under contract to a county as an emergency response agency, local
law‑enforcement officers, patients in State alcoholic rehabilitation
centers, all full‑time custodial employees of the Department of
Correction, employees of the Department's Division of Community Corrections and
employees of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
required to be certified under Chapter 17C of the General Statutes and the
rules of the Criminal Justice and Training Standards Commission, trainees
enrolled in courses conducted under the New and Expanding Industry Program,
clients of sheltered workshops, clients of adult developmental activity
programs, students in Health and Human Services Development Programs, juveniles
of any age committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention by a court of competent jurisdiction, prison inmates, members of the
North Carolina State Defense Militia as defined in G.S. 127A‑5 and
as administered under Article 5 of Chapter 127A of the General Statutes, and
elementary and secondary school employees enrolled in courses in first aid or
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Provided further, tuition shall be waived for
up to six hours of credit per academic semester for senior citizens age
65 or older who are qualified as legal residents of North Carolina.attending
institutions operating under this Chapter as set forth in Chapter 115B of the
General Statutes, Tuition Waiver for Senior Citizens. Provided further,
tuition shall also be waived for all courses taken by high school students at
community colleges, including students in early college and middle college high
school programs, in accordance with G.S. 115D‑20(4) and this
section."
SECTION 8.11.(e) Effective July 1, 2010, G.S. 115D‑5(b), as rewritten by subsection 8.11(d) of this section, reads as rewritten:
"(b) In order to make
instruction as accessible as possible to all citizens, the teaching of
curricular courses and of noncurricular extension courses at convenient
locations away from institution campuses as well as on campuses is authorized
and shall be encouraged. A pro rata portion of the established regular tuition
rate charged a full‑time student shall be charged a part‑time
student taking any curriculum course. In lieu of any tuition charge, the State
Board of Community Colleges shall establish a uniform registration fee, or a
schedule of uniform registration fees, to be charged students enrolling in
extension courses for which instruction is financed primarily from State funds;
provided, however, that the State Board of Community Colleges may provide by
general and uniform regulations for waiver of tuition and registration fees for
persons not enrolled in elementary or secondary schools taking courses leading
to a high school diploma or equivalent certificate, for training courses for
volunteer firemen, local fire department personnel, volunteer rescue and
lifesaving department personnel, local rescue and lifesaving department
personnel, Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Team (REACT) members when the
REACT team is under contract to a county as an emergency response agency, local
law‑enforcement officers, patients in State alcoholic rehabilitation
centers, all full‑time custodial employees of the Department of Correction,
employees of the Department's Division of Community Corrections and employees
of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention required to be
certified under Chapter 17C of the General Statutes and the rules of the
Criminal Justice and Training Standards Commission, trainees enrolled in
courses conducted under the New and Expanding Industry Program, clients of
sheltered workshops, clients of adult developmental activity programs, students
in Health and Human Services Development Programs, juveniles of any age
committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention by a
court of competent jurisdiction, prison inmates, members of the North
Carolina State Defense Militia as defined in G.S. 127A‑5 and as
administered under Article 5 of Chapter 127A of the General Statutes, and
elementary and secondary school employees enrolled in courses in first aid or
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Provided further, tuition shall be waived
for up to six hours of credit per academic semester for senior citizens waived
for up to six hours of credit per academic semester for senior citizens age 65
or older who are qualified as legal residents of North Carolina. Provided
further, tuition shall also be waived for all courses taken by high school
students at community colleges, including students in early college and middle
college high school programs, in accordance with G.S. 115D‑20(4) and
this section."
SECTION 8.12. The fees charged for community college continuing education courses shall be based on the number of hours of class time. The fees shall be:
Class Hours Cost
1‑24 $ 65.00;
25‑50 $120.00;
51+ $175.00.
CONSOLIDATE NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH ALLOTMENTS
SECTION 8.13. The State Board of Community Colleges shall consolidate the Nursing categorical allotment into the Allied Health categorical allotment before distributing funds appropriated in this act. These funds shall be awarded to community colleges based on the full‑time equivalent (FTE) enrollment in allied health programs.
SECTION 8.14.(a) Funds appropriated in this act for the Customized Training Program that unexpended and unencumbered on June 30, 2010, may, subject to cash availability and the approval of the Office of State Budget and Management, be carried forward into the 2010‑2011 fiscal year for equipment purchases. These funds shall be distributed through the Educational Equipment Reserve.
SECTION 8.14.(b) Projects that create or retain jobs in North Carolina shall receive first priority for funds appropriated for the Customized Training Program.
SECTION 8.14.(c) G.S. 115D‑5.1(f) is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f) The State Board shall report on an annual basis to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on:
…
(1a) The types of services sought by the company, whether for new, expanding, or existing industry."
COMMUNITY COLLEGES URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS
SECTION 8.15. The General Assembly urges all community colleges to participate in federal student loan programs.
NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY BUSINESS CENTER
SECTION 8.16. The funds appropriated in this act to the Community Colleges System Office for the NC Military Business Center shall be used for the continued operations of the NC Military Business Center. The Military Business Center shall provide services to residents and businesses throughout the State. The purpose of the business center is to serve as a coordinator and facilitator for small‑ and medium‑sized businesses throughout the State seeking to win and complete federal contracts, with a focus on military‑related contracts. Activities of the business center shall include:
(1) Training and mentoring eligible businesses on effectively marketing their products and services to military and other federal clients and contracting offices.
(2) Assisting eligible businesses with any required accreditations and qualifications for government contracting.
(3) Teaching eligible businesses about federal set‑aside programs and how to take advantage of these programs directly or through partnering with other eligible businesses.
(4) Training and assisting clients with the registration, proposal development, and bidding processes related to military and other federal contracts.
(5) Training eligible businesses on legal and regulatory compliance.
(6) Designing and implementing mentoring programs to facilitate the development of interrelationships between eligible businesses.
(7) Forecasting the need for and assisting eligible businesses in obtaining advanced certifications and accreditations and advanced manufacturing skills and technologies.
(8) Working with Small Business Centers throughout the State to carry out these activities on a statewide basis.
(9) The maintenance of an Internet‑based system to match the knowledge, skills, and abilities of active‑duty military personnel, veterans, and their families throughout the State with the needs of North Carolina businesses.
(10) The study of community resources and existing business capacity to meet the current and future needs of the military and the development of proposals for further developing community resources and developing or recruiting new businesses to meet those needs.
(11) The marketing of the services provided by the Military Business Center.
REVISE COLLEGE FUNDING FORMULA CATEGORIES
SECTION 8.17.(a) The State Board of Community Colleges shall revise the college funding formula categories to accurately reflect where the colleges are spending their money. The revised formulas shall ensure that adequate funds are available for campus security, including the hiring of personnel, contracted professional services, surveillance cameras, call boxes, alert systems, and other equipment‑related expenditures.
SECTION 8.17.(b) The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt emergency rules in accordance with G.S. 150B‑21.1A for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium to grant community colleges the flexibility to transfer funds as necessary to minimize the impact of budget reductions on the educational program, including the elimination of State funding for maintenance of plant.
SECTION 8.18. All community college fire training coordinators shall be under the direct supervision of the Community Colleges System Office. There shall be one fire training coordinator in the eastern part of the State, one in the central part of the State, and one in the western part of the State.
CONTINUATION REVIEW OF THE PRISONER EDUCATION PROGRAM
SECTION 8.19. The continuation review of the community college prisoner education program that is required by Section 6.6E of this act shall be prepared jointly by the Department of Correction and the Community Colleges System Office. The report shall include:
(1) Information on the total cost of the program;
(2) An analysis of the appropriate source of funding, including an analysis of prisoners' ability to pay;
(3) A review of which programs are most vital to the prisoner population and a priority order for restoration of the programs;
(4) An analysis of the cost per FTE to provide these programs to the prison population compared to the cost for the general population, including the FTE costs for curriculum, continuing education, and basic skills courses; and
(5) An analysis of the feasibility of limiting access to the education program to those prisoners who will be released within a certain time frame and to programs that lower recidivism rates.
STUDY OF EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
SECTION 8.20. The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee shall include in the 2010‑2011 Work Plan for the Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly a study of the most efficient and effective way to administer the local community colleges system. In the course of the study, the Program Evaluation Division shall consider the advisability of consolidating community college administration and strategies for ensuring access for students. The Program Evaluation Division shall submit the study to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division at a date to be determined by the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee.
NO STATE FUNDS FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
SECTION 8.21. No State funds, student tuition receipts or student aid funds shall be used to create, support, maintain, or operate an intercollegiate athletics program at a community college.
FUNDING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES
SECTION 8.22. The Community Colleges System Office, with the cooperation and assistance of the Department of Public Instruction and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, shall study issues related to funding for high school students enrolled in community college, college, and university courses. The study shall include an analysis of the cost of serving these students by grade level and an analysis of how the State can most efficiently and effectively pay for those expenditures. The Department of Public Instruction, the Community Colleges System Office, and the Board of Governors shall jointly report the results of the study to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division by January 15, 2010.
FUNDING FOR NEW MULTICAMPUS COLLEGES
SECTION 8.23. The State Board of Community Colleges shall study the cost of funding all of the multicampus colleges in the North Carolina Community College System and shall develop a mechanism for ensuring that newly established multicampus colleges are funded at the same level as existing multicampus colleges. The Board shall further explore recommendations for including new multicampus colleges in the continuation budget. The State Board of Community Colleges shall report the results of its study to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 15, 2010.
MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY REDUCTION/COMMUNITY COLLEGES
SECTION 8.24. The management flexibility reduction for the North Carolina Community College System shall be allocated by the State Board of Community Colleges in a manner that accounts for the unique needs of each college and provides for the equitable distribution of funds to the institutions consistent with G.S. 115D‑5(a). Before taking reductions to instructional budgets, the community colleges shall consider reducing budgets for senior and middle management personnel and for programs that have both low‑enrollment and low‑postgraduate success. Colleges shall minimize the impact on student support services and on the retraining of dislocated workers. The community colleges shall also review their institutional funds to determine whether there are monies available in those funds that can be used to assist with operating costs before taking reductions in instructional budgets.
Hickory Metropolitan Higher Education Center
SECTION 8.25.(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any agreement to the contrary among any units of the Community College System and any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, Catawba Valley Community College shall continue to serve as the fiscal agent for the Hickory Metropolitan Higher Education Center (Center).
SECTION 8.25.(b) The Center shall not, solely as a result of any existing agreement among any institutions of the Community College System and any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, end any agreement with any other accredited college or university to offer courses at the Center.
PART IX. UNIVERSITIES
USE OF ESCHEAT FUND FOR NEED‑BASED FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
SECTION 9.1.(a) There is appropriated from the Escheat Fund income to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one hundred twenty‑three million six hundred forty‑one thousand forty dollars ($123,641,040) for each of fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011, to the State Board of Community Colleges the sum of thirteen million nine hundred eighty‑one thousand two hundred two dollars ($13,981,202) for each of fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011, and to the Department of Administration, Division of Veterans Affairs, the sum of six million five hundred twenty thousand nine hundred sixty‑four dollars ($6,520,964) for each of fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011. These funds shall be allocated by the State Educational Assistance Authority (SEAA) for need‑based student financial aid in accordance with G.S. 116B‑7. If the interest income generated from the Escheat Fund is less than the amounts referenced in this section, the difference may be taken from the Escheat Fund principal to reach the appropriations referenced in this section; however, under no circumstances shall the Escheat Fund principal be reduced below the sum required in G.S. 116B‑6(f). If any funds appropriated under this section remain uncommitted for need‑based financial aid as of the end of a fiscal year, the funds shall be returned to the Escheat Fund, but only to the extent the funds exceed the amount of the Escheat Fund income for that fiscal year.
