A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make various changes to the laws regarding broadband deployment and access in the state.
Whereas, schools and teachers increasingly rely on the use of digital resources and tools to teach our children both inside and outside the classroom; and
Whereas, studies have shown that nearly one‑in‑five low‑income households with K‑12 students fail to adopt broadband in their households; and
Whereas, access to broadband can enable the citizens of this State to benefit from the use of telehealth services which can expand access to care, reduce costs to patients and medical providers, and improve the quality of healthcare; and
Whereas, the General Assembly has previously looked to local solutions, like member‑owned utilities and public‑private partnerships, as an effective way to provide for the development of the infrastructure necessary to support economic development in rural and underserved areas; and
Whereas, the General Assembly has long recognized that digital computing and communications technology is the key element of infrastructure for connecting each person to the economic development opportunities of the twenty‑first century and has taken steps to directly advance the development and use of this infrastructure where possible through programs like the School Connectivity Initiative and Digital Learning Plan; and
Whereas, the COVID‑19 pandemic has exposed the need for the State to help its citizens by providing broadband access to the unserved and underserved areas of this State to improve educational outcomes, enabling telework, and access to health by encouraging private and local government action and reducing regulation to allow access to affordable and reliable broadband; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
part i.  homework gap initiative
SECTION 1.1.(a)  The Department of Information Technology, in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction, is authorized to establish and administer a pilot Homework Gap Grants program to provide Internet access to students and teachers who do not have, or who cannot afford, home Internet service. The Broadband Infrastructure Office within the Department of Information Technology shall work with the Department of Public Instruction to initiate a one‑year grant program that will serve as the foundation for a long‑term solution for students and teachers who lack broadband service. Grants shall be provided to Local Education Agencies to purchase equipment and services for individual student and teacher use, and to provide Wi‑Fi on school buses. Funds appropriated in this act to implement the grant program shall be allocated in as follows:
(1)	Four million five hundred thousand dollars ($4,500,000) to provide grants to Local Education Agencies for the purchase of mobile hotspot devices, service for the hotspots, and equipment and mobile service to provide Wi‑Fi on school buses.
(2)	Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to administer the grant program and conduct research on the size and scope of the homework gap.
(3)	One hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($125,000) for a third‑party evaluation of the pilot program and progress made toward closing the homework gap.
(4)	One hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($125,000) for mobile service testing to ensure mobile hotspot devices can provide adequate access for at‑home educational needs.
Upon approval of a Local Education Agency's grant request, the Department of Information Technology shall transfer necessary funding to the Department of Public Instruction for distribution.
SECTION 1.1.(b)  The Broadband Infrastructure Office shall develop a strategy to support the affordability of broadband service, including potential partnerships and private sources of funding to support the efforts of the pilot program. The Department of Information Technology shall negotiate with wireless providers to lower monthly subscription rates for mobile hotspots and establish convenience contracts Local Education Agencies may use to purchase equipment and services for the program.
SECTION 1.1.(c)  The Broadband Infrastructure Office, in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction, shall establish qualifying grant criteria that include a district‑wide survey measuring the homework gap and demonstrated progress toward the Digital Learning Plan. Implementation should begin no later than the 2021‑2022 school year.
SECTION 1.1.(d)  The Broadband Infrastructure Office shall collect data on the impact of the pilot program. Specific data shall include at least all of the following:
(1)        Number of students and teachers impacted.
(2)        Number of buses equipped.
(3)        Cost or cost range of services.
SECTION 1.1.(e)  On or before January 1, 2022, the Broadband Infrastructure Office shall submit a report to the Office of State Budget and Management, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall contain at least all of the following:
(1)        Status of the Homework Gap Grants Program.
(2)        Number and amounts of grants awarded.
(3)        Number of students and teachers impacted.
SECTION 1.1.(f)  On or before June 1, 2021, the State Chief Information Officer, in conjunction with the Department of Public Instruction and the third‑party evaluator selected pursuant to this Part, shall prepare a plan to bridge the homework gap that includes at least all of the following:
(1)	Information regarding the size and scope of the homework gap throughout the State.
