GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1000

Short Title:  Deaf Sch. Changes/Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Sharpe; Adams, Allred, Baker, Cocklereece, Culp, Decker, Hiatt, and Pulley.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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May 1, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REAFFIRM THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THE CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, TO REDRAW THE REGIONAL RESIDENTIAL ATTENDANCE ZONE SERVED BY THE CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, TO ESTABLISH A HIGH SCHOOL AT THE CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, TO REQUIRE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION STUDY THE ISSUE OF THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF AND OF THE DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The General Assembly finds that it is essential to maintain the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf.  It is the intent of the General Assembly to continue funding for the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf, as this intent has been effected in the Continuation Budget Operations Appropriations Act of 1995.  
The General Assembly also finds that it is in the best interest of the State and all its citizens, including those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, to expand the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf to include a full high school component.
The General Assembly also finds that the western boundary of the residential attendance zone served by the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf must be redrawn to result in maximum utilization of the three facilities and the fairest distribution of the student population among these schools.
The General Assembly also finds that a legislative study should be undertaken to study the future mission of the North Carolina Schools for the Deaf and the future mission of the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Department of Human Resources.
Sec. 2. The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Department of Human Resources, shall redraw the western boundary of the regional residential attendance zone served by the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf in order to achieve the maximum utilization of the three facilities and the fairest distribution of the student population among them.  The western boundary of the redrawn regional attendance zone of the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf shall be as follows:
WESTERN BOUNDARY OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF - counties east of Surry, Yadkin, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties' lines.
The eastern boundary of the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf shall remain as currently drawn.  
The redrawn regional attendance zone for the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf shall be in effect for the 1996-97 academic year.
Sec. 3.  (a) G.S. 115C-123 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-123.  Establishment; operations.
There are established, and there shall be maintained, the following schools for the deaf: the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf at Wilson (K-12); the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf at Greensboro (K-12); and the North Carolina School for the Deaf at Morganton (K-12).  The Department of Human Resources shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the schools.
The Board of Education of the North Carolina Schools for the Deaf shall advise the Department and shall adopt rules and regulations concerning the schools as provided in G.S. 115C-124 and 143B-173."
(b) The high school at the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf shall be constructed by, and operational for, the 1996-97 academic year.
Sec. 4.  The Legislative Research Commission shall study the issue of the future missions of the three North Carolina Schools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and of the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Department of Human Resources.  The Commission may make an interim report on the results of its study, together with any legislative recommendations, to the 1995 General Assembly, Regular Session 1996, and shall make a final report, together with any legislative recommendations, to the 1997 General Assembly.
Sec. 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Department of Human Resources, the sum of two million nine hundred sixty thousand three hundred fifty-seven dollars ($2,960,357) for the 1995-96 fiscal year for capital and related nonrecurring costs incurred in constructing the high school facility established pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 3 of this act, and the sum of six hundred six thousand six hundred forty-nine dollars ($606,649) for the 1996-97 fiscal year to operate this high school.
Sec. 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.