The General Assembly encourages the State Education Assistance Authority to try not to reduce the Escheat Fund principal below the sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) in complying with this section, but also acknowledges that current economic factors may not make that feasible. All limitations on asset allocation of Escheat Funds invested by the State Treasurer shall be calculated at the time of investment.
SECTION 9.1.(b) The State Education Assistance Authority shall perform all of the administrative functions necessary to implement this program of financial aid. The SEAA shall conduct periodic evaluations of expenditures of the scholarship programs to determine if allocations are utilized to ensure access to institutions of higher learning and to meet the goals of the respective programs. SEAA may make recommendations for redistribution of funds to The University of North Carolina, Department of Administration, and the President of the Community College System regarding their respective scholarship programs, who then may authorize redistribution of unutilized funds for a particular fiscal year.
SECTION 9.1.(c) There is appropriated from the Escheat Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one million one hundred fifty‑seven thousand dollars ($1,157,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to be allocated to the SEAA for need‑based student financial aid to be used in accordance with G.S. 116B‑7 and this act. The SEAA shall use these funds only to provide scholarship loans (known as the Millennium Teaching Scholarship Loan Program) to North Carolina high school seniors interested in preparing to teach in the State's public schools who also enroll at any of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities that do not have Teaching Fellows. An allocation of 20 grants of six thousand five hundred dollars ($6,500) each shall be given to the three universities without any Teaching Fellows for the purposes specified in this subsection. The SEAA shall administer these funds and shall establish any additional criteria needed to award these scholarship loans, the conditions for forgiving the loans, and the collection of the loan repayments when necessary.
SECTION 9.1.(d) The State Education Assistance Authority shall transfer to the Escheat Fund the balance of any monies appropriated by this section that are not disbursed for need‑based student financial aid; however, the State Education Assistance Authority may retain the interest on those monies that is paid to the State Education Assistance Authority at the beginning of the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and at the beginning of the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.
THE EDUCATION ACCESS REWARDS NORTH CAROLINA SCHOLARS FUND REDUCE/MAXIMUM GRANT AWARDS FOR 2009‑2010 FISCAL YEAR AND REPEAL EARN SCHOLARS FUND IN 2010‑2011 FISCAL YEAR.
SECTION 9.2.(a) Of the funds appropriated by this act from the General Fund to the State Education Assistance Authority the sum of sixteen million two hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($16,225,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year shall be allocated to the Education Access Rewards North Carolina Scholars Fund (EARN).
SECTION 9.2.(b) There is appropriated from the Escheat Fund to the State Education Assistance Authority the sum of thirty‑seven million four hundred eighty‑nine thousand dollars ($37,489,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year to be allocated to EARN.
SECTION 9.2.(c) The funds appropriated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be used only to fund EARN grants for the 2009‑2010 academic year.
SECTION 9.2.(d) Notwithstanding G.S. 116‑209.26(d), the maximum grant for which a student is eligible for an EARN Scholarship shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the 2009‑2010 academic year. The State Education Assistance Authority shall pay the full amount of the grants awarded pursuant to this section in the 2009‑2010 fall academic semester.
SECTION 9.2.(e) Effective July 1, 2010, G.S. 116‑209.26 is repealed.
SECTION 9.2.(f) The campus financial aid offices at each eligible postsecondary institution as defined in G.S. 116‑209.26 are encouraged to work with EARN recipients to secure replacement financial aid for the 2010‑2011 academic year and appropriate subsequent academic years.
TRANSFERS OF CASH BALANCES TO THE GENERAL FUND
SECTION 9.3.(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the unencumbered cash balance remaining in the Future Teachers Financial Aid fund on June 30, 2009, shall be transferred to the State Controller to be deposited in Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intra State Transfers).
SECTION 9.3.(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the unencumbered cash balance of the General Fund appropriation remaining in the Education Access Rewards North Carolina (EARN) Scholars fund on June 30, 2009, shall be transferred to the State Controller to be deposited in Nontax Budget Code 19978 (Intra State Transfers).
TRANSFER FUNDING TO ROANOKE ISLAND COMMISSION FOR PERFORMING ARTS
SECTION 9.4. The General Assembly finds that in order to expand opportunities for students involved in the performing arts, existing funding for the Summer Institute on Roanoke Island should not be allocated to one specific University of North Carolina institution but instead be allocated directly to the Roanoke Island Commission, so that any interested University of North Carolina institution may have the opportunity to participate in summer arts enrichment and education programs. Therefore, of the funds appropriated by this act to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and allocated to the Summer Institute of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts on Roanoke Island program for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium, the sum of four hundred sixty‑one thousand six hundred forty‑six dollars ($461,646) shall be transferred for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year to the Roanoke Island Commission, and the sum of four hundred sixty‑one thousand six hundred forty‑six dollars ($461,646) shall be transferred for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to the Roanoke Island Commission. The Roanoke Island Commission may use these funds to contract with any of the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina System to provide music and drama students an education in a professional performing environment while providing a public service to the State. Any available funds may be used to contract with community‑based or nonprofit performing arts groups or other performing arts groups supported with State or local funds to provide music and drama on Roanoke Island.
UNC CENTER FOR ALCOHOL STUDIES
SECTION 9.5.(a) G.S. 20‑7(i1) reads as rewritten:
"(i1) Restoration Fee. –
Any person whose drivers license has been revoked pursuant to the provisions of
this Chapter, other than G.S. 20‑17(2), G.S. 20‑17(a)(2)
shall pay a restoration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). A person whose
drivers license has been revoked under G.S. 20‑17(2) G.S. 20‑17(a)(2)
shall pay a restoration fee of seventy‑five dollars ($75.00) until
the end of the fiscal year in which the cumulative total amount of fees
deposited under this subsection in the General Fund exceeds ten million dollars
($10,000,000), and shall pay a restoration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00)
thereafter. seventy‑five dollars ($75.00). The fee shall be
paid to the Division prior to the issuance to such person of a new drivers
license or the restoration of the drivers license. The restoration fee shall be
paid to the Division in addition to any and all fees which may be provided by
law. This restoration fee shall not be required from any licensee whose license
was revoked or voluntarily surrendered for medical or health reasons whether or
not a medical evaluation was conducted pursuant to this Chapter. The fifty‑dollar
($50.00) fee, and the first fifty dollars ($50.00) of the seventy‑five‑dollar
($75.00) fee, shall be deposited in the Highway Fund. The remaining twenty‑five
dollars ($25.00) of the seventy‑five‑dollar ($75.00) fee shall be
deposited in the General Fund of the State. The Office of State Budget and
Management shall certify to the Department of Transportation and the General
Assembly when the cumulative total amount of fees deposited in the General Fund
under this subsection exceeds ten million dollars ($10,000,000), and shall
annually report to the General Assembly the amount of fees deposited in the
General Fund under this subsection.
It is the intent of the General
Assembly to annually appropriate from the funds deposited in the General
Fund under this subsection the sum of five hundred thirty‑seven thousand
four hundred fifty‑five dollars ($537,455) to the Board of Governors
of The University of North Carolina to be used for the operating expenses of
the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies Endowment at The the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but not to exceed this
cumulative total of ten million dollars ($10,000,000).Hill."
SECTION 9.5.(b) Of the funds appropriated by this act to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of five hundred thirty‑seven thousand four hundred fifty‑five dollars ($537,455) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of five hundred thirty‑seven thousand four hundred fifty‑five dollars ($537,455) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year shall be used for the operating expenses of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
REPEAL FULL TUITION GRANT FOR GRADUATES OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS WHO ATTEND A STATE UNIVERSITY
SECTION 9.6.(a) G.S. 116‑238.1(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) There is granted to each State resident who graduates from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and who enrolls as a full‑time student in a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina a sum to be determined by the General Assembly as a tuition grant. The tuition grant shall be for four consecutive academic years and shall cover the tuition cost at the constituent institution in which the student is enrolled. The tuition grant shall be distributed to the student as provided by this section. The grant provided by this section is only available to a student enrolled at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for the 2008‑2009 academic year or earlier."
SECTION 9.6.(b) Effective July 1, 2014, G.S. 116‑238.1, as amended by this section, is repealed.
CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP/GRANTS
SECTION 9.7.(a) Funds appropriated by this act for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and allocated to the North Carolina Historically Minority Colleges and Universities Consortium (HMCUC) for "Closing the Achievement Gap" shall be used for the sole purpose of supporting the operations and program activities of the HMCUC. These funds shall be used by the HMCUC members for the public purposes of developing and implementing after‑school programs designed to close the academic achievement gap and improving the academic performance of youth at risk of academic failure and school dropout; provided, however, that the HMCUC may use up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal year to cover the cost of administering the grants. The HMCUC also may allocate funds to a community‑based and faith‑based organization that is located in close proximity to the HMCUC member institution for the public purposes stated in this section.
SECTION 9.7.(b) The North Carolina Historically Minority Colleges and Universities Consortium shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and to the Fiscal Research Division by May 1 of each year regarding the number of programs funded by the Consortium to Close the Achievement Gap, the location and program structure of the programs, the amount allocated to the programs, and purposes for which the funds were awarded, the cost of administering and managing the funds, and any other information requested by the Committee or Fiscal Research Division. The grants awarded pursuant to this section also shall include as a term of the grant that the recipient of the grant report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and to the Fiscal Research Division regarding the amount of the grant received, the program and purposes for which the grant was requested, the methodology used to implement the grant program and purposes, the results of the program funded by the grant, and any other information requested by the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division.
AMEND LEGISLATIVE TUITION GRANT FOR PART‑TIME STUDENTS
SECTION 9.8.(a) G.S. 116‑21.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑21.2. Legislative tuition grants to aid students and licensure students attending private institutions of higher education.
(a) Grants for Students. –
In addition to any funds appropriated pursuant to G.S. 116‑19 and in
addition to all other financial assistance made available to institutions, or
to persons attending these institutions, there is granted to each North
Carolina undergraduate student attending an approved institution as defined in G.S. 116‑22,
a sum, to be determined by the General Assembly for each academic year which
shall be distributed to the undergraduate student as provided by this
subsection. A full‑time North Carolina undergraduate student shall be
awarded the full amount of the tuition grant provided by this section. A part‑time
North Carolina undergraduate student who is enrolled to take at least six nine
hours of academic credit per semester shall be awarded a tuition grant in
an amount that is calculated on a pro rata basis.
(a1) Grants for Licensure
Students. – The legislative tuition grant provided by this section shall also
be granted to each full‑time licensure student who is enrolled in a
program intended to result in a license in teaching or nursing at an approved
institution. The legislative tuition grant provided by this section shall be
awarded on a pro rata basis to any part‑time licensure student who is
enrolled to take at least six nine hours of undergraduate
academic credit per semester in a program intended to result in a license in
teaching or nursing at an approved institution. The legislative tuition grant
and prorated legislative tuition grant authorized under this subsection shall
be paid for undergraduate courses only. If a course is required for licensure,
but is designated as both an undergraduate and graduate course, for purposes of
this subsection, the course shall be considered an undergraduate course.
