A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to enact the Education bond act of 2019.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Short Title. – This section shall be known as the "Education Bond Act of 2019."
SECTION 1.(b)  Purpose. – It is the intent of the General Assembly by this act to provide, subject to a vote of the qualified voters of the State, for the issuance of one billion nine hundred million dollars ($1,900,000,000) general obligation bonds of the State for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, (i) for public school facilities through grants to counties for public school capital outlay projects and repairs and renovations, in the amount of one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000), (ii) for community college facilities for community college capital outlay projects and repairs and renovations, in the amount of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000), and (iii) for The University of North Carolina facilities for capital outlay projects for constituent institutions and repairs and renovations at such institutions, in the amount of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000).
SECTION 1.(c)  Definitions. – Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Bonds. – Bonds issued under this section.
(1a)	Capital outlay project for a constituent institution. – A project for the construction of one or more new buildings or the renovation of one or more existing buildings located at a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, for the building of technology infrastructure, for the purchase of equipment for a building located at a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina where the building has never been used for education purposes or equipment related to the improvement of an existing constituent institution building that will be used at the building or become affixed to the building during its use for education, for the purchase of land necessary for construction to commence within 24 months of one or more constituent institution buildings, and for other related capital outlay projects to provide facilities for individual constituent institutions that are used for instructional or related purposes. The term does not include projects for facilities for centralized administration, trailers, relocatable classrooms, or mobile classrooms.
(1b)	Community college capital outlay project. – A project for the construction of one or more new community college buildings located on a community college campus or the renovation of one or more existing community college buildings, for the building of the enterprise resource planning information technology and other technology infrastructure, for the purchase of equipment for a community college building that has never been used for community college purposes or equipment related to the improvement of an existing community college building that will be used at the building or become affixed to the building during its use for education, for the purchase of land necessary for construction to commence within 24 months of one or more community college buildings, and for other related capital outlay projects to provide facilities for individual community college campuses that are used for instructional or related purposes. The term does not include projects for facilities for centralized administration, trailers, relocatable classrooms, or mobile classrooms.
(2)	Cost. – Without intending thereby to limit or restrict any proper definition of this term in financing the cost of public school capital outlay projects authorized by this section, any of the following:
a.	The cost of constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, acquiring, and improving projects and acquiring equipment and land therefor.
b.	The cost of engineering, architectural, and other consulting services as may be required.
c.	Administrative expenses and charges, including expenses related to determining compliance with applicable requirements of federal law and expenses relating to issuance. Nothing in this section shall permit use of bond funds to pay salaries or fees for bond administration; such salaries and fees shall come from funds appropriated by the General Assembly.
d.	Finance charges and interest prior to and during construction and, if deemed advisable by the State Treasurer, for a period not exceeding three years after the estimated date of completion of construction.
e.	The cost of bond insurance, investment contracts, credit enhancement and liquidity facilities, interest rate swap agreements or other derivative products, financial and legal consultants, and related costs of bond and note issuance, to the extent and as determined by the State Treasurer.
f.	The cost of reimbursing the State for any payments made for any cost described in this subdivision.
g.	Any other costs and expenses necessary or incidental to the purposes of this section.
Allocations in this section of proceeds of bonds to the costs of a project or undertaking in each case may include allocations to pay the costs set forth in sub‑subdivisions c. through g. of this subdivision in connection with the issuance of bonds for the project or undertaking.
(3)	Credit facility agreement. – An agreement entered into by the State Treasurer on behalf of the State with a bank, savings and loan association, or other banking institution; an insurance company, reinsurance company, surety company, or other insurance institution; a corporation, investment banking firm, or other investment institution; or any financial institution or other similar provider of a credit facility agreement, which provider may be located within or without the United States of America, such agreement providing for prompt payment of all or any part of the principal or purchase price (whether at maturity, presentment or tender for purchase, redemption, or acceleration), redemption premium, if any, and interest on any bonds or notes payable on demand or tender by the owner, in consideration of the State agreeing to repay the provider of the credit facility agreement in accordance with the terms and provisions of such agreement.
(4)	Notes. – Notes issued under this section.
(5)	Par formula. – Any provision or formula adopted by the State to provide for the adjustment, from time to time, of the interest rate or rates borne by any bonds or notes, including the following:
a.	A provision providing for such adjustment so that the purchase price of such bonds or notes in the open market would be as close to par as possible;
b.	A provision providing for such adjustment based upon a percentage or percentages of a LIBOR rate, a prime rate, or base rate, which percentage or percentages may vary or be applied for different periods of time; or
c.	Such other provision as the State Treasurer may determine to be consistent with this section and will not materially and adversely affect the financial position of the State and the marketing of bonds or notes at a reasonable interest cost to the State.
(6)	Public school capital outlay project. – A project for the construction of one or more new public school buildings or the renovation of one or more existing public school buildings, for the building of technology infrastructure, for the purchase of measures to ensure building security, for the purchase of equipment for a public school building that has never been used for public education purposes or equipment related to the improvement of an existing public school building that will be used at the building or become affixed to the building during its use for public education, for the purchase of land necessary for construction to commence within 24 months of one or more school buildings, and for other related capital outlay projects to provide facilities for individual schools that are used for instructional or related purposes. The term does not include projects for facilities for centralized administration, trailers, relocatable classrooms, or mobile classrooms.
(7)	State. – The State of North Carolina.
