A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the division of motor vehicles to produce an eastern band of cherokee indians special registration plate and to provide an exemption from licensure for teaching cherokee language and culture classes.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 20‑79.4(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
…
()	Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. – Issuable to a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who presents to the Division a tribal identification card. The plate may bear a phrase or emblem representing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The plate authorized by this subdivision is not subject to the provisions of G.S. 20‑79.3A.
…."
SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 20‑79.7(a1) reads as rewritten:
"(a1)	Fees. – All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20‑87 or G.S. 20‑88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:
	Special Plate	Additional Fee Amount
…
100% Disabled Veteran	None
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians	None
Ex‑Prisoner of War	None
…."
SECTION 1.(c)  The Revisor of Statutes is authorized to alphabetize, number, and renumber the special registration plates listed in G.S. 20‑79.4(b) to ensure that all the special registration plates are listed in alphabetical order and numbered accordingly.
SECTION 2.(a)  Article 17E of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑270.21.  Licensure exception for Cherokee language instruction.
(a)	Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education shall enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians specifying the criteria that must be met in order for individuals to teach Cherokee language and culture classes. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, individuals approved to teach in accordance with an MOU entered into pursuant to this section shall be authorized to teach Cherokee language and culture classes without a license.
(b)	A memorandum of understanding entered into under this section shall at least include the following:
(1)	Requirements for approval of individuals employed under this section, including a requirement that the individual has demonstrated mastery of the Cherokee language through a credential issued by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
(2)	A three‑year approval period, which may be renewed, for individuals employed under this section.
(3)	Authority of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Superintendent's designee to approve and renew approval of individuals employed under this section, subject to the requirements of the memorandum of understanding.
(4)	Requirements for renewing approval of individuals employed under this section after three years.
(5)	A clear statement that an individual authorized to teach pursuant to this section shall not be permitted to provide instruction in other content areas unless the individual possesses a license issued in accordance with G.S. 115C‑270.20."
SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑295 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑295.  Minimum age and license prerequisites.
(a)	All teachers employed in the public schools of the State or in schools receiving public funds, shall be required either to hold or be qualified to hold a license in compliance with the provision of the law or in accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Education: Provided, that nothing herein shall prevent the employment of temporary personnel under such rules as the State Board of Education may prescribe: Provided further, that no person shall be employed to teach who is under 18 years of age.
(b)	It shall be unlawful for any board of education to employ or keep in service any teacher who neither holds nor is qualified to hold a license in compliance with the provision of the law or in accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Education.
(c)	This section shall not prohibit the employment of individuals exempted from licensure under G.S. 115C‑270.21."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.