(b) Administration of Grants. – The tuition grants provided for in this section shall be administered by the State Education Assistance Authority pursuant to rules adopted by the State Education Assistance Authority not inconsistent with this section. The State Education Assistance Authority shall not approve any grant until it receives proper certification from an approved institution that the student or licensure student applying for the grant is eligible. Upon receipt of the certification, the State Education Assistance Authority shall remit at the times as it prescribes the grant to the approved institution on behalf, and to the credit, of the student or licensure student.
(c) Student or Licensure
Student Change of Status; Audits. – In the event a full‑time student on
whose behalf a grant has been paid in accordance with subsection (a) of this
section or a full‑time licensure student on whose behalf a grant has been
paid in accordance with subsection (a1) of this section is not enrolled and
carrying a minimum academic load as of the tenth classroom day following the
beginning of the school term for which the grant was paid, the institution
shall refund the full amount of the grant to the State Education Assistance
Authority. If a part‑time student on whose behalf a prorated grant has
been paid in accordance with subsection (a) of this section or a part‑time
licensure student on whose behalf a prorated grant has been paid in accordance
with subsection (a1) of this section is not enrolled and carrying a minimum
academic load of six nine credit hours per semester in the
undergraduate class as of the tenth classroom day following the beginning of
the school term for which the grant was paid, the institution shall refund the
full amount of the grant to the State Education Assistance Authority. If the
matriculated status of a full‑time student or a full‑time licensure
student changes to a matriculated status of part‑time student or part‑time
licensure student by the tenth classroom day following the beginning of the
school term for which the grant was paid, the institution shall refund only the
difference between the amount of the full‑time grant awarded and the amount
of the part‑time grant that is awarded pursuant to this section. Each
approved institution shall be subject to examination by the State Auditor for
the purpose of determining whether the institution has properly certified
eligibility and enrollment of students and licensure students and credited
grants paid on behalf of them.
(d) Shortfall. – In the event there are not sufficient funds to provide each eligible student or licensure student with a full or prorated grant as provided by subsection (a) of this section or a full or a prorated grant as provided by subsection (a1) of this section:
(1) The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, with the approval of the Office of State Budget and Management, may transfer available funds to meet the needs of the programs provided by subsections (a), (a1), and (b) of this section; and
(2) Each eligible student and licensure student shall receive a pro rata share of funds then available for the remainder of the academic year within the fiscal period covered by the current appropriation.
(e) Reversions. – Any remaining funds shall revert to the General Fund."
SECTION 9.8.(b) This section applies to academic semesters beginning on or after July 1, 2009.
GRADUATE NURSE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR FACULTY PRODUCTION/REVERT PART OF FUND BALANCE
SECTION 9.9. The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) is transferred from the fund balance of the Graduate Nurse Scholarship Program for Faculty Production (also known as Nurse Educators of Tomorrow Scholarship Loan) to the General Fund.
CODIFY AND INCREASE UNC UNDERGRADUATE TUITION SURCHARGE
SECTION 9.10.(a) Article 14 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 116‑143.7. Tuition surcharge.
(a) The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall impose a twenty‑five percent (25%) tuition surcharge on students who take more than 140 degree credit hours to complete a baccalaureate degree in a four‑year program or more than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the credit hours necessary to complete a baccalaureate degree in any program officially designated by the Board of Governors as a five‑year program. Courses and credit hours taken include those taken at a constituent institution or accepted for transfer. In calculating the number of degree credit hours taken:
(1) Included are courses that a student:
a. Fails.
b. Does not complete unless the course was officially dropped by the student pursuant to the academic policy of the appropriate constituent institution.
(2) Excluded are credit hours earned through:
a. The College Board's Advanced Placement Program, CLEP examinations, or similar programs.
b. Institutional advanced placement, course validation, or any similar procedure for awarding course credit.
c. Summer term or extension programs.
(b) No surcharge shall be imposed on any student who exceeds the degree credit hour limits within the equivalent of four academic years of regular term enrollment or within five academic years of regular term enrollment in a degree program officially designated by the Board of Governors as a five‑year program.
(c) Upon application by a student, the tuition surcharge shall be waived if the student demonstrates that any of the following have substantially disrupted or interrupted the student's pursuit of a degree: (i) a military service obligation, (ii) serious medical debilitation, (iii) a short‑term or long‑term disability, or (iv) other extraordinary hardship. The Board of Governors shall establish the appropriate procedures to implement the waiver provided by this subsection."
SECTION 9.10.(b) G.S. 116‑143.7(a), as enacted by subsection (a) of this section, reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Board of
Governors of The University of North Carolina shall impose a twenty‑five
percent (25%) fifty percent (50%) tuition surcharge on students who
take more than 140 degree credit hours to complete a baccalaureate degree in a
four‑year program or more than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the
credit hours necessary to complete a baccalaureate degree in any program
officially designated by the Board of Governors as a five‑year program.
Courses and credit hours taken include those taken at that constituent
institution or accepted for transfer. In calculating the number of degree
credit hours taken:
(1) Included are courses that a student:
a. Fails.
b. Does not complete unless the course was officially dropped by the student pursuant to the academic policy of the appropriate constituent institution.
(2) Excluded are credit hours earned through:
a. The College Board's Advanced Placement Program, CLEP examinations, or similar programs.
b. Institutional advanced placement, course validation, or any similar procedure for awarding course credit.
c. Summer term or extension programs."
SECTION 9.10.(c) Subsection (a) of this section is effective beginning with the 2009‑2010 academic year; subsection (b) of this section is effective beginning with the 2010‑2011 academic year.
SECTION 9.11. G.S. 116‑30.7 reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑30.7. Biennial projection of enrollment growth for The University of North Carolina.
By September 1October 15
of each even‑numbered year, the General Administration of The University
of North Carolina shall provide to the Joint Education Legislative Oversight
Committee and to the Office of State Budget and Management a projection of the
total student enrollment in The University of North Carolina that is
anticipated for the next biennium. The enrollment projection shall be divided
into the following categories and shall include the projected growth for each
year of the biennium in each category at each of the constituent institutions:
undergraduate students, graduate students (students earning master's and
doctoral degrees), first year first professional students, and
any other categories deemed appropriate by General Administration. The
projection shall also distinguish between on‑campus and distance
education students. The projections shall be considered by the Director of the
Budget when determining the amount the Director proposes to fund as the
continuation requirement for the enrollment increase in the university system
pursuant to G.S. 143C‑3‑5(b)."
TRANSFER THE NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF TEACHING TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
SECTION 9.13.(a) The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is transferred from the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina to the State Board of Education. The Center shall be located administratively under the State Board of Education but shall exercise its powers and duties through its own board of trustees. The board of trustees shall have full authority regarding all aspects of employment and contracts for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching in accordance with State personnel policies and contract procedures.
This transfer shall include (i) ownership, possession, and control of its properties located at Cullowhee and Ocracoke, including buildings, grounds, personal property, vehicles, and equipment and (ii) the resources, assets, liabilities, and operations maintained, possessed, or controlled by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching prior to the transfer.
Upon the transfer, all duties and responsibilities of The University of North Carolina regarding NCCAT, including Western Carolina University, shall cease except as may be agreed upon by The University of North Carolina, Western Carolina University, the State Board of Eduation, and NCCAT; provided, however, that these parties shall work cooperatively in coordination with appropriate State agencies to effect an efficient and orderly transfer of duties and responsibilities to be completed on or before November 1, 2009.
The State shall reallocate to Western Carolina University the land grant that is the original parcel of NCCAT real property located in Cullowhee if it is no longer used or occupied by NCCAT.
SECTION 9.13.(b) G.S. 116‑74.6 is recodified as G.S. 115C‑296.5.
SECTION 9.13.(c) G.S. 115C‑296.5 reads as rewritten:
"§
115C‑296.5. North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching
established;Teaching; powers and duties of trustees.trustees;
reporting requirement.
(a) The Board of
Governors of The University of North Carolina established the North Carolina
Center for the Advancement of Teaching pursuant to Section 74 of S.L. 1985‑479.
The Center shall be a center of The University of North Carolina Board of
Governors. It shall be the function of the The North Carolina Center
for the Advancement of Teaching (hereinafter called "NCCAT"), through
itself or agencies with which it may contract, tocontract, shall:
(1) provideProvide
career teachers with opportunities to study advanced topics in the sciences,
arts, and humanities and to engage in informed discourse, assisted by able
mentors and outstanding leaders from all walks of life; and otherwise to offer
opportunity and
(2) Offer opportunities
for teachers to engage in scholarly pursuits, throughpursuits
through a center dedicated exclusively to the advancement of teaching as an
art and as a profession.
(b) Priority for admission to NCCAT opportunities shall be given to teachers with teaching experience of 15 years or less.
(c) NCCAT may also provide training and support for beginning teachers to enhance their skills and in support of the State's effort to recruit and retain beginning teachers.
(d) The Board of
Governors of The University of North Carolina shall establish theThe
Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of
Teaching Board of Trustees and shall delegate to the Board of Trusteesshall
hold all the powers and duties the Board of Governors considers necessary
or appropriate for the effective discharge of the functions of NCCAT.
(e) The Executive Director shall submit a copy of the NCCAT annual report to the Chair of the State Board of Education at the time of issuance."
SECTION 9.13.(d) G.S. 116‑74.7 is recodified as G.S. 115C‑296.6.
SECTION 9.13.(e) G.S. 115C‑296.6 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑296.6. Composition of board of trustees; terms; officers.
(a) The NCCAT Board of Trustees shall be composed of the following membership:
(1) Three Two ex
officio members: the President of The University of North Carolina,the
Chairman of the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, and the Chancellor of Western Carolina University, Instruction
or their designees;
(2) Two members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(3) Two members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(4) Eight members appointed
by the Board of Governors, Governor, one from each of the eight
educational regions.
The appointing authorities shall give consideration to assuring, through Board membership, the statewide mission of NCCAT.
(b) Members of the NCCAT
Board of Trustees shall serve four‑year terms. Members may serve two
consecutive four‑year terms. The Board shall elect a new chairman chair
every two years from its membership. The Chairman chair may
serve two consecutive two‑year terms as chairman.chair.
(c) The chief
administrative officer of NCCAT shall be an executive director. The Board of
Governors of The University of North Carolina shall appoint the executive
director and set the compensation of the executive director on the
recommendation of the President of The University of North Carolina. The
President shall recommend the executive director from a list of not fewer than
two names nominated by the NCCAT Board of Trustees.
The executive director shall
report to and serve at the pleasure of the President of The University of North
Carolina; provided that the President shall not terminate the employment of the
executive director without prior consultation with the NCCAT Board of Trustees.director
who shall be appointed by the NCCAT Board of Trustees."
SECTION 9.13.(f) G.S. 126‑5(c1) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(29) The Executive Director, Deputy Director, all other directors, assistant and associate directors, and center fellows of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching."