(2)	A strategy to provide affordable broadband access for students and teachers falling within the homework gap, including the exploration of additional outside sources of funding to support the effort.
(3)	Analysis of means, methods, and best practices to achieve statewide universal Internet access for students and teachers.

part ii.  changes to growing rural economies with access to technology (G.R.E.A.T.) program
SECTION 2.1.(a)  Section 7(a) and Section 7(b) of S.L. 2019‑230 are repealed.
SECTION 2.1.(b)  G.S. 143B‑1373 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑1373.  Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program.
(a)	As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
…
 (9b)	Low‑cost service offering. – A service provided by a broadband service provider to a subscriber for broadband services that meets the following criteria:
a.	A monthly subscription charge that does not exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) and does not impose additional fees or charges by the provider, other than taxes or other State or federally required fees or charges.
b.	Speeds of at least 25 megabits per second download and at least 3 megabits per second upload with no data caps.
…
(14)	Unserved area. – A designated contiguous geographic area that is presently without access to broadband service, as defined in this section, offered by a wireline or fixed wireless provider. Areas where a private provider has been designated to receive funds through other State or federally funded programs designed specifically for broadband deployment shall be considered served if such funding is intended to result in construction of broadband in the area within 18 months.
(15)	Underserved area. – A designated contiguous geographic area that is presently without access to internet service offered by a wireline or fixed wireless provider with speeds of at least 25 megabits per second download and at least 3 megabits per second upload.
…
(g)	Applications shall be scored based upon a system that awards a single point for criteria considered to be the minimum level for the provision of broadband service with additional points awarded to criteria that exceed minimum levels. The Office shall score project applications in accordance with the following:
…
(6)	Base speed multiplier. – Projects that will provide minimum download and minimum upload speeds shall have the aggregate points given under subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection multiplied by a factor at the level indicated in the table below:
Minimum Download:
Minimum Upload	Score Multiplier
	
25:3 Mbps. up to 100:10 Mbps.	1.00
100:10 Mbps. or greater	2.00
…
(i)	Applications receiving the highest score shall receive priority status for the awarding of grants pursuant this section. As a means of breaking a tie for applications receiving the same score, the Office shall give priority to the application proposing to serve the highest number of new households at the lowest cost per household. Applicants awarded grants pursuant to this section shall enter into an agreement with the Office. The agreement shall contain all of the elements outlined in subsection (d) of this section and any other provisions the Office may require. The agreement shall contain a provision governing the time line and minimum requirements and thresholds for disbursement of grant funds measured by the progress of the project. Grant funds shall be disbursed only upon verification by the Office that the terms of the agreement have been fulfilled according to the progress milestones contained in the agreement. At project completion, the grant recipient shall certify and provide to the Office evidence consistent with Federal Communications Commission attestation that either speeds greater than those identified in the application guidelines or the proposed upstream and downstream broadband speeds identified in the application guidelines, and for which a base speed multiplier was awarded pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (g) of this section, are available throughout the project area prior to any end user connections. The Office shall award three points for any project application that (i) will offer a low‑cost service offering for a qualified low‑income household or (ii) accepts Lifeline support in the project area.
…."

part iii.  changes to regulation and provision of broadband
SECTION 3.1.(a)  G.S. 62‑2(b1) reads as rewritten:
"(b1)	The Commission shall determine on an annual basis whether broadband service as defined in this Chapter is sufficiently competitive and shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly."
SECTION 3.1.(b)  G.S. 62‑3(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	"Broadband service" means any service that consists of or includes a high‑speed access capability to transmit at a rate of not less than the current threshold for broadband service established by the Federal Communications Commission and either (i) is used to provide access to the Internet, or (ii) provides computer processing, information storage, information content, or protocol conversion, including any service applications or information service provided over such high‑speed access service. "Broadband service" does not include intrastate service that was tariffed by the Commission and in effect as of the effective date of this subdivision."
