A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to modify the funding formula for multiCAMPUS community colleges and to appropriate funds for that purpose.
Whereas, the skilled and competent workers produced by the North Carolina System of Community Colleges are essential to economic development in this State; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Community Colleges System provides academic and vocational instruction at the high school and college level that these workers require; and
Whereas, community college enrollment has increased more than twenty‑five percent over the last five years; and
Whereas, more than 760,000 North Carolinians are currently enrolled in community colleges; and
Whereas, the unemployment rate in North Carolina remains above the national average; and 
Whereas, many of these unemployed workers require intensive instructional and support services to qualify for new jobs; and 
Whereas, while community college enrollment has increased dramatically over the past five years, funding per student has decreased; and
Whereas, multicampus colleges result in significant cost savings to the State by eliminating duplicative administrative costs; and
Whereas, the current level of State funding for multicampus colleges is grossly inadequate to provide essential student services at these colleges. Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of six million, eight hundred twenty‑one thousand two hundred one dollars ($6,821,201) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year in recurring funds to implement the multicampus funding formula adopted by the State Board of Community Colleges.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly finds that additional data is needed to determine the adequacy of multicampus funds; therefore, multicampus colleges shall report annually, beginning September 1, 2005, to the Community Colleges System Office on all expenditures by line item of funds used to support their multicampuses.  The Community Colleges System Office shall report on these expenditures to the Education Appropriation Subcommittees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Office of State Budget and Management, and the Fiscal Research Division by October 1 of each year.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.