SECTION 9.13.(g) Existing appointed members of the NCCAT Board of Trustees shall continue to serve until their current terms expire. Their successors shall be appointed as provided in G.S. 115C‑296.6, as recodified and rewritten by subsections (d) and (e) of this section.
COASTAL DEMONSTRATION WIND TURBINES
SECTION 9.14.(a) Of the funds received by the State and appropriated by United States Public Law 111‑005, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and appropriated in this act to the State Energy Office for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) in nonrecurring funds shall be allocated to The University of North Carolina to continue the coastal sounds wind energy study set forth in Section 9.12 of S.L. 2008‑107. The University shall contract with a third party by October 1, 2009, to design, permit, procure, construct, establish, operate, and reclaim as appropriate at the end of their economic life up to three demonstration turbines and necessary support facilities in the sounds or off the coast of North Carolina by September 1, 2010.
Any contract entered into between The University and a third party pursuant to this section shall ensure that The University is provided appropriate access to the demonstration turbines and necessary support facilities for research purposes. The actual number and placement of the wind turbines and necessary support facilities shall be determined by the coastal sounds wind energy study in coordination with participating entities. The Director of the Budget shall ensure that any available federal funds are secured by the State to construct the demonstration turbines and necessary support facilities. The University may negotiate and execute any rights‑of‑way, easements, leases, and any other agreements necessary to construct, establish, and operate the demonstration turbines and supporting facilities, notwithstanding any other provisions of law governing such negotiation and execution of any rights‑of‑way, easements, leases, or other required agreements required for the facilities authorized under this section.
SECTION 9.14.(b) With respect to the demonstration wind turbines and necessary support facilities authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the facilities authorized under this act shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of general law applicable to the construction of State facilities, except that the State Property Office shall expedite and grant all easements and use agreements required for construction of the facilities without payment of any fee, royalty, or other cost. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, construction of the facilities authorized by this section shall be exempt from the following statutes and rules implementing those statutes: G.S. 143‑48 through 143‑64, 143‑128, 143‑129, 143‑132, 113A‑1 through 113A‑10, 113A‑50 through 113A‑66, and 113A‑116 through 113A‑128. If Senate Bill 1068, 2009 Regular Session, becomes law, the provisions of Part 12 of Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes as enacted by that act shall not apply to the facilities authorized by this section. With respect to any other environmental permits required for construction of the facilities, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is directed to expedite permitting of the project to the extent allowed by law and shall waive any application fees that would be otherwise applicable to applications for permits required for the facilities and, where possible under applicable law, issue all permits within 40 days of receipt of a complete application.
SECTION 9.14.(c) The North Carolina Utilities Commission is directed to facilitate and expedite wind energy pilot projects developed pursuant to this act that come within its jurisdiction to the extent allowed by law and consistent with State statute. A wind turbine constructed pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the requirements of G.S. 62‑110.1. For such wind turbines owned by a public utility, upon an application by the public utility seeking a rider to recover the costs of such project, the Utilities Commission shall establish an annual rider for the public utility to recover the just and reasonable costs, including the utility's cost of debt and equity, of such project upon completion.
SECTION 9.14.(d) The energy generated by the wind turbines constructed pursuant to this act shall be allocated between The University of North Carolina and a third party with which The University enters into a contract pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The allocation shall be determined by written agreement between the parties. For the purposes of this demonstration project, for every 1 megawatt‑hour (MWh) generated by the project, The University shall receive one renewable energy certificate (REC), including all environmental attributes, benefits, and credits. The third party described in subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to have received 3.0 RECs for every 1 MWh of electricity generated by the project solely in order to meet the obligations of the NC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) of G.S. 62‑133.8(b) and shall not be subject to the provisions of G.S. 62.133.8(h).
SECTION 9.14.(e) The University of North Carolina is authorized to delegate its responsibilities herein to a constituent institution which shall, in turn, receive the RECs.
AMEND AID TO PRIVATE MEDICAL SCHOOLS
SECTION 9.15.(a) G.S. 116‑21.5 is repealed.
SECTION 9.15.(b) Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 116‑21.6. Private medical schools – medical student grants.
(a) Funding for Medical Student Grants. – Funds shall be appropriated each year in the Current Operations Appropriations Act to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina to provide grants to medical students who are North Carolina residents and who enroll in and attend medical school at either Duke University or Wake Forest University.
(b) Student Eligibility for Grants. – In addition to all other financial assistance made available to medical students who are attending medical school at either Duke University or Wake Forest University, there is awarded to each medical student who is a North Carolina resident and who is enrolled in and attending medical school at either Duke University or Wake Forest University a grant of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each academic year, which shall be disbursed as provided by this section.
(c) Administration of Grants. – The grants provided for in this section shall be administered by the Board of Governors pursuant to rules adopted by the Board of Governors not inconsistent with this section. The Board of Governors shall not approve any grant until it receives proper certification from the appropriate medical school that the student applying for the grant is eligible. Upon receipt of the certification, the Board of Governors shall remit at the times as it prescribes the grant to the medical school on behalf, and to the credit, of the medical student.
The Board of Governors shall adopt rules for determining which students are residents of North Carolina for the purposes of these grants. The Board of Governors also shall make any rules as necessary to ensure that these funds are used directly for instruction in the medical programs of the schools and not for religious or other nonpublic purposes. The Board of Governors shall encourage the two medical schools to orient students toward primary care, consistent with the directives of G.S. 143‑613(a). The two schools shall supply information necessary for the Board to comply with G.S. 143‑613(d).
(d) Medical Student Change of Status. – In the event a medical student on whose behalf a grant has been paid in accordance with this section terminates his or her enrollment in medical school, the medical school shall refund the full amount of the grant to the Board of Governors.
(e) Authority to Transfer Funds if Appropriation Insufficient. – If the funds appropriated in the Current Operations Appropriations Act to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina for grants to students who are eligible for a grant under this section are insufficient to cover the enrolled students in accordance with this section, then the Board of Governors may transfer unused funds from other programs in the Related Educational Programs budget code to cover the extra students.
(f) Reversions. – Any remaining funds shall revert to the General Fund.
(g) Document Number of Medical School Graduates Who Remain in North Carolina. – The Board of Governors shall encourage Duke University School of Medicine and Wake Forest University School of Medicine to document the number of graduates each year who either enter residencies or locate their practices in North Carolina and to report that information annually to the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee regarding the information received from the two medical schools pursuant to this subsection."
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR ENDOWMENT TRUST FUND/PRIORITIZE USE OF FUNDS
SECTION 9.16. Notwithstanding Part 4A of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes, of the funds appropriated by this act to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and allocated to the Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund established in G.S. 116‑41.14, the sum of eight million dollars ($8,000,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of eight million dollars ($8,000,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year shall first be used to match the grant from the C.D. Spangler Foundation. The balance of funds remaining from each appropriation of eight million dollars ($8,000,000), if any, after matching the grant from the C.D. Spangler Foundation, shall be used to address the backlog of professorships awaiting State matching funds.
PHASE OUT FUTURE TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM
SECTION 9.18.(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, scholarship loans from the Future Teachers of North Carolina Scholarship Loan Fund established by G.S. 116‑209.38 for the 2010‑2011 academic year shall be awarded only to students who are seniors for that academic year and who are scheduled to graduate no later than the end of the 2010‑2011 academic year.
SECTION 9.18.(b) All financial obligations to any student awarded a scholarship loan from the Future Teachers of North Carolina Scholarship Loan Fund before July 1, 2011, shall be fulfilled provided the student remains eligible under the provisions of the Future Teachers of North Carolina Scholarship Loan Fund. All contractual agreements between a student awarded a scholarship loan from the Future Teachers of North Carolina Scholarship Loan Fund before July 1, 2011, and the State Education Assistance Authority remain enforceable, and the provisions of G.S. 116‑209.38 that would be applicable but for this section shall remain applicable with regard to any scholarship loan awarded before July 1, 2011.
SECTION 9.18.(c) Effective July 1, 2011, G.S. 116‑209.38 is repealed.
UNC MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY REDUCTION
SECTION 9.19. The management flexibility reduction for The University of North Carolina shall not be allocated by the Board of Governors to the constituent institutions and affiliated entities using an across‑the‑board method but in a manner that recognizes the importance of the academic mission and differences among The University of North Carolina entities. Before taking reductions in instructional budgets, the Board of Governors and the campuses of the constituent institutions shall consider reducing budgets for senior and middle management personnel, centers and institutes, low enrollment degree programs, speaker series, and nonacademic activities. The Board of Governors and the campuses of the constituent institutions also shall review the institutional trust funds and the special funds held by or on behalf of the The University of North Carolina and its constituent institutions to determine whether there are monies available in those funds that can be used to assist with operating costs before taking reductions in instructional budgets. In addition, the campuses of the constituent institutions also shall require their faculty to have a teaching workload equal to the national average in their Carnegie classification. Budget reductions shall not be considered in funding available for need‑based financial aid.
REDUCE NUMBER OF COURSES UNC FACULTY AND STAFF MAY TAKE TUITION‑FREE
SECTION 9.21. G.S. 116‑143(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d) Notwithstanding the
above provision relating to the abolition of free tuition, the Board of
Governors of The University of North Carolina may, in its discretion, provide
regulations under which a full‑time faculty member of the rank of full‑time
instructor or above, and any full‑time staff member of The University of
North Carolina may during the period of normal employment enroll for not more
than three two courses per year in The University of North
Carolina free of charge for tuition, provided such enrollment does not
interfere with normal employment obligations and further provided that such
enrollments are not counted for the purpose of receiving general fund
appropriations."
NO SPECIAL TALENT TUITION WAIVERS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES
SECTION 9.22.(a) G.S. 116‑143(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) Inasmuch as the giving of tuition and fee waivers, or especially reduced rates, represent in effect a variety of scholarship awards, the said practice is hereby prohibited except when expressly authorized by statute or by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina; and, furthermore, it is hereby directed and required that all budgeted funds expended for scholarships of any type must be clearly identified in budget reports. The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall not authorize a reduced rate of tuition for the special talent of athletics."
SECTION 9.22.(b) No policy adopted by the Board of Governors to authorize a special tuition rate for students who have athletics as a special talent shall be implemented.
CAMPUS‑INITIATED TUITION INCREASES
SECTION 9.23.(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no campus‑initiated tuition increase for students who are North Carolina residents shall be approved by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina or implemented for the 2010‑2011 academic year except as provided otherwise by this section.
SECTION 9.23.(b) Any campus‑initiated increases for the professional and graduate programs for the 2010‑2011 academic year that were approved by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina between February 2007 and February 2009 for the graduate and professional schools may be implemented for the 2010‑2011 academic year.
ESTABLISH JOINT LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMITTEE ON STATE FUNDED STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
SECTION 9.24.(a) In order to ensure all North Carolinians have access to attend undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs at institutions of higher education there is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on State Funded Student Financial Aid. The Committee shall consist of 10 members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint five members. The State Treasurer, The University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority shall cooperate with this study. The State's private colleges and universities and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities are also encouraged to cooperate with the study.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate each shall appoint a cochair for the Committee. The Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority as made the initial appointment.
The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Director of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 9.24.(b) The Committee shall study all of the following:
(1) How best to use State funds to provide grants, loans, and scholarships to students for the purpose of attending undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs at institutions of higher education within North Carolina. As part of its study, the Committee shall also examine the availability and sustainability of existing State, federal, and private funding sources for student grants, loans, and scholarships.
