A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to best buddies north carolina.
Whereas, there are more than 41,000 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) enrolled in North Carolina's public schools, community colleges, and public universities; and
Whereas, an overwhelming majority of young people ages 12‑21, including many with IDD, experience bullying, leading to loneliness and depression; and
Whereas, Best Buddies North Carolina (BBNC) is a highly successful, high‑demand program that creates opportunities for one‑to‑one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with IDD; and
Whereas, BBNC can focus on expanding in North Carolina with the support of State funds and matched by funds raised by the organization; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to Best Buddies International, North Carolina Chapter, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year in nonrecurring funds to support volunteer training, staff supervision of school‑based chapters, and focused areas for program expansion efforts in three regions: the Piedmont (Union, Gaston, and Lincoln Counties), Coastal (Brunswick, Lee, Craven, and Pitt Counties), and Mountain (Cherokee, Macon, and Watauga Counties).
SECTION 2.  The funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act shall be allocated quarterly provided BBNC raises funds to match this appropriation on the basis of one dollar ($1.00) of non‑State funds for every two dollars ($2.00) of State funds. BBNC shall periodically inform the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, of the amount of matching funds it has raised. The Department may allocate the funds appropriated in this act only to the extent that the required matching funds have been raised.
SECTION 3.  Within three months of receiving an allocation of State funds, BBNC shall submit a detailed report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on the following: (i) the progress made in raising the non‑State matching funds, (ii) how the State funds are being utilized, and (iii) how expansion into areas not currently served by the BBNC will be prioritized.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.