SECTION 1.(d)  Authorization of Bonds and Notes. – Subject to a favorable vote of a majority of the qualified voters of the State who vote on the question of issuing bonds for capital outlay projects for public schools and for capital outlay projects funds for community colleges and The University of North Carolina in the election called and held as provided in this section, the State Treasurer is hereby authorized, by and with the consent of the Council of State, to issue and sell, at one time or from time to time, general obligation bonds of the State to be designated "State of North Carolina Education Bonds," with any additional designations as may be determined to indicate the issuance of bonds from time to time, or notes of the State as provided in this section, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding one billion nine hundred million dollars ($1,900,000,000) for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, for the purposes authorized in this section. The principal amounts of bonds or notes issued in any 12‑month period shall not exceed five hundred ninety‑one million dollars ($591,000,000). In determining whether this limit has been reached, the issuance of a note or bond to pay an outstanding note is not considered an issuance.
SECTION 1.(e)  Use of Education Bond and Note Proceeds. –
(1)	Subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) of the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, shall be used for the purpose of making grants to counties for paying the cost of public school capital outlay projects and repairs and renovations in the following general amounts set forth in this subdivision. Any additional monies that may be received by means of a grant or grants from the United States of America or any agency or department thereof or from any other source to aid in financing the cost of public school capital outlay projects authorized by this act may be placed by the State Treasurer in the Education Bonds Fund or in a separate account or fund and shall be disbursed, to the extent permitted by the terms of the grant or grants, without regard to limitations imposed by this act.
LEA	ADM	Low‑Wealth	ADM	Adjustment	Total
			County	Growth	Factor
Alamance‑Burlington
Schools	$ 4,011,009	$11,774,969	$ 536,440	$0	$16,322,419
Alexander County
Schools	$ 844,052	$ 5,393,020	$0	$ 3,762,928	$10,000,000
Alleghany County
Schools	$ 236,419	$0	$0	$ 9,763,581	$10,000,000
Anson County 
Schools	$ 560,349	$ 4,829,715	$0	$ 4,609,936	$10,000,000
Ashe County
Schools	$ 523,827	$0	$0	$ 9,476,173	$10,000,000
Avery County
Schools	$ 338,220	$0	$0	$ 9,661,780	$10,000,000
Beaufort County
Schools	$ 1,134,106	$ 2,093,891	$0	$ 6,772,003	$10,000,000
Bertie County
Schools	$ 371,213	$ 3,171,842	$0	$ 6,456,945	$10,000,000
Bladen County
Schools	$ 727,077	$ 5,497,313	$0	$ 3,775,610	$10,000,000
Brunswick County
Schools	$ 2,200,286	$0	$0	$ 7,799,714	$10,000,000
Buncombe County
Schools	$ 4,168,034	$0	$0	$ 4,286,925	$ 8,454,959
Asheville City
Schools	$ 761,658	$0	$0	$ 783,384	$ 1,545,041
Burke County
Schools	$ 2,093,191	$12,570,359	$0	$0	$14,663,550
Cabarrus County
Schools	$ 5,823,673	$0	$27,614,468	$0	$33,438,141
Kannapolis City
Schools	$ 959,438	$ 846,734	$ 1,438,635	$0	$ 3,244,807
Caldwell County
Schools	$ 2,002,329	$11,544,037	$0	$0	$13,546,365
Camden County
Schools	$ 327,811	$ 890,833	$0	$ 8,781,356	$10,000,000
Carteret County Public
Schools	$ 1,429,101	$0	$0	$ 8,570,899	$10,000,000
Caswell County
Schools	$ 434,200	$ 3,140,147	$0	$ 6,425,653	$10,000,000
Catawba County
Schools	$ 2,797,332	$0	$0	$ 4,133,815	$ 6,931,148
Hickory City
Schools	$ 719,314	$0	$0	$ 1,062,981	$ 1,782,295
Newton Conover City
Schools	$ 519,240	$0	$0	$ 767,317	$ 1,286,557
Chatham County
Schools	$ 1,558,425	$0	$ 6,376,321	$ 2,065,254	$10,000,000
Cherokee County
Schools	$ 553,291	$ 1,413,119	$0	$ 8,033,590	$10,000,000
Edenton‑Chowan
Schools	$ 345,278	$ 1,040,793	$0	$ 8,613,930	$10,000,000
Clay County
Schools	$ 223,892	$0	$0	$ 9,776,108	$10,000,000
Cleveland County
Schools	$ 2,527,391	$13,516,386	$0	$0	$16,043,777
Columbus County
Schools	$ 974,611	$ 9,818,151	$0	$0	$10,792,763
