A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to edgecombe community college for the construction of a community health education center.
Whereas, Edgecombe Community College provides training for area health care professionals and students; and
Whereas, Edgecombe Community College needs additional space to provide enhanced training for health care professionals and students from ECU Medical Center and other nearby medical training schools; and
Whereas, the construction and operation of a state‑of‑the‑art community health education center would contribute substantially to the revitalization of Rocky Mount and surrounding areas through economic development and increased temporary and full‑time employment; and
Whereas, the construction and operation of a community health education center would serve as a model for community colleges in other areas of the State; and
Whereas, when operational, the center would provide health information, screenings, and limited health care for at‑risk county residents;  Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Funds appropriated in subsection (b) of this section shall be for the construction of a community health education center ("center") on the Rocky Mount campus of Edgecombe Community College.  The purpose of the center is to provide an accessible, central location for at‑risk county residents to receive health information, screenings, and limited health treatment. The center shall serve as a model that could be replicated, if successful, in other areas of the State.  The center shall provide a state‑of‑the‑art simulated hospital environment for the simulation of patient‑centered care, including emergency medical services; health information technology; emergency department care; nursing, medical, surgical, pediatric, obstetrical, and psychiatric care; and intensive cardiac care.  The center's hospital will provide clinical experiences for area professionals as well as allied health students in the areas of nursing, practical nursing, surgical technology, respiratory care, radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging technology, health information technology, medical assistant and nursing assistant care.  Edgecombe Community College shall be the lead agency in this effort and shall work closely with the Edgecombe Community College Consortium, the UNC Health System, the City of Rocky Mount, and Area L Area Health Education Centers (AHECs).
SECTION 1.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to Edgecombe Community College the sum of six million four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($6,450,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to match local funds raised for the construction of a community health education center on the Rocky Mount campus of Edgecombe Community College.  Funds appropriated in this section shall be matched on a dollar for dollar basis by Edgecombe Community College and other entities that will be involved in and benefit from the community health education center.  Funds appropriated under this section provide one‑half of the anticipated cost to construct the community health education center. Funds appropriated under this section that are unexpended and unencumbered shall not revert to the General Fund but shall remain with the Edgecombe Community College to be used for the purposes authorized under this section.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.