(2) How best to administer State funded student financial aid. As part of its study the Committee shall review any action or pending action by the federal government regarding the federal funding that supports the administration of student financial aid in the State. The Committee shall also examine the sustainability and efficiency of the current governance structure for awarding student financial aid at the State level and the linkage of that governance structure to federal student loan programs and to student loan programs funded through escheats.
(3) The current governance of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).
(4) The feasibility of consolidating scholarship, loan, and grant programs for North Carolinians including all programs for which eligibility is based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
(5) The feasibility of consolidating loans, grants, and scholarships available for teacher education students.
(6) The qualifications for each loan, scholarship, and grant administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, the purpose for which the aid is awarded, and any other criteria that make the scholarship and grant either similar to other scholarships in the same category or that make the scholarship unique from others in its category.
(7) Marketing strategies for grant, loans, and scholarships and how to make the information more transparent, understandable, and accessible to the general public and to the students who may be interested in applying for financial aid.
(8) Any other issues the Committee deems relevant to this study.
SECTION 9.24.(c) The Committee may make an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2009 General Assembly, 2010 Regular Session, and shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any legislative recommendations, to the 2011 General Assembly. The Committee shall terminate upon filing its final report or upon the convening of the 2011 General Assembly, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 9.24.(d) From the funds appropriated by this act to the General Assembly for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year, the Legislative Services Commission may allocate monies to fund the work of the Committee.
UNC Board of Governors Review Separation and transition Policy for UNC administrators
SECTION 9.25. The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall review its current policies regarding the salary payments and other payments made to its top administrators (from the level of President of The University of North Carolina through dean level) as part of a transition and separation package when any of these administrators voluntarily or involuntarily terminates employment in the administrative position and moves down to a lesser position of employment on either a permanent or temporary basis within The University of North Carolina. The Board of Governors shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 1, 2010, its findings and recommendations for changes to the policies, if any.
PART X. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SECTION 10.1.(a) The maximum gross annual income for initial eligibility, adjusted biennially, for subsidized child care services shall be seventy‑five percent (75%) of the State median income, adjusted for family size.
SECTION 10.1.(b) Fees for families who are required to share in the cost of care shall be established based on a percent of gross family income and adjusted for family size. Fees shall be determined as follows:
FAMILY SIZE PERCENT OF GROSS FAMILY INCOME
1‑3 10%
4‑5 9%
6 or more 8%.
SECTION 10.1.(c) Payments for the purchase of child care services for low‑income children shall be in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) Religious‑sponsored child care facilities operating pursuant to G.S. 110‑106 and licensed child care centers and homes that meet the minimum licensing standards that are participating in the subsidized child care program shall be paid the one‑star county market rate or the rate they charge privately paying parents, whichever is lower.
(2) Licensed child care centers and homes with two or more stars shall receive the market rate for that rated license level for that age group or the rate they charge privately paying parents, whichever is lower.
(3) Nonlicensed homes shall receive fifty percent (50%) of the county market rate or the rate they charge privately paying parents, whichever is lower.
(4) Maximum payment rates shall also be calculated periodically by the Division of Child Development for transportation to and from child care provided by the child care provider, individual transporter, or transportation agency, and for fees charged by providers to parents. These payment rates shall be based upon information collected by market rate surveys.
SECTION 10.1.(d) Provisions of payment rates for child care providers in counties that do not have at least 50 children in each age group for center‑based and home‑based care are as follows:
(1) Except as applicable in subdivision (2) of this subsection, payment rates shall be set at the statewide or regional market rate for licensed child care centers and homes.
(2) If it can be demonstrated that the application of the statewide or regional market rate to a county with fewer than 50 children in each age group is lower than the county market rate and would inhibit the ability of the county to purchase child care for low‑income children, then the county market rate may be applied.
SECTION 10.1.(e) A market rate shall be calculated for child care centers and homes at each rated license level for each county and for each age group or age category of enrollees and shall be representative of fees charged to parents for each age group of enrollees within the county. The Division of Child Development shall also calculate a statewide rate and regional market rates for each rated license level for each age category.
SECTION 10.1.(f) Facilities licensed pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 110 of the General Statutes and facilities operated pursuant to G.S. 110‑106 may participate in the program that provides for the purchase of care in child care facilities for minor children of needy families. No separate licensing requirements shall be used to select facilities to participate. In addition, child care facilities shall be required to meet any additional applicable requirements of federal law or regulations. Child care arrangements exempt from State regulation pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 110 of the General Statutes shall meet the requirements established by other State law and by the Social Services Commission.
County departments of social services or other local contracting agencies shall not use a provider's failure to comply with requirements in addition to those specified in this subsection as a condition for reducing the provider's subsidized child care rate.
SECTION 10.1.(g) Payment for subsidized child care services provided with Work First Block Grant funds shall comply with all regulations and policies issued by the Division of Child Development for the subsidized child care program.
SECTION 10.1.(h) Noncitizen families who reside in this State legally shall be eligible for child care subsidies if all other conditions of eligibility are met. If all other conditions of eligibility are met, noncitizen families who reside in this State illegally shall be eligible for child care subsidies only if at least one of the following conditions is met:
(1) The child for whom a child care subsidy is sought is receiving child protective services or foster care services.
(2) The child for whom a child care subsidy is sought is developmentally delayed or at risk of being developmentally delayed.
(3) The child for whom a child care subsidy is sought is a citizen of the United States.
SECTION 10.2.(a) The Department of Health and Human Services shall allocate child care subsidy voucher funds to pay the costs of necessary child care for minor children of needy families. The mandatory thirty percent (30%) Smart Start subsidy allocation under G.S. 143B‑168.15(g) shall constitute the base amount for each county's child care subsidy allocation. The Department of Health and Human Services shall use the following method when allocating federal and State child care funds, not including the aggregate mandatory thirty percent (30%) Smart Start subsidy allocation:
(1) Funds shall be allocated to a county based upon the projected cost of serving children under age 11 in families with all parents working who earn less than seventy‑five percent (75%) of the State median income.
(2) No county's allocation shall be less than ninety percent (90%) of its State fiscal year 2001‑2002 initial child care subsidy allocation.
SECTION 10.2.(b) The Department of Health and Human Services may reallocate unused child care subsidy voucher funds in order to meet the child care needs of low‑income families. Any reallocation of funds shall be based upon the expenditures of all child care subsidy voucher funding, including Smart Start funds, within a county.
SECTION 10.2.(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Department of Health and Human Services shall allocate up to twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in federal block grant funds and State funds appropriated for fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 for child care services. These funds shall be allocated to prevent termination of child care services. Funds appropriated for specific purposes, including targeted market rate adjustments given in the past, may also be allocated by the Department separately from the allocation formula described in subsection (a) of this section.
CHILD CARE FUNDS MATCHING REQUIREMENT
SECTION 10.3. No local matching funds may be required by the Department of Health and Human Services as a condition of any locality's receiving its initial allocation of child care funds appropriated by this act unless federal law requires a match. If the Department reallocates additional funds above twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) to local purchasing agencies beyond their initial allocation, local purchasing agencies must provide a twenty percent (20%) local match to receive the reallocated funds. Matching requirements shall not apply when funds are allocated because of a disaster as defined in G.S. 166A‑4(1).
FACILITATE AND EXPEDITE USE OF CHILD CARE SUBSIDY FUNDS
SECTION 10.4. The Division of Child Development of the Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt temporary policies that facilitate and expedite the prudent expenditure of child care subsidy funds. These policies will address the following:
(1) Permitting the local purchasing agencies to issue time‑limited vouchers to assist counties in managing onetime, nonrecurring subsidy funding.
(2) Extending the current 30/60 day job search policy to six months when a recipient experiences a loss of employment.
(3) Providing an upfront job search period of six months for applicants who have lost employment since October 1, 2008.
(4) Providing a job search period of six months for recipients who complete school and are entering the job market.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, extending the 24‑month education time limit for an additional 12 months for a child care recipient who has lost a job since October 1, 2008, or otherwise needs additional training to enhance his or her marketable skills for job placement due to the economic downturn and who has depleted his or her 24‑month allowable education time.
(6) Lowering the number of hours a parent must be working in order to be eligible for subsidy to assist parents who are continuing to work but at reduced hours.
SECTION 10.5. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, funds budgeted for the Child Care Revolving Loan Fund may be transferred to and invested by the financial institution contracted to operate the Fund. The principal and any income to the Fund may be used to make loans, reduce loan interest to borrowers, serve as collateral for borrowers, pay the contractor's cost of operating the Fund, or pay the Department's cost of administering the program.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ENHANCEMENTS
SECTION 10.7.(a) Administrative costs shall be equivalent to, on an average statewide basis for all local partnerships, not more than eight percent (8%) of the total statewide allocation to all local partnerships. For purposes of this subsection, administrative costs shall include costs associated with partnership oversight, business and financial management, general accounting, human resources, budgeting, purchasing, contracting, and information systems management.
SECTION 10.7.(b) The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and all local partnerships shall use competitive bidding practices in contracting for goods and services on contract amounts as follows:
(1) For amounts of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less, the procedures specified by a written policy to be developed by the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
(2) For amounts greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000), but less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), three written quotes.
(3) For amounts of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or more, but less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000), a request for proposal process.
(4) For amounts of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or more, a request for proposal process and advertising in a major newspaper.
SECTION 10.7.(c) The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and all local partnerships shall, in the aggregate, be required to match no less than fifty percent (50%) of the total amount budgeted for the program in each fiscal year of the biennium as follows: contributions of cash equal to at least fifteen percent (15%) and in‑kind donated resources equal to no more than five percent (5%) for a total match requirement of twenty percent (20%) for each fiscal year. The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., may carry forward any amount in excess of the required match for a fiscal year in order to meet the match requirement of the succeeding fiscal year. Only in‑kind contributions that are quantifiable shall be applied to the in‑kind match requirement. Volunteer services may be treated as an in‑kind contribution for the purpose of the match requirement of this subsection. Volunteer services that qualify as professional services shall be valued at the fair market value of those services. All other volunteer service hours shall be valued at the statewide average wage rate as calculated from data compiled by the Employment Security Commission in the Employment and Wages in North Carolina Annual Report for the most recent period for which data are available. Expenses, including both those paid by cash and in‑kind contributions, incurred by other participating non‑State entities contracting with the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., or the local partnerships, also may be considered resources available to meet the required private match. In order to qualify to meet the required private match, the expenses shall:
(1) Be verifiable from the contractor's records.
(2) If in‑kind, other than volunteer services, be quantifiable in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for nonprofit organizations.
(3) Not include expenses funded by State funds.
(4) Be supplemental to and not supplant preexisting resources for related program activities.
(5) Be incurred as a direct result of the Early Childhood Initiatives Program and be necessary and reasonable for the proper and efficient accomplishment of the Program's objectives.
(6) Be otherwise allowable under federal or State law.
(7) Be required and described in the contractual agreements approved by the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., or the local partnership.
(8) Be reported to the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., or the local partnership by the contractor in the same manner as reimbursable expenses.