Whiteville City
Schools	$ 392,385	$ 3,982,294	$0	$0	$ 4,374,679
Craven County
Schools	$ 2,388,186	$ 3,835,943	$0	$ 3,775,871	$10,000,000
Cumberland County
Schools	$ 8,834,489	$28,236,792	$0	$0	$37,071,280
Currituck County
Schools	$ 715,256	$0	$ 2,584,665	$ 6,700,079	$10,000,000
Dare County
Schools	$ 907,038	$0	$ 2,548,090	$ 6,544,872	$10,000,000
Davidson County
Schools	$ 3,315,161	$10,754,088	$0	$0	$ 14,069,249
Lexington City
Schools	$ 526,297	$ 1,724,754	$0	$0	$ 2,251,051
Thomasville City
Schools	$ 401,030	$ 1,278,236	$0	$0	$ 1,679,266
Davie County
Schools	$ 1,078,001	$ 126,655	$0	$ 8,795,345	$10,000,000
Duplin County
Schools	$ 1,675,224	$14,363,983	$0	$0	$16,039,207
Durham Public
Schools	$ 5,708,640	$0	$0	$ 4,291,360	$10,000,000
Edgecombe County Public
Schools	$ 1,028,070	$ 9,078,982	$0	$0	$10,107,052
Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County
Schools	$ 9,492,934	$0	$ 195,069	$ 311,997	$10,000,000
Franklin County
Schools	$ 1,432,453	$ 9,214,386	$0	$0	$10,646,839
Gaston County
Schools	$ 5,478,572	$10,370,854	$0	$0	$15,849,426
Gates County
Schools	$ 292,348	$ 2,304,596	$0	$ 7,403,056	$10,000,000
Graham County
Schools	$ 196,545	$ 181,439	$0	$ 9,622,016	$10,000,000
Granville County
Schools	$ 1,298,717	$10,527,816	$0	$0	$11,826,533
Greene County
Schools	$ 515,006	$ 5,786,310	$0	$ 3,698,684	$10,000,000
Guilford County
Schools	$12,599,551	$0	$0	$0	$12,599,551
Halifax County
Schools	$ 414,086	$ 2,879,981	$0	$ 664,636	$ 3,958,703
Roanoke Rapids City
Schools	$ 494,716	$ 3,344,835	$0	$ 774,696	$ 4,614,247
Weldon City
Schools	$ 140,087	$ 1,047,372	$0	$ 239,591	$ 1,427,049
Harnett County
Schools	$ 3,576,986	$31,495,234	$0	$0	$35,072,220
Haywood County
Schools	$ 1,255,668	$0	$0	$ 8,744,332	$10,000,000
Henderson County
Schools	$ 2,349,018	$0	$0	$ 7,650,982	$10,000,000
Hertford County
Schools	$ 480,778	$ 3,813,581	$0	$ 5,705,641	$10,000,000
Hoke County
Schools	$ 1,545,193	$16,729,054	$ 6,230,019	$0	$24,504,266
Hyde County
Schools	$ 102,331	$0	$ 170,685	$ 9,726,984	$10,000,000
Iredell‑Statesville
Schools	$ 3,570,282	$0	$0	$ 4,148,669	$7,718,950
Mooresville Graded School
District	$ 1,055,064	$0	$0	$ 1,225,985	$2,281,050
Jackson County
Schools	$ 635,862	$0	$0	$ 9,364,138	$10,000,000
Johnston County
Schools	$ 6,415,074	$39,223,050	$31,381,739	$0	$77,019,864
Jones County
Schools	$ 180,843	$ 564,377	$0	$ 9,254,780	$10,000,000
Lee County
Schools	$ 1,738,739	$ 6,962,542	$0	$ 1,298,719	$10,000,000
Lenoir County Public
Schools	$ 1,496,321	$ 8,803,599	$0	$0	$10,299,921
Lincoln County
Schools	$ 2,012,385	$ 484,727	$0	$7,502,888	$10,000,000
Macon County
Schools	$ 778,948	$0	$ 158,494	$9,062,558	$10,000,000
Madison County
Schools	$ 400,325	$ 344,508	$0	$ 9,255,167	$10,000,000
Martin County
Schools	$ 513,771	$ 3,603,154	$0	$ 5,883,076	$10,000,000
McDowell County
Schools	$ 1,043,596	$ 5,917,374	$0	$ 3,039,030	$10,000,000
Charlotte‑Mecklenburg
Schools	$26,007,162	$0	$35,795,177	$0	$61,802,340
Mitchell County
Schools	$ 322,518	$ 303,978	$0	$ 9,373,504	$10,000,000
Montgomery County
Schools	$ 672,030	$ 2,190,091	$0	$ 7,137,879	$10,000,000
Moore County
Schools	$ 2,251,098	$0	$0	$ 7,748,902	$10,000,000
Nash‑Rocky Mount
Schools	$ 2,611,373	$14,555,363	$0	$0	$17,166,736
New Hanover County
Schools	$ 4,537,659	$0	$0	$ 5,462,341	$10,000,000
Northampton County
Schools	$ 267,824	 $ 2,099,454	$0	$ 7,632,722	$10,000,000
Onslow County
Schools	$ 4,699,977	$ 6,089,634	$14,764,292	$0	$25,553,902
Orange County
Schools	$ 1,287,955	$0	$0	$ 1,867,955	$ 3,155,910
Chapel Hill‑Carrboro City
Schools	$ 2,171,351	$0	$ 621,783	$ 4,050,956	$ 6,844,090
Pamlico County
Schools	$ 232,008	$0	$ 402,330	$ 9,365,662	$10,000,000
Elizabeth City‑Pasquotank Public
Schools	$ 952,381	$ 4,850,575	$0	$ 4,197,044	$10,000,000
Pender County
Schools	$ 1,615,060	$ 6,949,447	$ 5,644,812	$0	$14,209,319
Perquimans County
Schools	$ 285,468	$ 250,868	$0	$ 9,463,664	$10,000,000
Person County
Schools	$ 768,186	$ 1,435,534	$0	$ 7,796,280	$10,000,000
Pitt County
Schools	$ 4,121,103	$17,668,069	$0	$0	$21,789,172
Polk County
Schools	$ 372,625	$0	$0	$ 9,627,375	$10,000,000
Randolph County
Schools	$ 2,806,507	$17,202,566	$0	$0	$20,009,073
