§ 105‑113.128. Use of tax proceeds.
The Secretary shall distribute the taxes collected under this Article, less the allowance to the Department of Revenue and reimbursement to the Lottery Commission for administrative expenses, in accordance with this section. The Secretary may retain the cost of administering this Article, not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) a year, as reimbursement to the Department. The Lottery Commission shall, no later than 20 days after the end of the month, notify the Department of its unreimbursed expenses from administering the provisions of Article 9 of Chapter 18C of the General Statutes from the previous month. The Department shall reimburse the Lottery Commission from the tax revenues collected under this Article no later than the end of the month in which the Department was notified. The remainder of the net proceeds of the tax collected under this Article are to be credited in the following priority:
(1) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) annually to the Department of Health and Human Services for gambling addiction education and treatment programs.
(2) One million dollars ($1,000,000) annually to North Carolina Amateur Sports to expand opportunities for persons up to age 18 to engage in youth sports, which shall be distributed through a grant program. In making individual grants, North Carolina Amateur Sports shall comply with the following:
a. Awards shall be used to provide for the purchase of youth sports equipment, or to provide for public facility upgrades or improvements which would benefit youth sports.
b. Awards may be given only to applicants who are either local governments or nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
c. Awards may be given only to applicants who demonstrate that a primary purpose for the funding is to facilitate opportunities for persons up to age 18 to engage in youth sports.
d. The total dollar amount awarded each year to all applicants in any one county may not exceed one percent (1%) of the total funding available on July 1 of that year.
(3) Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) annually shall be appropriated to each of the institutions listed in this subdivision to support collegiate athletic departments. If there are not sufficient funds for each of these institutions to receive an appropriation of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), the amount of each appropriation shall be reduced by the same proportion so that all institutions receive an appropriation of the same amount. The institutions are listed as follows:
a. Appalachian State University.
b. East Carolina University.
c. Elizabeth City State University.
d. Fayetteville State University.
e. North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
f. North Carolina Central University.
g. University of North Carolina at Asheville.
h. University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
i. University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
j. University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
k. University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
l. Western Carolina University.
m. Winston‑Salem State University.
(4) One million dollars ($1,000,000) annually to the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission for grants, in the discretion of the Commission, as follows:
a. Grants not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per sporting team or group per county per year requesting grant assistance to travel to in‑State or out‑of‑state sporting events.
b. Incentive grants not to exceed twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) to attract State, regional, area, and national sporting events, tournaments, and programs for nonprofessional sporting participants in programs administered by city, county, and local school administrative units, or appropriate nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as determined by the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission.
(5) Of the remaining proceeds, as follows:
a. Twenty percent (20%) annually to be distributed equally among the institutions listed in this sub‑subdivision to support collegiate athletic departments, not to supplant general funding to that institution. The institutions are listed as follows:
1. Appalachian State University.
2. East Carolina University.
3. Elizabeth City State University.
4. Fayetteville State University.
5. North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
6. North Carolina Central University.
7. University of North Carolina at Asheville.
8. University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
9. University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
10. University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
11. University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
12. Western Carolina University.
13. Winston‑Salem State University.
b. Thirty percent (30%) annually to the North Carolina Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund established under G.S. 143B‑437.112.
c. Fifty percent (50%) annually to the General Fund. (2023‑42, ss. 5, 5.1.)