A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for enrollment growth at North Carolina's community colleges AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR additional COOPERATIVE INNOVATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Findings. – The General Assembly finds all of the following regarding the role of community colleges in the response of the State to the COVID‑19 pandemic:
(1)	The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has devastated the economy in North Carolina, caused unprecedented job loss, and significantly disrupted the delivery of education by traditional four‑year institutions of higher education.
(2)	COVID‑19 has caused students enrolled in four‑year institutions of higher education primarily receiving online instruction to seek less expensive alternatives.
(3)	North Carolina community colleges can offer courses to students at a significantly lower cost than four‑year institutions of higher education.
(4)	Students who take courses at community colleges can successfully transfer credits to four‑year institutions of higher education later in their education pathways and overall have comparably positive educational outcomes to those attending traditional colleges and universities at substantial savings.
(5)	North Carolina community colleges also offer short‑term workforce training courses for unemployed individuals who have lost their jobs due to COVID‑19, which is crucial to the recovery of the economy in North Carolina.
(6)	Enrollment has particularly increased in short‑term workforce education due to the growing emphasis of North Carolina's community colleges in meeting the needs of the businesses of the State and people recognizing the value and quality of a community college education.
SECTION 2.  Transfer. – The State Controller shall transfer the sum of forty‑one million five hundred thousand dollars ($41,500,000) from the Coronavirus Relief Reserve established in Section 2.1 of S.L. 2020‑4 to the Coronavirus Relief Fund established in Section 2.2 of that same act.
SECTION 3.  Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) the sum of forty‑one million five hundred thousand dollars ($41,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to be allocated to the Community Colleges System Office for enrollment growth at North Carolina's community colleges.
SECTION 4.  Requirements. – The requirements and limitations set forth in Part I of S.L. 2020‑4 shall apply to the funds appropriated by Section 3 of this act. OSBM shall include the funds transferred and appropriated under Sections 2 and 3 of this act in the report required under Section 1.7 of S.L. 2020‑4.
SECTION 4A.(a)  Appropriation to the State Public School Fund from the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. – There is appropriated from the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund to the State Public School Fund the sum of one million eight hundred eighty thousand dollars ($1,880,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year. By August 15, 2020, the Office of State Budget and Management shall reduce the appropriations to the State Public School Fund from the General Fund by the sum of one million eight hundred eighty thousand dollars ($1,880,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year.
SECTION 4A.(b)  Appropriation to the Department of Public Instruction. – From the funds made available pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one million eight hundred eighty thousand dollars ($1,880,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to be allocated to local school administrative units in amounts consistent with those set forth in Section 7.22 of S.L. 2017‑57 as supplemental funding for the following cooperative innovative high schools for the 2020‑2021 school year:
(1)	The Center for Industry, Technology, and Innovation.
(2)	The Innovation Early College High School.
(3)	The Marine Sciences and Technologies Early College High School.
(4)	The Roanoke Rapids Early College High School.
(5)	The Southeast Area Technical High School.
(6)	Halifax Early College High School.
(7)	Stanly STEM Early College High School.
(8)	Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences High School.
SECTION 4A.(c)  Operating Authorization. – For the 2019‑2020 school year and for subsequent school years, notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑238.51A(c), G.S. 115C‑238.54, and any other provision of law, Halifax Early College High School and Stanly STEM Early College High School are permitted to be operating in accordance with G.S. 115C‑238.53 and G.S. 115C‑238.54 as cooperative innovative high schools approved under G.S. 115C‑238.51A(c) and shall be subject to the evaluation requirements of G.S. 115C‑238.55. Beginning with the 2020‑2021 school year and for subsequent school years, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences High School shall be permitted to operate in accordance with G.S. 115C‑238.53 and G.S. 115C‑238.54 as a cooperative innovative high school approved under G.S. 115C‑238.51A(c) and shall be subject to the evaluation requirements of G.S. 115C‑238.55.
SECTION 4A.(d)  State Budget Act Applies. – The provisions of the State Budget Act, Chapter 143C of the General Statutes, are reenacted and shall remain in full force and effect and are incorporated in this act by reference.
SECTION 4A.(e)  Additional Limitations and Directions. – Except where expressly repealed or amended by this act, the provisions of any other legislation enacted during the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly expressly appropriating funds to an agency, a department, or an institution covered under this act shall remain in effect.
SECTION 5.  Effective Date. – This act becomes effective July 1, 2020.