Asheboro City
Schools	$ 790,240	$ 4,804,089	$0	$0	$ 5,594,329
Richmond County
Schools	$ 1,248,963	$11,174,939	$0	$0	$12,423,902
Public Schools of Robeson 
County	$ 3,823,815	$47,851,010	$0	$0	$51,674,825
Rockingham County
Schools	$ 2,042,732	$12,301,109	$0	$0	$14,343,841
Rowan‑Salisbury
Schools	$ 3,302,634	$12,658,049	$0	$0	$15,960,683
Rutherford County
Schools	$ 1,380,758	$ 9,196,221	$0	$0	$10,576,979
Sampson County
Schools	$ 1,413,045	$11,872,434	$0	$0	$13,285,480
Clinton City
Schools	$ 520,828	$ 4,329,120	$0	$0	$ 4,849,948
Scotland County
Schools	$ 981,316	$ 9,986,327	$0	$0	$10,967,643
Stanly County
Schools	$ 1,479,913	$ 7,377,809	$0	$ 1,142,278	$10,000,000
Stokes County
Schools	$ 1,023,483	$ 5,673,717	$0	$ 3,302,800	$10,000,000
Surry County
Schools	$ 1,345,119	$ 6,700,636	$0	$0	$ 8,045,755
Elkin City
Schools	$ 207,308	$ 1,003,140	$0	$0	$ 1,210,447
Mount Airy City
Schools	$ 288,290	$ 1,401,846	$0	$0	$ 1,690,136
Swain County
Schools	$ 341,573	$ 435,076	$0	$ 9,223,351	$10,000,000
Transylvania County
Schools	$ 587,519	$0	$0	$ 9,412,481	$10,000,000
Tyrrell County
Schools	$ 111,682	$ 747,828	$ 658,358	$ 8,482,132	$10,000,000
Union County Public
Schools	$ 7,269,182	$0	$4,925,494	$0	$12,194,677
Vance County
Schools	$ 973,023	$ 9,963,922	$0	$0	$10,936,946
Wake County
Schools	$28,312,249	$0	$81,295,042	$0	$109,607,291
Warren County
Schools	$ 333,457	$ 665,924	$0	$ 9,000,619	$10,000,000
Washington County
Schools	$ 227,068	$ 1,526,792	$0	$ 8,246,140	$10,000,000
Watauga County
Schools	$ 811,765	$0	$ 1,658,087	$ 7,530,148	$10,000,000
Wayne County Public
Schools	$ 3,215,124	$20,431,119	$0	$0	$23,646,243
Wilkes County
Schools	$ 1,595,123	$ 7,544,916	$0	$ 859,961	$10,000,000
Wilson County
Schools	$ 1,965,809	$ 9,032,303	$0	$0	$10,998,108
Yadkin County
Schools	$ 911,449	$ 5,605,490	$0	$3,483,061	$10,000,000
Yancey County
Schools	$ 373,507	$ 1,676	$0	$9,624,817	$10,000,000
Total		$250,500,000	$600,402,894	$225,000,000	$424,097,106	
$1,500,000,000

(1a)	Subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, shall be used for paying the costs of capital outlay projects for constituent institutions and repairs and renovations in the following general amounts set forth below:

The University of North Carolina

Various Statewide	New Construction, Repairs, Renovations	$200,000,000

Total for The University of North Carolina	$200,000,000

(1b)	Subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, shall be used for paying the costs of community college capital outlay projects and repairs and renovations in the following general amounts set forth below:

NC Community Colleges

Various Statewide	Technology Upgrades, New Construction, 	$200,000,000
	Repairs, Renovations	

Total for NC Community Colleges	$200,000,000

(2)	Special allocation provisions. – In determining the use of the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, set forth in this act, the following special allocation provisions apply:
a.	With respect to proceeds allocated in subdivision (1) of this subsection:
1.	The proceeds shall be used for new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations. Any items purchased with such proceeds and installed or replaced as part of a renovation or rehabilitation must have a useful life of at least 10 years or must extend the life of the facility by at least 10 years once renovated or rehabilitated.
2.	In the case of a local school administrative unit located entirely in one county, the unit's total distribution amount shall be allocated to that county. In the case of a local school administrative unit located in more than one county, the unit's distribution amount shall be allocated among the counties in which the unit is located in proportion to average daily membership of the unit in each county. A unit's distribution amount allocated to a county may be used only with respect to public school facilities of that unit. If two or more local school administrative units are consolidated into one unit, the distribution amounts provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection for the units shall be considered the distribution amount for the merged unit.
