GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1634*

Short Title:  Community College Expansion Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Reynolds, Grady, Preston, Russell, Tolson (Cosponsors); Adams, Alexander, Allen, Arnold, Baker, Beall, Berry, Bonner, Bowie, Braswell, Cansler, Carpenter, Clary, Cole, Crawford, Culpepper, Dedmon, Earle, Easterling, Fox, Gamble, Gardner, Goodwin, Hightower, Howard, H. Hunter, R. Hunter, Hurley, Jarrell, Jeffus, Justus, McAllister, McCrary, Moore, Mosley, Neely, Nye, Oldham, Owens, Ramsey, Rayfield, Rogers, Saunders, Sexton, Sherrill, Shubert, Smith, Sutton, Thompson, Warner, Warwick, Wood, and Yongue.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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May 28, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE EXPANSION BUDGET FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The General Assembly finds that the North Carolina Community  College System, developed in the 1960s, has been a wise and beneficial investment of the tax dollars of the citizens of this State and has significantly contributed to the economic development of this State.  Furthermore, the General Assembly finds that the Community College System has enhanced the capabilities of the State to provide for better secondary and higher education through coordination with the public school systems and the colleges and universities of this State.  In addition, it has offered cultural opportunities and a quality of life that benefits the State and its citizens and makes the State more attractive to expanding or locating industries.
The General Assembly recognizes the need for education, training, and technology as our workforce prepares to compete in a global economy.  The General Assembly also, however, recognizes its commitment to public education and higher education and the need to fund necessary programs which benefit the State and its citizens.  The General Assembly recognizes the finite fiscal resources of the State but also finds the funding provided for herein is an appropriate use of these resources and is essential  to the continued integrity of the Community College System and should be provided in the expansion budget for the fiscal years referenced; therefore, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Community Colleges  the sum of one hundred ninety-five million forty-two thousand seven hundred ninety-six dollars ($195,042,796) for the 1998-99 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used as follows:
(1)	$1,960,042 for enrollment growth.  These funds will be used to meet current  projections for enrollment growth for 1998-99, which are higher than was projected in last year's budget process.
(2)	$10,129,656 for Occupational Continuing Education.  These funds will be used for the planning, design, and delivery of Occupational Continuing Education courses in order to help individuals and businesses acquire new knowledge and skills and to move toward equivalent funding with curriculum programs.
(3)	$20,634,500 for technology.  These funds will be used to improve computer technology capabilities associated with improving instructional delivery, responding to reporting requirements, developing student information systems, using state-of-the-art software and infrastructure, and improving instructional staff support in:
a.	Equipment - hardware and infrastructure: (see subdivision (8) of this section)
b.	Instructional support - additional "MIS”positions for colleges: $8,436,000
c.	Other costs - software procurement and maintenance: $11,043,000
d.	N.C. Virtual Library (NC LIVE) - additional operating costs: $500,000
e.	Department of Community College Office Staff for Technical Assistance to Colleges: $655,500.
(4)	$26,412,094 for improvement and enhancement of instruction and support capabilities.  These funds will be used to provide funds for colleges to retain and recruit qualified faculty and the personnel who support them, by providing compensation increases.  These funds will be used to address compensation equity issues and to reduce the dependency on part-time faculty and support staff.
(5)	$32,000,000 for equipment, renovations, and repairs.  These funds will be used to enable colleges to update and add equipment needed to improve instructional quality, initiate new programs, and enhance instructional delivery through equipment replacement and the renovation of facilities:
a.	Equipment:  $15,500,000
b.	Repairs and Renovations: $16,500,000.
(6)	$2,637,400 for college enhancements.  These funds will be used for needs that are not systemwide in nature or purpose such as multicampus funding and the Center for Applied Textile Technology.
(7)	$1,269,122 for system support.  These funds will be used to procure additional funding on a recurring basis to enable the system office to provide requested services to colleges and to operate the Department of Community Colleges.
(8)	$100,000,000 for equipment.  These nonrecurring funds will be used to purchase needed equipment for classrooms, shops, laboratories, and high-cost programs, and to enhance instructional support and administrative activities.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.