SECTION 3.2.  Section 8.14 of S.L. 2015‑241 reads as rewritten:
"…
SECTION 8.14.(b)  The Department of Public Instruction shall collaborate with the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation of North Carolina State University to implement public school cooperative purchasing agreements for the procurement of information technology goods and services to support public schools. For purposes of this section, the phrase "public school cooperative purchasing agreement" means an agreement implemented pursuant to this section and available for local school administrative units, regional schools, charter schools, or some combination thereof, and public and private libraries and regional library systems, providing for collaborative or collective purchases of information technology goods and services in order to leverage economies of scale and to reduce costs.
SECTION 8.14.(c)  Each public school cooperative purchasing agreement shall be based on a defined statewide information technology need to support education in the public schools and public libraries. Each public school cooperative purchasing agreement shall allow for equal access to technology tools and services and shall provide a standard competitive cost throughout North Carolina for each tool or service. Public school cooperative purchasing agreements shall follow State information technology procurement laws, rules, and procedures.
…."
SECTION 3.3.  G.S. 153A‑349.60 reads as rewritten:
"§ 153A‑349.60.  Authorization to provide grants.
(a)	A county may provide grants to unaffiliated qualified private providers of highspeed Internet access service, as that term is defined in G.S. 160A‑340(4), for the purpose of expanding service in the county. The grants shall be awarded on a technology neutral basis, shall be open to qualified applicants, and may require matching funds by the private provider. A county shall seek and consider request for proposals from qualified private providers within the county prior to awarding a broadband grant and shall use reasonable means to ensure that potential applicants are made aware of the grant, including, at a minimum, compliance with the notice procedures set forth in G.S. 160A‑340.6(c). The county shall use only unrestricted general fund revenue or State or federal grants or loans for the grants. For the purposes of this section, a qualified private provider is a private provider of high‑speed Internet access service in the State prior to the issuance of the grant proposal.
(b)	Nothing in this section authorizes a county to provide highspeed Internet broadband service."
	
part iv.  HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN COVERAGE OF TELEHEALTH
SECTION 4.1.(a)  Article 50 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 58‑50‑310.  Telehealth.
(a)	For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)	Health benefit plan. – As defined in G.S. 58‑3‑167.
(2)	Telehealth. – The delivery of health care, including mental and behavioral health care, through real‑time, two‑way audio/visual delivery.
(3)	Virtual health care. – The delivery of health care, including mental and behavioral health care, through audio‑only delivery or electronic‑only delivery, both synchronous and asynchronous. This term shall include health care delivered over the telephone and electronic patient visits, including health care delivered through an electronic provider portal or electronic patient portal.
 (b)	All of the following shall apply to all health benefit plans offered in this State:
(1)	Health benefit plans shall provide coverage and reimbursement for virtual health care, including mental and behavioral health care.
(2)	Health benefit plans shall provide reimbursement for provider‑to‑provider consultations that are conducted using virtual health care if the health benefit plan would provide reimbursement for the consult had it taken place in‑person, face‑to‑face.
(3)	No health benefit plan may require prior authorization for telehealth services or virtual health care services.
(4)	No health benefit plan may put limits on the originating site or the distant site for telehealth services or virtual health care services.
(5)	Health benefit plans shall cover and reimburse physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy when delivered through telehealth.
(6)	A health benefit plan may require a deductible, a co‑payment, or coinsurance for a covered health care service delivered by telehealth by a preferred or contracted provider to a covered individual. The amount of the deductible, co‑payment, or coinsurance may not exceed the amount of the deductible, co‑payment, or coinsurance required had the covered health care service been provided in‑person, face‑to‑face.
(7)	A health benefit plan shall reimburse providers for a covered health care service delivered by telehealth at a level no less than the reimbursement for that service had it been provided in‑person, face‑to‑face."
SECTION 4.1.(b)  This Part becomes effective January 1, 2021.