3.	Bond proceeds for a county for any designation require no local match if any portion of the proceeds results from low‑wealth county or adjustment factor designation allocations. Any other county receiving bond proceeds allocated shall provide local matching funds from county funds, other non‑State funds, or a combination of these sources for such proceeds. The amount of matching funds shall be (i) one dollar ($1.00) of local matching funds for every three dollars ($3.00) of such proceeds for a local school administrative unit located in a county that is a development tier one area, as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, (ii) one dollar ($1.00) of local matching funds for every two dollars ($2.00) of such proceeds for a local school administrative unit located in a county that is a development tier two area, as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, and (iii) one dollar ($1.00) of local matching funds for every one dollar ($1.00) of such proceeds for a local school administrative unit located in a county that is a development tier three area, as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08. The match requirement may be satisfied by non‑State expenditures for public school facilities made on or after January 1, 2015. If a debt has been incurred since January 1, 2015, for the general purpose of public school facilities, then the face amount of the debt shall be considered as a non‑State expenditure for public school facilities for the purpose of the match. No other expenditures made or debts incurred before January 1, 2015, may be used to satisfy the match requirement. As counties satisfy the match requirements of this sub‑sub‑subdivision, they shall document the extent to which they have done so in periodic reports to the State Board of Education. These reports shall include any information and documentation required by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall certify to the State Treasurer from time to time the extent to which the match requirements of this sub‑sub‑subdivision have been met with respect to each county. Bond proceeds shall be distributed for expenditure only as, and to the extent, the matching requirement of this sub‑sub‑subdivision are satisfied, as certified by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall also require counties to report annually on the impact of funds provided under this act on the property tax rate for that year. These reports shall be public documents and shall be furnished to any citizen upon request. If the State Board of Education determines that a county has not met the matching requirement set forth in this sub‑sub‑subdivision by January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall certify that fact to the State Treasurer by March 1, 2026. Amounts that are allocated in the ADM Growth Allocation of bond proceeds under subdivision (1) of this subsection and that have not been certified as matched by the State Board of Education by January 1, 2026, shall be reallocated among the counties that have been certified as having met the matching requirement for that allocation. The reallocation shall be made among the eligible counties in proportion to the amount of ADM Growth Allocations for those counties under subdivision (1) of this subsection. Amounts that are allocated in the ADM Allocation of bond proceeds under subdivision (1) of this subsection and that have not been certified as matched by the State Board of Education by January 1, 2026, shall be reallocated among the counties that have been certified as having met the matching requirement for that allocation. The reallocation shall be made on the basis of average daily membership of the local school administrative units within the remaining counties. Bond proceeds reallocated to a county because of a local school administrative unit's average daily membership within the county may be used only with respect to public school capital outlay projects of that unit. Bond proceeds reallocated to a county under this sub‑subdivision must be matched at the same rate as bond proceeds allocated to the county under this sub‑sub‑subdivision.
4.	In determining between projects for which bond proceeds are allocated, the State Board of Education shall give consideration to those projects that primarily involve materially improving the energy efficiency of the school facility.
b.	With respect to proceeds allocated in subdivision (1a) of this subsection:
1.	The proceeds shall be used for new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations. Any items purchased with such proceeds and installed or replaced as part of a renovation or rehabilitation must have a useful life of at least 10 years or must extend the life of the facility by at least 10 years once renovated or rehabilitated. In order to receive the proceeds under this sub‑subdivision for projects for new construction, the constituent institution receiving the proceeds shall provide matching funds from other non‑State funds. Constituent institutions are not required to match bond proceeds allocated in this section for rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations.
2.	In determining the allocation of proceeds, the Board of Governors shall consider the following factors: (i) size of the entity, with a focus on smaller campuses; (ii) population historically served, with a focus on historically minority‑serving institutions; (iii) development tier area designations, with a focus on lower development tier areas; (iv) constituent institutions operating a school serving any grade, kindergarten through 12, with a focus on such institutions; and (v) length of outstanding repairs and renovations requests, with a focus on longer outstanding requests.
c.	With respect to proceeds allocated in subdivision (1b) of this subsection:
1.	The proceeds shall be used for upgrades to the enterprise resource planning information technology ("the ERP system"), new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities, and repairs and renovations.
2.	Any items purchased with such proceeds for new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations and installed or replaced as part of a renovation or rehabilitation must have a useful life of at least 10 years or must extend the life of the facility by at least 10 years once renovated or rehabilitated. In order to receive the proceeds under this sub‑subdivision for projects for new construction, the community college receiving the proceeds shall provide local matching funds from county funds, other non‑State funds, or a combination of these sources for such proceeds. The amount of matching funds shall be (i) one dollar ($1.00) of local matching funds for every three dollars ($3.00) of such proceeds for a community college with a main campus located in a development tier one area, as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, (ii) one dollar ($1.00) of local matching funds for every two dollars ($2.00) of such proceeds for a community college with a main campus located in a development tier two area, as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, and (iii) one dollar ($1.00) of local matching funds for every one dollar ($1.00) of such proceeds for a community college with a main campus located in a development tier three area, as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08. Community colleges are not required to match bond proceeds allocated in this section for rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations. The provisions of G.S. 115D‑31, or any other provision of law permitting prior expenditures to be used for match purposes, do not apply for purposes of meeting the matching funds requirements of this act.
3.	In determining between projects for which bond proceeds are allocated, the Community Colleges System Office shall give first priority to the ERP system project and shall prioritize allocation of the remainder of funds among projects for new construction and repairs and renovations by ranking the projects for the various community colleges according to three components, as follows: (i) the development factor ranking by the Secretary of Commerce, as provided in G.S. 143B‑437.08, for identification of the development tier of the county in which the project is located, which shall be single weighted, (ii) the community college's repairs and renovations needs, which shall be double weighted, and (iii) the community college's additional square footage needs, which shall be single weighted.