Failure to obtain a twenty percent (20%) match by June 30 of each fiscal year shall result in a dollar‑for‑dollar reduction in the appropriation for the Program for a subsequent fiscal year. The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., shall be responsible for compiling information on the private cash and in‑kind contributions into a report that is submitted to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations in a format that allows verification by the Department of Revenue. The same match requirements shall apply to any expansion funds appropriated by the General Assembly.
SECTION 10.7.(d) The Department of Health and Human Services shall continue to implement the performance‑based evaluation system.
SECTION 10.7.(e) The Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., shall ensure that the allocation of funds for Early Childhood Education and Development Initiatives for State fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 shall be administered and distributed in the following manner:
(1) Capital expenditures are prohibited for fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011. For the purposes of this section, "capital expenditures" means expenditures for capital improvements as defined in G.S. 143C‑1‑1(d)(5).
(2) Expenditures of State funds for advertising and promotional activities are prohibited for fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011.
SECTION 10.7.(f) A county may use the county's allocation of State and federal child care funds to subsidize child care according to the county's Early Childhood Education and Development Initiatives Plan as approved by the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. The use of federal funds shall be consistent with the appropriate federal regulations. Child care providers shall, at a minimum, comply with the applicable requirements for State licensure pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 110 of the General Statutes.
SECTION 10.7.(g) For fiscal years 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011, the local partnerships shall spend an amount for child care subsidies that provides at least fifty‑two million dollars ($52,000,000) for the TANF maintenance of effort requirement and the Child Care Development Fund and Block Grant match requirement. The Department of Health and Human Services shall determine the level of funds that need to be expended in order to draw down all federal recovery funds and shall direct the local partnerships to spend at least at the determined level. The local partnerships shall not spend at a level less than that directed by the Department.
TASK FORCE ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
SECTION 10.7A.(a) Intent. – It is the intent of the General Assembly that not later than July 1, 2010, certain agencies and programs relating to early childhood education and care shall be consolidated.
SECTION 10.7A.(b) Task Force Established. – There is established the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and Care (Task Force). The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction shall work with the Task Force to develop a Consolidation Plan (Plan) to implement the Plan as approved by the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly.
SECTION 10.7A.(c) Task Force Membership. – Appointments to the Task Force shall be as follows:
a. Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
b. Three members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
c. Three members appointed by the Governor.
d. Any additional ad hoc members the Governor deems beneficial to achieve the goals of the Task Force.
Appointments to the Task Force shall be made no later than September 1, 2009.
Vacancies in the Task Force or a vacancy as chair of the Task Force resulting from the resignation of a member or otherwise shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
SECTION 10.7A.(d) Duties of the Task Force. –
(1) In consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction, develop a Plan for a highly coordinated and efficient system of early childhood education and care.
(2) Not later than January 15, 2010, establish and appoint a transition team to implement the Plan approved by the General Assembly. The transition team shall be responsible for guiding the transition from the multiagency/multiprogram system now in place to a consolidated system and to ensure continuity and quality of existing services to young children, families, and early childhood programs and personnel.
(3) Adhere to the following principles in the development and implementation of the Plan approved by the General Assembly:
a. Ensuring high quality programs.
b. Ensuring core functions remain intact.
c. Maintaining the strengths and effectiveness of each program.
d. Identifying and proposing efficiencies.
e. Identifying needed improvements.
f. Streamlining administrative savings.
g. Promoting a seamless delivery of services from birth through kindergarten.
h. Any other principles the Task Force deems relevant.
(4) Consider the following agencies and functions for consolidation:
a. The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
b. The More at Four program.
c. Title I Prekindergarten programs.
d. Preschool Exceptional Children.
e. Early Intervention programs.
f. Head Start Collaboration.
g. Child Care Regulatory and Subsidy.
h. Licensing and Regulatory Functions.
i. Workforce Professional Development and Recognition.
j. Quality Initiatives.
(5) Consult with appropriate State departments, agencies, and board representatives on issues related to early childhood education and care.
(6) In developing the Plan, review and consider the proposal included in Ensuring School Readiness for North Carolina's Children: Bringing the Parts Together to Create an Integrated Early Care and Education System, November 2004.
SECTION 10.7A.(e) Chair; Meetings. – The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate one member to serve as cochair of the Task Force.
The cochairs shall call the initial meeting of the Task Force on or before October 1, 2009. The Task Force shall subsequently meet upon such notice and in such manner as its members determine. A majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 10.7A.(f) Expenses of Members. – Members of the Task Force shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 10.7A.(g) Cooperation by Government Agencies. – The Task Force may call upon any department, agency, institution, or officer of the State or any political subdivision thereof for facilities, data, or other assistance.
SECTION 10.7A.(h) Report. – The Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations by March 15, 2010, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Education, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education, and the Fiscal Research Division. The Task Force shall terminate upon filing its final report.
SECTION 10.7A.(i) Proposal. – After reviewing the report submitted by the Task Force, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education shall develop language and a budget proposal by May 30, 2010, to present to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly to implement the consolidation of early childhood education and care programs, which consolidation shall become effective July 1, 2010.
SECTION 10.7A.(j) Funding. – The Legislative Services Officer shall allocate funds to carry out the duties of the Task Force.
SECTION 10.7A.(k) Effective Date. – This section becomes effective July 1, 2009. Effective July 1, 2010, the Consolidation, as contained in the Plan approved by the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly, shall be implemented.
ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE FOR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES
SECTION 10.10. The Division of Child Development of the Department of Health and Human Services shall increase the allowance that county departments of social services may use for administrative costs from four percent (4%) to five percent (5%) of the county's total child care subsidy funds allocated in the Child Care Development Fund Block Grant plan. The increase shall be effective for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
INCREASE CHILD CARE LICENSING FEES FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES
SECTION 10.11. Effective the seventh calendar day after the date this act becomes law, G.S. 110‑90(1a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 110‑90. Powers and duties of Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The Secretary shall have the following powers and duties under the policies and rules of the Commission:
…
(1a) To establish a fee for
the licensing of child care centers.facilities. The fee does not
apply to a religious‑sponsored child care center facility operated
pursuant to a letter of compliance. The amount of the fee may not exceed the
amount listed in this subdivision.
Capacity of CenterFacility Maximum
Fee
12 or fewer
children $ 35.00$52.00
13‑50
children $125.00$187.00
51‑100
children $250.00$375.00
101 or more
children $400.00$600.00
…."
SECTION 10.12.(a) For the purpose of mitigating cash flow problems that many non‑single‑stream local management entities (LMEs) experience at the beginning of each fiscal year, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall adjust the timing and method by which allocations of service dollars are distributed to each non‑single‑stream LME. To this end, the allocations shall be adjusted such that at the beginning of the fiscal year the Department shall distribute not less than one‑twelfth of the LME's continuation allocation and subtract the amount of the adjusted distribution from the LME's total reimbursements for the fiscal year.
SECTION 10.12.(b) Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the sum of twenty million one hundred twenty‑one thousand six hundred forty‑four dollars ($20,121,644) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of twenty million one hundred twenty‑one thousand six hundred forty‑four dollars ($20,121,644) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year shall be allocated for the purchase of local inpatient psychiatric beds or bed days. These beds or bed days shall be distributed across the State according to need as determined by the Department. The Department shall enter into contracts with the LMEs and community hospitals for the management of these beds or bed days. Local inpatient psychiatric beds or bed days shall be managed and controlled by the LME, including the determination of which local or State hospital the individual should be admitted to pursuant to an involuntary commitment order. Funds shall not be allocated to LMEs but shall be held in a statewide reserve at the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to pay for services authorized by the LMEs and billed by the hospitals through the LMEs. LMEs shall remit claims for payment to the Division within 15 working days of receipt of a clean claim from the hospital and shall pay the hospital within 30 working days of receipt of payment from the Division. If the Department determines (i) that an LME is not effectively managing the beds or bed days for which it has responsibility, as evidenced by beds or bed days in the local hospital not being utilized while demand for services at the State psychiatric hospitals has not reduced, or (ii) the LME has failed to comply with the prompt payment provisions of this subsection, the Department may contract with another LME to manage the beds or bed days, or, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, may pay the hospital directly. The Department shall develop reporting requirements for LMEs regarding the utilization of the beds or bed days. Funds appropriated in this section for the purchase of local inpatient psychiatric beds or bed days shall be used to purchase additional beds or bed days not currently funded by or through LMEs and shall not be used to supplant other funds available or otherwise appropriated for the purchase of psychiatric inpatient services under contract with community hospitals, including beds or bed days being purchased through Hospital Utilization Pilot funds appropriated in S.L. 2007‑323. Not later than March 1, 2010, the Department shall report to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, and the Fiscal Research Division on a uniform system for beds or bed days purchased (i) with local funds, (ii) from existing State appropriations, (iii) under the Hospital Utilization Pilot, and (iv) purchased using funds appropriated under this subsection.
SECTION 10.12.(c) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall not take any action prior to January 1, 2010, that would result in the merger or consolidation of LMEs operating on January 1, 2008, or that would establish consortia or regional arrangements for the same purpose, except that LMEs that do not meet the catchment area requirements of G.S. 122C‑115 as of January 1, 2010, may initiate, continue, or implement the LMEs' merger or consolidation plans to overcome noncompliance with G.S. 122C‑115. This subsection does not prohibit LMEs from voluntarily merging if they are contiguous or consolidating administrative functions.
SECTION 10.12.(d) Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, for mobile crisis teams, the sum of five million seven hundred thousand dollars ($5,700,000) shall be distributed to LMEs to support 30 mobile crisis teams. The new mobile crisis units shall be distributed over the State according to need as determined by the Department.
SECTION 10.12.(e) The Department of Health and Human Services may create a midyear process by which it can reallocate State service dollars away from LMEs that do not appear to be on track to spend the LMEs' full appropriation and toward LMEs that appear able to spend the additional funds.
SECTION 10.12.(f)
(1) The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall continue implementation of the current Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) assessment tool pilot project if the pilot project has demonstrated that the SIS tool:
a. Is effective in identifying the appropriate array and intensity of services, including residential supports or placement, for individuals assessed.
b. Is valid for determining intensity of support related to resource allocation for CAP‑MR/DD, public and private ICF‑MR facilities, developmental disability group homes, and other State‑ or federally funded services.
c. Is used by an assessor that does not have a pecuniary interest in the determinations resulting from the assessment.
d. Determines the level of intensity and type of services needed from developmental disability service providers.
(2) The Department shall report on the progress of the pilot project by May 1, 2010. The Department shall submit the report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include the following:
a. The infrastructure that will be needed to assure that the administration of the assessment tool is independent from service delivery, the qualifications of assessors, training and management of data, and test‑retest accountability.
b. The cost to (i) purchase the tool, (ii) implement the tool, (iii) provide training, and (iv) provide for future expansion of the tool statewide.
MH/DD/SAS Healthcare Information System Project
SECTION 10.12A. Of the funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium, the Department may use a portion of these funds to continue to develop and implement a health care information system for State institutions operated by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. G.S. 143C‑6‑5 does not apply to this section.
REENACT 2007 SPECIAL PROVISION ON COLLABORATION ON SCHOOL‑BASED CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM INITIATIVE
SECTION 10.13. Section 10.9 of S.L. 2007‑323 is reenacted for the 2009‑2011 fiscal biennium.
