GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 256*

Short Title:  Community-Based Partnership/Grant Program.     	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Braswell, Cunningham, Rogers, Wright (Co-sponsors); Luebke and Cummings.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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February 23, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIP AND GRANT PROGRAM AND TO ESTABLISH A GRANTS INFORMATION NETWORK.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a) Article 9 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 29.  Community-Based Partnership and Grant Program.
"§ 143B-426.41.  Establishment of program; purpose.
(a)	There is created in the Department of Administration the Community-Based Partnership and Grant Program.  The purpose of the program is to award grants to Community-Based Partnerships and Community-Based Organizations that provide education, training, or services designed to enrich and positively influence the lives of at-risk children and their families.  The purpose is, further, to make grants accessible to those Community-Based Organizations whose primary focus is upon meeting the needs of children, youth, and families in neighborhoods described in G.S. 143B-426.43(e).
"§ 143B-426.42.  Definitions.
As used in this Part, except where the context clearly requires otherwise:
(1)	'Community-Based Partnership' or 'Partnership' means any Community-Based Partnership organized subject to G.S. 143B-426.43.
(2)	'Community-Based Organization' means a nonprofit community-based organization that could be, but is not required to be, a 501(c)(3) entity and meets the grant eligibility criteria established by a Community-Based Partnership.
"§ 143B-426.43.  Community-Based Partnerships – creation; membership; duties.
(a)	A college or university within The University of North Carolina System may apply for a grant to establish a regional Community-Based Partnership and serve as the lead institution and fiscal agent for the Partnership.  A community college within the North Carolina Community College System may apply for a grant and serve as the lead institution and fiscal agent if no college or university is willing or able to serve in that capacity.  In the event that two or more institutions located within the same region apply for a grant, greater consideration shall be given to the institution that is more identified, involved, and connected with at-risk populations and communities.
(b)	Partnerships shall consist of representatives from the regional colleges, universities, community colleges, community-based organizations, business community, Departments of Health, Social Services, and Boards of Education, and residents from at-risk communities.  Partnerships may be extended to include other local organizations that are positively identified, involved, and connected with at-risk populations and communities.
(c)	Partnerships shall provide support and technical assistance to community-based organizations.  Partnerships shall:
(1)	Develop education and training programs for the staff and volunteers of community-based organizations;
(2)	Assist community-based organizations in their program and operational design;
(3)	Assist community-based organizations in preparing grant proposals and applications; and
(4)	Assist community-based organizations in implementing and maintaining appropriate record-keeping systems.
(d)	Partnerships shall also develop an awareness as to the needs of their regions, and shall develop grant eligibility criteria for awards to community-based organizations that are addressing the needs of the region.
(e)	The grant application process shall be as succinct and uncomplicated as is reasonably possible so as not to discourage applicants and overburden them with paperwork.
(f)	Partnerships shall be the awarding authority for grants to community-based organizations as defined in this Part.  In awarding grants, emphasis should be placed on communities that have high cumulative levels of arrests for violent felonies, drug felonies, burglary, armed robbery, breaking and entering, and juvenile delinquency adjudications.  Other factors to be considered include population density and the rate of poverty, unemployment, adolescent pregnancy, and school dropouts.
(g)	Partnerships shall evaluate the success of all initiatives for which it awards grant funds.  The evaluation shall be based on qualitative outcome criteria that determine whether a program has had significant impact in achieving its goals and objectives.
(h)	Partnerships are encouraged to seek support from foundations and other sources to supplement resources appropriated under this act so as to expand upon the extent to which the purposes of this act might be fulfilled.
(i)	Partnerships shall submit annual reports to the Department of Administration on or before November 30 of each year a grant is in effect. The report shall provide a detailed fiscal analysis of how the funds were used and the success of the initiatives funded.
"§ 143B-426.44.  Community-Based Organizations – grant awards.
Partnerships may award grants to community-based organizations as defined in this Part.  The grants may be used for materials, supplies, transportation, meals, educational and enrichment activities, and stipends for college or high school students who assist in providing services to community-based organizations.  No more than one-third of the grant funds shall be used for salaries, operational expenses, or stipends.
"§ 143B-426.45.  Grants review and selection; administration and reports.
(a)	The Department of Administration shall develop and disseminate a request for applications and establish procedures to be followed in developing and submitting applications to establish regional Community-Based Partnerships, provided that, there shall be no more than 15 grants.  The Department shall administer the grant program and shall develop appropriate administrative procedures.
(b)	The Department shall submit a report to the General Assembly by January 31 of each year that a grant is in effect.  The report shall include a detailed fiscal analysis and qualitative analysis of each Partnership funded."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Administration the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for fiscal year 1995-96 to provide grants to Community-Based Partnerships.
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Administration the sum of one million one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($1,125,000) for fiscal year 1995-96 to provide funds for Community-Based Partnership grant awards to Community-Based Organizations.
Sec. 4.  (a)	The Department of Administration shall establish and maintain a centralized grants information system for all State, federal, or other grants administered through State departments or agencies.  Each department or agency shall provide to the Department of Administration eligibility criteria and application procedures for each grant under its administration.  The name of contact persons shall be provided also.  The Department of Administration shall transmit the compiled information to the State Library for transmittal to all public libraries in the State.  The grants information system shall be completed by December 31, 1995, and shall be updated quarterly thereafter.
(b)	The State Library shall explore the feasibility of utilizing Internet or the State Information Highway to disseminate information pertaining to grants.  The State Library shall implement such means of dissemination if it can be done within the existing resources of the State Library or the Executive Branch, otherwise the State Library shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly not later than February 1, 1996.
Sec. 5.  Sections 2 and 3 of this act become effective July 1, 1995.  The remainder of this act is effective upon ratification.