SECTION 1.(f)  Allocation and Tracking of Proceeds. –
(1)	Education bonds. – The proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, except the proceeds of bonds, the issuance of which has been anticipated by bond anticipation notes or the proceeds of refunding bonds or notes, shall be placed by the State Treasurer in a special fund to be designated "Education Bonds Fund," which may include such appropriate special accounts therein as may be determined by the State Treasurer and shall be disbursed as provided in this section. Monies in the Education Bonds Fund shall be allocated and expended as provided in this section.
Any additional monies that may be received by means of a grant or grants from the United States of America or any agency or department thereof or from any other source for deposit to the Education Bonds Fund may be placed in the Education Bonds Fund or in a separate account or fund and shall be disbursed, to the extent permitted by the terms of the grant or grants, without regard to any limitations imposed by this section.
Monies in the Education Bonds Fund or any separate account established under this section may be invested from time to time by the State Treasurer in the same manner permitted for investment of monies belonging to the State or held in the State treasury, except with respect to grant money to the extent otherwise directed by the terms of the grant. Investment earnings, except investment earnings with respect to grant monies to the extent otherwise directed or restricted by the terms of the grant, may be (i) credited to the Education Bonds Fund or (ii) used to satisfy compliance with applicable requirements of the federal tax law.
The proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, may be used with any other monies made available by the General Assembly for funding the projects authorized by this section, including the proceeds of any other State bond issues, whether heretofore made available or that may be made available at the session of the General Assembly at which this section is ratified or any subsequent sessions. The proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, shall be expended and disbursed under the direction and supervision of the Director of the Budget. The funds provided by this section shall be disbursed for the purposes provided in this section upon warrants drawn on the State Treasurer by the State Controller, which warrants shall not be drawn until requisition has been approved by the Director of the Budget and which requisition shall be approved only after full compliance with the State Budget Act, Chapter 143C of the General Statutes.
(2)	Tracking of bond proceeds. – The State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's designee is hereby authorized and directed to set up a comprehensive system of tracking the proceeds of the education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, to the extent necessary to enable the State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's designee to properly account for the use of such proceeds for compliance with applicable requirements of the federal tax law or otherwise. All recipients of such proceeds shall comply with any tracking system implemented by the State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's designee for this purpose. The State Treasurer may withhold proceeds if the recipient fails to comply with this subdivision.
(3)	Costs. – Allocations to the costs of a capital improvement or undertaking in each case may include allocations to pay the costs set forth in sub‑subdivisions c. through g. of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section in connection with the issuance of bonds for that capital improvement or undertaking.
SECTION 1.(g)  Election. – The question of the issuance of the bonds authorized by this section shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the time of the election in 2020 when voters of this State are given an opportunity to express their preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of their political party. Any other primary, election, or referendum, validly called or scheduled by law at the time the election on the bond question provided for in this subsection is held, may be held as called or scheduled. Notice of the election shall be given in the manner and at the times required by G.S. 163A‑769(8). The election and the registration of voters therefor shall be held under and in accordance with the general laws of the State. Absentee ballots shall be authorized in the election.
The State Board of Elections (State Board) shall reimburse the counties of the State for all necessary expenses incurred in holding the election that are in addition to those that would have otherwise been incurred, the same to be paid out of the Contingency and Emergency Fund or other funds available to the State Board.
Ballots, voting systems authorized by Subpart 2 of Part 3 of Article 20 of Chapter 163A of the General Statutes, or both may be used in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Board. The bond question to be used in the ballots or voting systems shall be in substantially the following form:
"[ ] FOR	[ ] AGAINST
The issuance of one billion nine hundred million dollars ($1,900,000,000) State of North Carolina Education Bonds constituting general obligation bonds of the State secured by a pledge of the faith and credit and taxing power of the State for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, (i) for public school facilities through grants to counties for public school capital outlay projects, in the amount of one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000), (ii) for community college facilities for community college capital outlay projects, repairs and renovations, in the amount of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000), and (iii) for The University of North Carolina facilities for capital outlay projects for constituent institutions, and repairs and renovations at such institutions, in the amount of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000)."
If a majority of those voting on a bond question in the election vote in favor of the issuance of the bonds described in the question, those bonds may be issued as provided in this section. If a majority of those voting on a bond question in the election do not vote in favor of the issuance of the bonds described in the question, those bonds shall not be issued.
The results of the election shall be canvassed and declared as provided by law for elections for State officers; the results of the election shall be certified by the State Board to the Secretary of State in the manner and at the time provided by the general election laws of the State.
SECTION 1.(h)  Issuance of Bonds and Notes. –
(1)	Terms and conditions. – Bonds or notes may bear such date or dates, may be serial or term bonds or notes, or any combination thereof, may mature in such amounts and at such time or times, not exceeding 40 years from their date or dates, may be payable at such place or places, either within or without the United States of America, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, may bear interest at such rate or rates, which may vary from time to time, and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the State or otherwise as may be provided by the State, at such price or prices, including a price less than the face amount of the bonds or notes, and under such terms and conditions, all as may be determined by the State Treasurer by and with the consent of the Council of State.