part v.  fiber nc act
SECTION 5.1.(a)  Article 23 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑460.  Authority to construct and lease certain facilities.
(a)	A county shall have the authority to construct facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 for the purpose of leasing such facilities or equipment, in accordance with G.S. 160A‑272, to one or more lessees who are not a governmental unit as defined in G.S. 160A‑274.
(b)	A board of county commissioners may utilize ad valorem tax levies authorized under G.S. 153A‑149(c), grants, or any other unrestricted funds in exercising authority granted under this section.
(c)	When a board of county commissioners determines to construct facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3, that county shall do all of the following prior to beginning construction:
(1)	Conduct a feasibility study to determine needs and available resources.
(2)	Adopt a resolution at a regular meeting stating its intent to construct facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 for the purpose of leasing such facilities or equipment in accordance with G.S. 160A‑272. Prior to the regular meeting, notice shall be published at least once, not less than 10 days before the regular meeting.
(3)	Notify the Local Government Commission of any commitment to expend funds for construction over more than one fiscal year.
(4)	Notify the State Chief Information Officer, or their designee, of the location and type of facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 constructed, in the format determined by the State Chief Information Officer."
SECTION 5.1.(b)  Article 21 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑499.5.  Authority to construct and lease certain facilities.
(a)	A city shall have the authority to construct facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 for the purpose of leasing such facilities or equipment, in accordance with G.S. 160A‑272, to one or more lessees who are not a governmental unit as defined in G.S. 160A‑274.
(b)	A city may utilize ad valorem tax levies authorized under G.S. 160A‑209(c), grants, or any other unrestricted funds in exercising authority granted under this section.
(c)	When a city determines to construct facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3, that city shall do all of the following prior to beginning construction:
(1)	Conduct a feasibility study to determine needs and available resources.
(2)	Adopt a resolution at a regular meeting stating its intent to construct facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 for the purpose of leasing such facilities or equipment in accordance with G.S. 160A‑272. Prior to the regular meeting, notice shall be published at least once, not less than 10 days before the regular meeting.
(3)	Notify the Local Government Commission of any commitment to expend funds for construction over more than one fiscal year.
(4)	Notify the State Chief Information Officer, or their designee, of the location and type of facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 constructed, in the format determined by the State Chief Information Officer."
SECTION 5.2.(a)  G.S. 153A‑149(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision (7a) to read:
"(7a)	Broadband Services. – To build facilities and equipment of a broadband service as defined in G.S. 62‑3."
SECTION 5.2.(b)  G.S. 160A‑209(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(7a)	Broadband Services. – To build facilities and equipment of a broadband service as defined in G.S. 62‑3."
SECTION 5.2.(c)  This section is effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2020.
SECTION 5.3.  G.S. 159‑81(3) is amended by adding a new sub‑subdivision to read:
"r.	Facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined by G.S. 62‑3 for the purpose of leasing such facilities or equipment in accordance with G.S. 160A‑272."
SECTION 5.4.(a)  G.S. 160A‑272 reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑272.  Lease or rental of property.
(a)	Any property owned by a city may be leased or rented for such terms and upon such conditions as the council may determine, but not for longer than 10 years (except as otherwise provided in subsection (b1) of this section) and only if the council determines that the property will not be needed by the city for the term of the lease.
(a1)	Property may be rented or leased only pursuant to a resolution of the council authorizing the execution of the lease or rental agreement adopted at a regular council meeting upon 30 days' public notice. Notice shall be given by publication describing the property to be leased or rented, stating the annual rental or lease payments, and announcing the council's intent to authorize the lease or rental.
(b)	No public notice as required by subsection (a1) of this section need be given for resolutions authorizing leases or rentals for terms of one year or less, and the council may delegate to the city manager or some other city administrative officer authority to lease or rent city property for terms of one year or less.
(b1)	Leases for terms of more than 10 years shall be treated as a sale of property and may be executed by following any of the procedures authorized for sale of real property.