LME FUNDS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES
SECTION 10.15.(a) Consistent with G.S. 122C‑2, the General Assembly strongly encourages Local Management Entities (LMEs) to use a portion of the funds appropriated for substance abuse treatment services to support prevention and education activities.
SECTION 10.15.(b) An LME may use up to one percent (1%) of funds allocated to it for substance abuse treatment services to provide nominal incentives for consumers who achieve specified treatment benchmarks, in accordance with the federal substance abuse and mental health services administration best practice model entitled Contingency Management.
SECTION 10.15.(c) In providing treatment and services for adult offenders and increasing the number of Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC) case managers, local management entities shall consult with TASC to improve offender access to substance abuse treatment and match evidence‑based interventions to individual needs at each stage of substance abuse treatment. Special emphasis should be placed on intermediate punishment offenders, community punishment offenders at risk for revocation, and Department of Correction (DOC) releasees who have completed substance abuse treatment while in custody.
In addition to the funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, to provide substance abuse services for adult offenders and to increase the number of TASC case managers, the Department shall allocate up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to TASC. These funds shall be allocated to TASC before funds are allocated to LMEs for mental health services, substance abuse services, and crisis services.
SECTION 10.15.(d) In providing drug treatment court services, LMEs shall consult with the local drug treatment court team and shall select a treatment provider that meets all provider qualification requirements and the drug treatment court's needs. A single treatment provider may be chosen for non‑Medicaid‑eligible participants only. A single provider may be chosen who can work with all of the non‑Medicaid‑eligible drug treatment court participants in a single group. During the 52‑week drug treatment court program, participants shall receive an array of treatment and aftercare services that meets the participant's level of need, including step‑down services that support continued recovery.
SECTION 10.16. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall implement a Total Quality Management Program in hospitals and other State facilities for the purpose of providing a high level of customer service by well‑trained staff throughout the organization. The focus of this management approach shall be on meeting customer needs by providing high‑quality services.
The Department shall involve staff at all levels of the organization by soliciting suggestions and input into decision making by managers. The Department shall create staff committees composed of a representative distribution of rank and file employees, to evaluate policy changes and identify training opportunities and other necessary improvements.
The Department shall submit a report on the status of the Total Quality Management Program, including any activities associated with its implementation within State facilities, to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, and the Fiscal Research Division not later than March 1, 2010.
SECTION 10.18. Funds appropriated in this act from the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant to the Department of Health and Human Services for North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) studies shall be allocated in accordance with Section 10.78(ff) of this act.
DHHS DATA COLLECTION REVIEW AND STREAMLINING
SECTION 10.18B. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall review all data collection instruments used by the Department and local management entities and shall streamline the amount of paperwork involved with patient data reporting by physicians and providers.
LME ALLOCATION AND FUND BALANCE REDUCTIONS
SECTION 10.19A.(a) The Department of Health and Human Services shall reduce the allocation of State funds to each LME by ten percent (10%) in each fiscal year. In no event shall an LME that has a fund balance or other resources available reduce or otherwise adversely affect services due to the reduction in State funds in each fiscal year. LMEs that have fund balances or other resources shall use those funds to supplant the reduction in State funds in each fiscal year. Monies from fund balances shall be used exclusively to provide services to LME clients, even if the dollar amount of the funds in the fund balance exceeds what is necessary to supplant the reduction in State funds. The use of fund balance monies to provide services is subject to the prior approval of the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. The Division shall track fund balance usage of each LME to ensure that the amount used from the fund balance in each fiscal year is at least equal to the reduction in State funds for that fiscal year and is used to provide services and for no other purpose.
SECTION 10.19A.(b) In order to ensure that funds allocated to LMEs for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services are used to the maximum extent possible to provide these services and for other authorized purposes, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall develop and implement a format for use by LMEs to account for the LME's fund balance in each fiscal year. The format shall include categories reflecting the source and original purpose of MH/DD/SA funds in an LME or county fund balance. The format shall be developed such that the fund balance information provided indicates the amount of funds in the fund balance at a given time, the source and amount of funds dispensed from the fund balance throughout the fiscal year and the purposes for which funds are dispensed, the amount, if any, of funds in the fund balance that were allocated but not used for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services, and other information the Department determines necessary to ensure that funds allocated for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services are used for authorized purposes. LMEs shall begin using the format developed by the Department not later than January 1, 2010.
SECTION 10.19A.(c) The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall require quarterly reporting from LMEs in the format required under subsection (a) of this section. The Department of Health and Human Services shall report the results of the quarterly reports to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division on or before May 1, 2010.
TRANSITION OF UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY‑BASED SERVICES TO LOCAL MANAGEMENT ENTITIES
SECTION 10.20. Consistent with the findings of the Mercer evaluation of Local Management Entities (LMEs), the Department of Health and Human Services shall collaborate with LMEs to enhance their administrative capabilities to assume utilization management responsibilities for the provision of community‑based mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services. The Department may, with approval of the Office of State Budget and Management, use funds available to implement this section.
MENTAL HEALTH TRUST FUND ALLOCATIONS
SECTION 10.21. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, funds allocated from the Trust Fund for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and Bridge Funding Needs (Fund) in the 2007‑2009 fiscal biennium shall not revert to the Fund nor otherwise be withheld but shall be allocated to those programs for which the funds were originally obligated.
WESTERN REGIONAL MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
SECTION 10.21A.(a) In coordination with Broughton Hospital, the Western School for the Deaf, the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, and elected representatives of the workers in each trade assigned to Western Regional Maintenance (WRM), the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a plan for western regional maintenance operations that increases efficiency, improves facility support, and is more responsive to WRM customers. The plan shall provide for the following:
(1) WRM programs shall be decentralized.
(2) Staff shall be assigned directly to each facility and shall report to designated facility managers.
(3) Supervisors shall be responsible for filling work orders and supervising team members. Eliminate supervisor positions that are not needed to effectively carry out all supervisory duties.
(4) Make available to each supported organization general maintenance workers to allow the completion of simple tasks without requiring work orders through a central location.
(5) The maintenance programs of each facility shall share equipment and expertise to the extent possible to achieve savings.
SECTION 10.21A.(b) The Department shall decentralize the maintenance activities at the Butner facilities.
SECTION 10.21A.(c) The Department of Health and Human Services shall report on the implementation of these changes not later than October 1, 2009, to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division.
CAP‑MR/DD STATE FUND SERVICE ELIGIBILITY
SECTION 10.21B. Except as otherwise provided in this section for former Thomas S. recipients, CAP‑MR/DD recipients are not eligible for any State‑funded services except for those services for which there is not a comparable service in the CAP‑MR/DD waiver. The excepted services are limited to guardianship, room and board, and time‑limited supplemental staffing to stabilize residential placement. Former Thomas S. recipients currently living in community placements may continue to receive State‑funded services.
COST‑SHARING FOR SERVICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAMS
SECTION 10.21C. The Department of Health and Human Services shall bill third‑party payers, including public and private insurers, for services provided by the First Family Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP). In order to ensure maximum realization of receipts from third‑party payers for services provided, the Department shall take whatever administrative and billing actions are necessary to coordinate FIPP with the Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA), taking into account the age range of children served by CDSA and FIPP. In addition, the Department shall pursue all available cost‑sharing for services, including grants, development of a sliding fee scale for individual payers, and accessing available child care subsidies for eligible families. Receipts from billings shall be used to offset State general funds.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY STUDY
SECTION 10.21D.(a) There is established the Joint Study Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Public Safety (Committee). The Committee shall consist of members and co‑chairs appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Committee and the terms of the members shall expire when the Committee submits a final report to the General Assembly. Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer.
SECTION 10.21D.(b) The Committee shall study ways to increase the availability of appropriate autism‑specific education and training to public safety personnel, first responder units, judges, district attorneys, magistrates, and related organizations. The Committee may also study any other issue it deems relevant to Autism Spectrum Disorder and public safety.
SECTION 10.21D.(c) The Committee shall meet upon the call of its co‑chairs. A quorum of the Committee is a majority of its members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
SECTION 10.21D.(d) The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and Article 5A of Chapter 120 of the General Statutes. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services, as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
SECTION 10.21D.(e) Members of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1, and G.S. 138‑5 and G.S. 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 10.21D.(f) The expenses of the Committee shall be considered expenses incurred for the joint operation of the General Assembly. Funds for the Committee shall be as appropriated to the General Assembly for this purpose.
SECTION 10.21D.(g) The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist the Committee in its work. The Director of Legislative Assistants of the House of Representatives and the Director of Legislative Assistants of the Senate shall assign clerical support staff to the Committee.
SECTION 10.21D.(h) The Committee may meet at various locations around the State in order to promote greater public participation in its deliberations.
SECTION 10.21D.(i) The Committee may submit an interim report on the results of its study, including any proposed legislation, to the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before May 1, 2010, by filing a copy of the report with the Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Library. The Committee shall submit a final report on the results of its study, including any proposed legislation, to the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before December 31, 2010, by filing a copy of the report with the Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Library. The Committee shall terminate on December 31, 2010, or upon the filing of is final report, whichever occurs first.
TRANSFER OF CENTRAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL PATIENTS FROM RALEIGH CAMPUS TO BUTNER CAMPUs
SECTION 10.21E. Upon final resolution in favor of the Department of Health and Human Services in the matter of the temporary restraining order issued in Disability Rights North Carolina, et al. v. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Wake County No. 08 CVS 16725), and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall plan and execute the orderly transfer of patients from the Raleigh Campus of Central Regional Hospital to the Butner Campus of Central Regional Hospital. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this transfer of patients be accomplished in a safe and timely manner. Upon completion of the transfer, the Secretary shall actively pursue full accreditation with the Joint Commission (formerly the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or "JCAHO") for Central Regional Hospital. The Department may temporarily continue to operate at the Raleigh Campus of Central Regional Hospital the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for Children, minimum security forensic and research units, and the Wake‑Dix Overflow Unit.
CASTLE SERVICES THIRD‑PARTY BILLING
SECTION 10.21F. The Center for Acquisition for Spoken Languages through Listening Enrichment (CASTLE) shall begin billing third‑party payers for its services. The receipts from these billings shall be used to offset program requirements supported by General Funds. CASTLE shall explore sources for potential payers, including Child Development Services Agencies, NC Health Choice, Medicaid, and other grant funds. CASTLE shall report on the amount and source of receipts to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division by December 1, 2009.
SECTION 10.22. Effective the fourteenth calendar day after the date this act becomes law, G.S. 130A‑93.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A‑93.1. Fees for vital records copies or search; automation fund.
(a) The State Registrar shall collect, process, and utilize fees for services as follows:
(1) A fee not to exceed fifteen
dollars ($15.00) twenty‑four dollars ($24.00) shall be charged
for issuing any a first copy of a vital record or for conducting
a routine search of the files for the record when no copy is made. A fee of
fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be charged for each additional certificate copy
requested from the same search. When certificates are issued or searches
conducted for statewide issuance by local agencies using databases
maintained by the State Registrar, the local agency shall charge this fee these
fees and shall forward five dollars ($5.00) of this fee retain
ten dollars ($10.00) of these fees to cover local administrative costs and
forward the remaining fees to the State Registrar for the purposes
established in subsection (b) of this section.