(2)	Signatures; form and denomination; registration. – Bonds or notes may be issued as certificated or uncertificated obligations. If issued as certificated obligations, bonds or notes shall be signed on behalf of the State by the Governor or shall bear the Governor's facsimile signature, shall be signed by the State Treasurer or shall bear the State Treasurer's facsimile signature, and shall bear the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina or a facsimile thereof shall be impressed or imprinted thereon. If bonds or notes bear the facsimile signatures of the Governor and the State Treasurer, the bonds or notes shall also bear a manual signature, which may be that of a bond registrar, trustee, paying agent, or designated assistant of the State Treasurer. Should any officer whose signature or facsimile signature appears on bonds or notes cease to be such officer before the delivery of the bonds or notes, the signature or facsimile signature shall nevertheless have the same validity for all purposes as if the officer had remained in office until delivery, and bonds or notes may bear the facsimile signatures of persons who at the actual time of the execution of the bonds or notes shall be the proper officers to sign any bond or note, although at the date of the bond or note such persons may not have been such officers. The form and denomination of bonds or notes, including the provisions with respect to registration of the bonds or notes and any system for their registration, shall be as the State Treasurer may determine in conformity with this section; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall prohibit the State Treasurer from proceeding, with respect to the issuance and form of the bonds or notes, under the provisions of Chapter 159E of the General Statutes, the Registered Public Obligations Act, as well as under this section.
(3)	Manner of sale; expenses. – Subject to the consent of the Council of State, the State Treasurer shall determine the manner in which bonds or notes shall be offered for sale, whether at public or private sale, whether within or without the United States of America, and whether by publishing notices in certain newspapers and financial journals, mailing notices, inviting bids by correspondence, negotiating contracts of purchase, or otherwise, and the State Treasurer is authorized to sell bonds or notes at one time or from time to time at such rate or rates of interest, which may vary from time to time, and at such price or prices, including a price less than the face amount of the bonds or the notes, as the State Treasurer may determine. All expenses incurred in preparation, sale, and issuance of bonds or notes shall be paid by the State Treasurer from the proceeds of bonds or notes or other available monies.
(4)	Notes; repayment. –
a.	Subject to the consent of the Council of State, the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow money and to execute and issue notes of the State for the same, but only in the following circumstances and under the following conditions:
1.	For anticipating the sale of bonds to the issuance of which the Council of State shall have given consent, if the State Treasurer shall deem it advisable to postpone the issuance of the bonds.
2.	For the payment of interest on or any installment of principal of any bonds then outstanding, if there shall not be sufficient funds in the State treasury with which to pay the interest or installment of principal as they respectively become due.
3.	For the renewal of any loan evidenced by notes herein authorized.
4.	For the purposes authorized in this section.
5.	For refunding bonds or notes as herein authorized.
b.	Funds derived from the sale of bonds or notes may be used in the payment of any bond anticipation notes issued under this section. Funds provided by the General Assembly for the payment of interest on or principal of bonds shall be used in paying the interest on or principal of any notes and any renewals thereof, the proceeds of which shall have been used in paying interest on or principal of the bonds.
(5)	Refunding bonds and notes. – By and with the consent of the Council of State, the State Treasurer is authorized to issue and sell refunding bonds and notes pursuant to the provisions of the State Refunding Bond Act for the purpose of refunding bonds or notes issued pursuant to this section. The refunding bonds and notes may be combined with any other issues of State bonds and notes similarly secured.
(6)	Tax exemption. – Bonds and notes shall be exempt from all State, county, and municipal taxation or assessment, direct or indirect, general or special, whether imposed for the purpose of general revenue or otherwise, excluding inheritance and gift taxes, income taxes on the gain from the transfer of bonds and notes, and franchise taxes. The interest on bonds and notes shall not be subject to taxation as to income.
(7)	Investment eligibility. – Bonds and notes are hereby made securities in which all public officers, agencies, and public bodies of the State and its political subdivisions; all insurance companies, trust companies, investment companies, banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, pension or retirement funds, other financial institutions engaged in business in the State; executors, administrators, trustees, and other fiduciaries may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Bonds and notes are hereby made securities that may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any officer or agency of the State or political subdivision of the State for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds, notes, or obligations of the State or any political subdivision of the State is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.
(8)	Faith and credit. – The faith and credit and taxing power of the State are hereby pledged for the payment of the principal of and the interest on bonds and notes. In addition to the State's right to amend any provision of this section to the extent it does not impair any contractual right of a bond owner, the State expressly reserves the right to amend any provision of this section with respect to the making and repayment of loans, the disposition of any repayments of loans, and any intercept provisions relating to the failure of a local government unit to repay a loan, the bonds not being secured in any respect by loans, any repayments thereof, or any intercept provisions with respect thereto.
SECTION 1.(i)  Variable Interest Rates. – In fixing the details of bonds and notes, the State Treasurer may provide that any of the bonds or notes may:
(1)	Be made payable from time to time on demand or tender for purchase by the owner thereof, provided a credit facility agreement supports the bonds or notes, unless the State Treasurer specifically determines that a credit facility agreement is not required, upon a finding and determination by the State Treasurer that the absence of a credit facility agreement will not materially or adversely affect the financial position of the State and the marketing of the bonds or notes at a reasonable interest cost to the State;
(2)	Be additionally supported by a credit facility agreement;
(3)	Be made subject to redemption or a mandatory tender for purchase prior to maturity;
(4)	Bear interest at a rate or rates that may vary for such period or periods of time, all as may be provided in the proceedings providing for the issuance of the bonds or notes, including, without limitation, such variations as may be permitted pursuant to a par formula; and
(5)	Be made the subject of a remarketing agreement whereby an attempt is made to remarket bonds or notes to new purchasers prior to their presentment for payment to the provider of the credit facility agreement or to the State.