(c)	Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b1) of this section, the council may approve a lease without treating that lease as a sale of property for any of the following reasons:
(1)	For the siting and operation of a renewable energy facility, as that term is defined in G.S. 62‑133.8(a)(7), for a term up to 25 years.
(2)	For the siting and operation of a tower, as that term is defined in G.S. 146‑29.2(a)(7), for communication purposes for a term up to 25 years.
(3)	For the operation and use of any facilities and equipment of a broadband service, as defined in G.S. 62‑3, for a term up to 25 years.
(d)	Notwithstanding subsections (a1) and (b) of this section, any lease by a city of any duration for facilities and equipment of a broadband service, as defined in G.S. 62‑3, shall comply with all of the following:
(1)	Proposals shall be invited by advertisement in a newspaper having general circulation in the city. A city may also invite proposals by electronic means.
(2)	Advertisement for proposals from lessees shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the city no less than seven full days prior to the date on the notice for the opening of bids.
(3)	The advertisement for proposals from lessees shall contain at least the following information:
a.	The type and location of the facilities or equipment of a broadband service to be leased.
b.	The time and place where plans and specifications of the proposed lease may be had.
c.	The time and place for opening of the proposals.
d.	A statement reserving to the governing body the right to reject any or all proposals.
(4)	Proposals may be rejected for any reason determined by the governing body to be in the best interest of the city.
(e)	Notwithstanding G.S. 160A‑321, for the lease of part of a city‑owned public enterprise to be operated and used as facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined in G.S. 62‑3, a city shall not be required to submit to its voters the question of whether such lease shall be undertaken.
(f)	For purposes of this section, in determining the term of a proposed lease, periods that may be added to the original term by options to renew or extend shall be included."
SECTION 5.4.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2020, and applies to leases entered into on or after that date.
SECTION 5.5.  G.S. 160A‑340.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f)	This Article shall not apply to facilities or equipment of a broadband service as defined in G.S. 62‑3 constructed by a city for the purpose of leasing such facilities or equipment in accordance with G.S. 160A‑272."
SECTION 5.6.  G.S. 143‑128.1C is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(n)	For purposes of this section, the term "public‑private project" shall also include a capital improvement project undertaken for the benefit of a city or county that includes construction of facilities or equipment of a broadband service, as defined in G.S. 62‑3, in conjunction with, or part of, another construction project undertaken by the city or county."
SECTION 5.7.  Except as otherwise provided, this Part becomes effective July 1, 2020.

Part VI. Universal broadband access through energy savings upgrades to Electric power distribution network
SECTION 6.1.(a)  The General Assembly finds that the primary barrier to provision of universal broadband access across North Carolina is the expected rate of return on capital investment necessary to install broadband infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas does not exceed the cost of that capital, and that this barrier reinforces a digital divide with respect to broadband access that in turn mirrors and reinforces current patterns of economic disparity.
SECTION 6.1.(b)  The General Assembly further finds that the technology used to provide real‑time electric usage feedback from the universal deployment of smart electric meters can also be utilized to provide broadband access to its customers, and that these smart meters can empower consumers to analyze and reduce their energy use, save money on utility costs, and provide broadband access.
SECTION 6.1.(c)  The General Assembly further finds that electric public utility companies can realize significant gains in energy efficiency through universal deployment of smart meter systems, and the generating capacity made available through energy efficiency gains used to service population growth without the necessity of constructing additional generating capacity.
SECTION 6.1.(d)  The General Assembly further finds that the benefits of the avoided cost generated by smart meter related energy savings should be shared by all North Carolina consumers and electric public utilities.