(2) A fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for in‑State requests and not to exceed twenty dollars ($20.00) for out‑of‑state requests shall be charged in addition to the fee charged under subdivision (1) of this subsection and to all shipping and commercial charges when expedited service is specifically requested.
(2a) The fee for a copy of a computer or microform database shall not exceed the cost to the agency of making and providing the copy.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, fees collected under this subsection shall be used by the Department for public health purposes.
(b) The Vital Records Automation Account is established as a nonreverting account within the Department. Five dollars ($5.00) of each fee collected pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) shall be credited to this Account. The Department shall use the revenue in the Account to fully automate and maintain the vital records system. When funds sufficient to fully automate and maintain the system have accumulated in the Account, fees shall no longer be credited to the Account but shall be used as specified in subdivision (a)(3) of this section."
CHANGES TO COMMUNITY‑FOCUSED ELIMINATING HEALTH DISPARITIES INITIATIVE
SECTION 10.23.(a) Funds appropriated in this act from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Community‑Focused Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (CFEHDI) shall be used to provide grants‑in‑aid to local public health departments, American Indian tribes, and faith‑based and community‑based organizations to close the gap in the health status of African‑Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and American Indians as compared to the health status of white persons. These grants shall focus on the use of preventive measures to support healthy lifestyles. The areas of focus on health status shall be infant mortality, HIV‑AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, cancer, diabetes, and homicides and motor vehicle deaths.
SECTION 10.23.(b) Funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, for the CFEHDI shall be awarded as a grant‑in‑aid to honor the memory of the following recently deceased members of the General Assembly: Bernard Allen, John Hall, Robert Holloman, Howard Hunter, Jeanne Lucas, Vernon Malone, and William Martin. These funds shall be used for concerted efforts to address large gaps in health status among North Carolinians who are African‑American, as well as disparities among other minority populations in North Carolina.
SECTION 10.23.(c) The Department of Health and Human Services shall report on the following with respect to funds appropriated to the CFEHDI for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year. The report shall address the following:
(1) Which community programs and local health departments received CFEHDI grants.
(2) The amount of funding each program or local health department received.
(3) Which of the minority populations were served by the programs or local health departments.
(4) Which counties were served by the programs or local health departments.
(5) What activities were planned and implemented by the programs or local health departments to fulfill the community focus of the CFEHDI program.
(6) How the activities implemented by the programs or local health departments fulfilled the goal of reducing health disparities among minority populations.
The report shall also include specific activities undertaken pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to address large gaps in health status among North Carolinians who are African‑American and other minority populations in this State. The Department shall submit the report not later than March 15, 2010, to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 10.24.(a) All funds appropriated for the school nurse initiative shall be used to supplement and not supplant other State, local, or federal funds appropriated or allocated for this purpose. Communities shall maintain their current level of effort and funding for school nurses. These funds shall not be used for funding nurses for State agencies. All funds shall be used for direct services.
SECTION 10.24.(b) All school nurses funded with State funds shall participate, as needed, in child and family teams.
SECTION 10.24.(c) Of the funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in each fiscal year shall be used to hire 20 additional school health nurses, bringing the total number of school nurses supported by DHHS to 232. The distribution of additional school nurses shall be made according to the criteria established by the Department in 2006.
SECTION 10.25.(a) For the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years, the Department may, within existing Aids Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) resources, adjust the financial eligibility criterion of the ADAP up to an amount not exceeding three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level in order to serve as many eligible North Carolinians living with HIV disease as possible within existing resources plus any new federal resources. If a waiting list develops as a result of the eligibility criterion being raised, the Department shall give first priority to those individuals on the waiting list with income at or below one hundred twenty‑five percent (125%) of the federal poverty level, and second priority to those individuals with income above one hundred twenty‑five percent (125%) and at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of federal poverty guidelines.
SECTION 10.25.(b) The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shall work with the Department of Correction (DOC) to use DOC funds to purchase pharmaceuticals for the treatment of DOC inmates with HIV/AIDS in a manner that allows these funds to be accounted for as State matching funds in DHHS' drawdown of federal Ryan White funds.
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN
SECTION 10.26.(a) The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shall develop a five‑year Public Health Improvement Plan (Plan) by March 31, 2010. In developing the Plan the Secretary shall:
(1) Adopt a list of services and activities performed by local health departments that qualify as core public health functions of statewide significance.
(2) Adopt a list of performance measures with the intent of improving health status indicators applicable to core public health functions of statewide significance that local health departments (LHDs) must provide.
(3) Identify a set of health status indicators to be given priority by LHDs.
Under the Plan, all priorities and health status indicators must incorporate as an essential activity the disparity of diseases amongst populations and locales.
SECTION 10.26.(b) In order for measurable benefits to be realized through the implementation of the Plan, the Plan shall include the adoption of levels of performance necessary to promote:
(1) Uniformity across local health departments,
(2) Best evidence‑based services,
(3) National standards of performance,
(4) Innovations in public health practice, and
(5) Reduction of geographic and racial health disparities.
LHDs shall have the flexibility and opportunity to use the resources available to achieve the required performance measures in a manner that best suits the LHD.
SECTION 10.26.(c) The Plan will address the need to provide county health departments with financial incentives to encourage and increase local investment in public health functions. County governments shall not supplant existing local funding with State incentive resources. The Secretary may revise the list of activities and performance measures as appropriate, but before doing so, the Secretary shall provide a written explanation of the rationale for the addition, deletion, or revision.
SECTION 10.26.(d) In developing the Plan the Secretary shall establish and chair the Public Health Improvement Plan Task Force (Task Force), the members and expertise of which shall include:
(1) Local health departments,
(2) Department staff,
(3) Individuals and entities with expertise in the development of performance measures, accountability, and systems management,
(4) Experts in development of evidence‑based medical guidelines or public health practice guidelines, and
(5) Individuals and entities that will be affected by the performance measures.
SECTION 10.26.(e) The implementation schedule for the Plan shall be as follows:
(1) July 1, 2009, establish the Task Force to develop the Plan,
(2) March 31, 2010, submit the Plan to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly,
(3) July 1, 2010, implement the Plan, and
(4) November 15, 2011, and annually thereafter, report on Plan implementation.
SECTION 10.26.(f) The Department will identify the programmatic activities and funding in the Division of Public Health associated with the core functions and activities in the Plan. Funds associated with these activities shall be subject to a flexible spending formula adopted by the Department, as follows:
(1) Beginning in SFY 2010‑2011, the flexible spending formula will begin to replace the current spending with a more effective method of funding public health activities at the local level and achieving the results expected.
(2) The Task Force shall identify a reliable and consistent source of State revenue to fund the flexible spending formula.
(3) If sufficient additional revenue is available to implement the Plan, a separate set‑aside of available funds would be created. This set‑aside would be available to contiguous LHDs that seek to address a specific women's health, child health, or adult health disease or chronic condition, and in doing so, choose to merge into a single Local Health District, thus saving administrative dollars to be focused on public health issues.
SECTION 10.26.(g) Funds appropriated to the Department for flexible spending shall be distributed to county health departments as follows:
(1) Each of the county health departments will receive a base amount to be determined by the DHHS.
(2) The balance of funds in the Flexible Spending Account is to be distributed to the counties on the basis of a formula that takes into consideration the following elements:
a. Population,
b. Per capita income,
c. Rates of:
1. Infant mortality,
2. Teenage pregnancy,
3. Tobacco use,
4. Cancer,
5. Heart disease,
6. Diabetes, and
7. Stroke.
d. Percent of minorities in the county,
e. Body Mass Index (BMI) of public school students, and
f. Other factors as the Secretary may find necessary to achieve the goals of the Plan.
(3) The use of the funds by the LHD would reflect the core public health functions. It will be incumbent upon the LHD to use the funds in a manner that assures its achievement of the performance measures adopted by the Secretary.
SECTION 10.26.(h) To ensure compliance with Department directives, the Task Force shall consider requiring each county health department to submit to the Secretary such data as the Secretary determines is necessary to allow the Secretary to assess whether the county health department has used the funds in a manner consistent with achieving the performance measures associated with this Plan.
SECTION 10.26.(i) Beginning November 15, 2011, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on:
(1) The distribution of funds to LHDs,
(2) The use of these funds by LHDs,
(3) The specific effect the funding from this Plan has had on:
a. LHDs' performance,
b. Health status indicators, and
c. Health disparities.
The Secretary's initial report will focus on implementation. Subsequent reports will evaluate trends in performance and expenditures.
REPLACEMENT OF RECEIPTS FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICE AGENCIES
SECTION 10.26A. Receipts earned by the Child Development Service Agencies (CDSAs) from any public or private third‑party payer shall be budgeted on a recurring basis to replace reductions in State appropriations to CDSAs.
SECTION 10.27.(a) The Department of Health and Human Services, in cooperation with the State Chief Information Officer and the North Carolina Office of Economic Recovery and Investment, shall coordinate health information technology (HIT) policies and programs within the State of North Carolina. The Department's goal in coordinating State HIT policy and programs shall be to avoid duplication of efforts and to ensure that each State agency, public entity, and private entity that undertakes health information technology activities associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) does so within the area of its greatest expertise and technical capability and in a manner that supports coordinated State and national goals, which shall include at least all of the following:
(1) Ensuring that patient health information is secure and protected, in accordance with applicable law.
(2) Improving health care quality, reducing medical errors, reducing health disparities, and advancing the delivery of patient‑centered medical care.
(3) Providing appropriate information to guide medical decisions at the time and place of care.
(4) Ensuring meaningful public input into HIT infrastructure development.
(5) Improving the coordination of information among hospitals, laboratories, physician offices, and other entities through an effective infrastructure for the secure and authorized exchange of health care information.
(6) Improving public health services and facilitating early identification and rapid response to public health threats and emergencies, including bioterrorist events and infectious disease outbreaks.
(7) Facilitating health and clinical research.
(8) Promoting early detection, prevention, and management of chronic diseases.
SECTION 10.27.(b) The Department of Health and Human Services shall establish and direct a HIT management structure that is efficient and transparent and that is compatible with the Office of the National Health Coordinator for Information Technology (National Coordinator) governance mechanism. The HIT management structure shall be responsible for all of the following:
(1) Developing a State plan for implementing and ensuring compliance with national HIT standards and for the most efficient, effective, and widespread adoption of HIT.
(2) Ensuring that (i) specific populations are effectively integrated into the State plan, including aging populations, populations requiring mental health services, and populations utilizing the public health system; and (ii) unserved and underserved populations receive priority consideration for HIT support.
(3) Identifying all HIT stakeholders and soliciting feedback and participation from each stakeholder in the development of the State plan.
(4) Ensuring that existing HIT capabilities are considered and incorporated into the State plan.
(5) Identifying and eliminating conflicting HIT efforts where necessary.
(6) Identifying available resources for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of health information technology, including, but not limited to, the ARRA, with emphasis on identifying resources and available opportunities for North Carolina institutions of higher education.
(7) Ensuring that the appropriate State entities receive all the necessary information and support to successfully compete for funding included in the ARRA.
(8) Ensuring that potential State plan participants are aware of HIT policies and programs and the opportunity for improved health information technology.
(9) Monitoring HIT efforts and initiatives in other States and replicating successful efforts and initiatives in North Carolina.
(10) Monitoring the development of the National Coordin