If the aggregate principal amount repayable by the State under a credit facility agreement is in excess of the aggregate principal amount of bonds or notes secured by the credit facility agreement, whether as a result of the inclusion in the credit facility agreement of a provision for the payment of interest for a limited period of time or the payment of a redemption premium or for any other reason, then the amount of authorized but unissued bonds or notes during the term of such credit facility agreement shall not be less than the amount of such excess, unless the payment of such excess is otherwise provided for by agreement of the State executed by the State Treasurer.
SECTION 1.(j)  Interpretation of Section. –
(1)	Additional method. – The foregoing subsections of this section shall be deemed to provide an additional and alternative method for the doing of the things authorized thereby and shall be regarded as supplemental and additional to powers conferred by other laws and shall not be regarded as in derogation of any powers now existing.
(2)	Statutory references. – References in this section to specific sections or Chapters of the General Statutes or to specific acts are intended to be references to these sections, Chapters, or acts as they may be amended from time to time by the General Assembly.
(3)	Broad construction. – The General Assembly specifically has chosen to combine what otherwise might be considered differing projects to be financed into one bond bill and bond question because the General Assembly finds that such differing projects, when taken together, constitute an interrelated, united, and single plan for the State's infrastructure as stated aforesaid. Accordingly, this section, being necessary for the health, welfare, and advancement of the people of the State, shall be broadly construed to affect the purposes thereof.
(4)	Inconsistent provisions. – Insofar as the provisions of this section are inconsistent with the provisions of any general laws, or parts thereof, the provisions of this section shall be controlling.
(5)	Severability. – If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this section are declared to be severable.
SECTION 1.(k)  Other Agreements. – The State Treasurer may authorize, execute, obtain, or otherwise provide for bond issuance, investment contracts, credit and liquidity facilities, interest rate swap agreements and other derivative products, and any other related instruments and matters the State Treasurer determines to be desirable in connection with the issuance of bonds and notes.
SECTION 2.  Each entity, upon receiving the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, issued pursuant to and for projects listed in Section 1 of this act, shall administer, supervise, and ensure that use of the proceeds comport with the purposes provided in this act. Each local school administrative unit, along with the corresponding board of county commissioners, shall jointly submit to the State Board of Education a plan for the expenditure of proceeds allocated to it under this act. After the State Board of Education determines that a local school administrative unit's planned expenditure of part or all of the proceeds allocated to it is within the purposes provided in this act, the State Board of Education shall make the proceeds to which the plans apply available to the local school administrative unit. Each local school administrative unit receiving the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, issued pursuant to Section 1 of this act shall report by January 1, 2022, and quarterly thereafter, to the State Board of Education on the projects funded from education general obligation bonds authorized by Section 1 of this act, and the State Board of Education shall combine the reports and submit them to the Joint Legislative Capital Oversight Committee, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget. Each report shall include the total project costs, the amount to be funded from the bonds, the expenditures to date from the bonds and other sources, and the percentage of each project completed.
Each constituent institution of The University of North Carolina receiving the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, issued pursuant to subdivision (1a) of Section 1(e) of this act shall report by January 1, 2022, and quarterly thereafter, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Capital Improvements, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget on the projects funded from education general obligation bonds authorized by Section 1 of this act. Each report shall include the total project costs, the amount to be funded from the bonds, the expenditures to date from the bonds and other sources, and the percentage of each project completed.
Community colleges receiving the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, issued pursuant to subdivision (1b) of Section 1(e) of this act shall report by January 1, 2022, and quarterly thereafter, to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office on the projects funded from education general obligation bonds authorized by Section 1 of this act, and the System Office shall combine the reports and submit them to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Capital Improvements, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget. Each report shall include the total project costs, the amount to be funded from the bonds, the expenditures to date from the bonds and other sources, and the percentage of each project completed.
SECTION 3.(a)  Projects funded in whole or in part with the proceeds of education bonds and notes, including premium thereon, if any, issued pursuant to this act, and that portion of funds estimated to be needed for escalation of costs shall remain with the Office of State Budget and Management and shall be disbursed only for the following purposes:
(1)	To address unforeseen contingencies related to the specific project for which the funds were made available.
(2)	To address inflation costs related to that specific project.
SECTION 3.(b)  Any funds retained by the Office of State Budget and Management pursuant to subsection (a) of this section at the time a project is completed shall be retained by the Office of State Budget and Management. The Office of State Budget and Management shall report on any funds retained pursuant to this subsection within 90 days of a project's completion.
SECTION 4.  Notwithstanding the period of time provided in G.S. 163A‑1045(a) for which transfers are effective, transfers of voters from a given precinct, for the purpose of voting, to an adjacent precinct for the election held as required in Section 1(g) of this act shall be for that election only and shall not apply to any subsequent election.
SECTION 5.  Any funds from the Education Bond expended for school technology for public schools shall be reported to the State Board of Education and shall be credited against the judgment in N.C. Sch. Bds. Ass'n. v. Moore, No. 98‑CVS‑14159 (N.C. Super. Ct.).
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.