SECTION 6.1.(e)  To this end, the North Carolina Utilities Commission shall do all of the following as soon as is practicable:
(1)	Issue Requests for Proposal to enter into contracts with as many firms or other entities in the network or telecommunications sectors as is necessary to establish a statewide Universal Broadband Smart Meter program that will include the following components:
a.	Smart meter technology at the household level that accommodates broadband access to the home occupant and the opportunity for remote real‑time electric usage feedback.
b.	Remote energy usage management software and hardware interfaces to promote average household energy savings of at least twenty percent (20%) through peak shaving, peak avoidance, and other cost‑saving electric usage management practices.
c.	"Last mile" connectivity solutions that bridge the gap between existing broadband infrastructure and unserved or underserved users that maximize speed, reliability, and noninterference with existing telecommunications systems and networks, and that can feature a variety of last mile solutions, avoiding complete reliance on any particular last mile solution.
d.	Funding of the Universal Broadband Smart Meter program drawn from resale by the electric public utility's share of the energy savings created by the installation and use of smart meter systems.
e.	The use of hardware and firmware, such as so‑called "System on Chip" technology that can adapt to allow for a variety of applications, including smart appliances, healthcare monitoring, access for public education purposes, access for emergency management purposes, and other smart‑grid applications as functions become more widely available, while incorporating robust anti‑tampering and data privacy protections.
 (2)	Execute a contract with the firm chosen to implement subdivision (1) of this section and exercise oversight of the fulfillment of the contract.
SECTION 6.1.(f)  It is the intent of the General Assembly that ongoing program costs be funded by the electric public utilities based on the energy savings achieved through implementation of the Universal Broadband Smart Meter Program. The North Carolina Utilities Commission shall by order provide for the electric public utilities to expend remaining avoided cost‑savings on enhancements to its transmission and distribution networks to increase energy efficiency and on development of alternative energy resources, in order to provide the State with a lower cost, and more efficient power future. For purposes of this subsection, alternative energy includes a renewable energy resource, as defined in G.S. 62‑133.8(a) or any other energy source that is not derived from the combustion of peat or a fossil fuel.

DOT BRoadBand Infrastructure
SECTION 6.2.(a)  G.S. 136‑18 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(47)	The Department of Transportation shall have authority to construct conduits for telecommunication cable in the State right‑of‑way, with the costs of construction to be borne through the leasing of the conduit to private telecommunications companies, where such construction and leasing is not otherwise prohibited by any other federal or State law. The Conduit Installation Account is created as a nonreverting account within the Highway Trust Fund to receive revenues from conduit leasing. The Department shall administer the Account. Revenue in the Account may be used only to fund the installation of telecommunications conduit in State right‑of‑way, as authorized by this subdivision."
SECTION 6.2.(b)  Article 2A of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 136‑44.18.  Installation of telecommunications conduit within State right‑of‑way.
As authorized in G.S. 136‑18(47), the Department shall include in its planning for new roads and for improvements to existing roads the installation of conduit for telecommunications cables when all of the following apply:
(1)	Less than fifty percent (50%) of households in the county where the road project is located have access to high‑speed data or telecommunications services. If a project is located in more than one county, the Department may evaluate each county separately under this subdivision.
(2)	A provider of high‑speed data or telecommunications services provides the Department with a letter indicating its interest in leasing the conduit from the Department at any time within five years of completion of the project."
SECTION 6.2.(c)  The Department shall report no later than May 1, 2021, to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and annually thereafter on its progress in implementing the program to install telecommunications conduit authorized by this act. The initial report shall include identification by the Department of any statutory or regulatory barriers to implementation of the conduit installation program. Each report shall include a list of highway projects eligible for conduit installation in the next year with a financial and market analysis and resulting estimate by the Department as to whether the conduit installation authorized by this act is likely to be cost‑effective for that project.

Part vII.  Appropriations.
SECTION 7.1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Fund the sum of thirty‑five million dollars ($35,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year.
SECTION 7.1.(b)	  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Fund the sum of fifty million dollars in ($50,000,000) recurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year.
SECTION 7.1.(c)  The recurring appropriation in this section shall expire after the 2022‑2023 fiscal year.
SECTION 7.2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Information Technology the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year for the purposes outlined in Part I of this act.

part vIiI. effective date
SECTION 8.1.  Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective July 1, 2020.