A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to APPROPRIATE funds for capital improvements at pitt community college and beaufort County community college.
Whereas, the William E. Fulford Building houses the health sciences technical career programs on the campus of Pitt Community College; and
Whereas, Pitt Community College offers many health sciences programs, including the Associate Degree of Nursing, Respiratory Care Technology, Radiological Technology, Nuclear Medicine, Cardiovascular and Medical Diagnostic Sonography, Imaging Technology, Phlebotomy, and Occupational Therapy Assistant; and
Whereas, various Pitt County employers, including Pitt County Memorial Hospital, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, Physicians East, and other local and regional health care providers, have expressed an interest in new and expanded employment needs for health care professionals; and
Whereas, student enrollment has risen substantially in the health sciences curriculum program at Pitt Community College, rising from 1,100 students in 2001 to over 1,600 in 2004; and
Whereas, an addition to the Fulford Building would help Pitt Community College meet the demand of its growing health sciences technical career programs; and
Whereas, Beaufort County Community College serves a rural, and historically economically disadvantaged, service area consisting of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties; and
Whereas, the Wallace‑Eakes Building on the campus of Beaufort County Community College houses services and operations essential to the instruction of and support for students; and
Whereas, among those essential services and operations are the Learning Resource Center, Student Support Services, Audio Visual/Electronic Distance Learning, and Educational Media/Graphics Services, and Planning and Instructional Effectiveness; and
Whereas, professional assessment has determined significant life‑safety and construction issues exist with the lower level of the Wallace‑Eakes Building; and 
Whereas, complete renovation of the lower level of the Wallace‑Eakes Building will ensure continuation of essential services and operations and a safe and energy efficient environment; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office the sum of three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to be allocated to Pitt Community College for partial funding for the expansion of the William E. Fulford Health Sciences Building, which will be used to help meet the demands of increased student enrollment in the college's health sciences programs.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to be allocated to Beaufort County Community College for capital improvements to the Wallace‑Eakes Building.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.