GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1280

Short Title:  Parent Volunteer Grant Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Nye; and H. Hunter.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 6, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM USING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PARENTS TO BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THEIR CHILDREN AGES THREE AND FOUR TO DEVELOP READINESS SKILLS AND INSTILL IN THEM A POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM FOR SUCCESS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  A new Part is added to Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes to read:
"Part 30.  Community Volunteer Grant Program for Parent Involvement.
"§ 143B-216.40.  Purpose.
It is the intent of the General Assembly to encourage and support parents and their children ages 3 and 4 through community volunteer groups of governmental and nongovernmental agencies and persons reflective of the racial and socioeconomic diversity in local communities in order to develop initiatives designed:  (i)	to empower parents to make a difference in the lives of their young children, (ii) to strengthen the parent/child bond with increased understanding of the growth and development process of their young children, (iii) to instill a positive self-esteem and self-confidence in each child, (iv) to enhance the ability of families to function as nurturing and effective family units, (v) to encourage community volunteer organizations to participate with disadvantaged families in their community to break the cycle of poverty by breaking the cycle of illiteracy, and (vi) to encourage local governments to support actively community volunteer groups through the administration and support of the grant program.
"§ 143B-216.41.  Community Volunteer Grant Program for Parent Involvement:  creation; administration; community volunteer parent involvement grants.
(a)	There is created in the Department of Human Resources, Division of Child Development, a Community Volunteer Grant Program to encourage community volunteer organizations to become active participants for parent involvement programs designed to enhance the lives of families and children.  The program shall be administered by the Secretary of Human Resources, Division of Child Development.
(b)	 Beginning with the 1993-94 fiscal year, the program shall provide community volunteer parent involvement grants for community volunteers under local county governments.  These grants shall be used to enable community volunteers to work with families to provide support to families to enhance the families' ability to assist their children ages 3 and 4 in the development of thinking skills and readiness to learn skills to attain academic and social success."
Sec. 2.  (a)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year to implement this act.
(b)	Of these funds:
(1)	The sum of $50,000 shall be used each fiscal year of the biennium by the Department of Human Resources, Office of the Secretary, for materials, training, and consultant services; and
(2)	The sum of $250,000 shall be used for grants of up to $10,000 for community volunteer organizations to help families prepare their young children ages 3 and 4 to become successful in school.
(c)	The Department shall adopt rules to administer these grants, including guidelines.  These guidelines shall include specifications concerning materials that may be used.  These specifications shall include:  (i) a requirement that materials used be based on readiness skills that are developmentally sequenced for thinking creatively, making decisions, and solving problems; and (ii) a requirement that these materials be designed for volunteer and parent use.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.