GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 496
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Short Title: Patriotic Youth Group Access. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Representatives Ross, Bell, Tyson, and Ward (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site. |
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Referred to: |
Education - K-12, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House |
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March 25, 2025
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ALLOW CIVIC YOUTH GROUPS TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 115C‑206 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑206. State Board of Education; duties; responsibilities.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare and present to the State Board of Education recommendations for general guidelines for encouraging increased community involvement in the public schools and use of public school facilities. These recommendations shall include, but shall not be limited to provisions for:
…
(4) Local boards of
education are to be directed to give priority in the use of school facilities to
Requiring public school units to permit any youth group listed in
Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy
Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and
the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina
groups and councils, in order to encourage schools to facilitate access for
students to participate in activities provided by these groups at times other
than instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging
civic education.the opportunity to give a presentation on the purpose of
the group, how to become a member of the group, and encouraging civic
education. Presentations given pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed 10
minutes and shall be scheduled between the start and release times of the
instructional day. Presentation time does not count toward any instructional
hour requirements. Nothing in this section, or a policy or rule adopted
pursuant to this section, shall be construed as requiring a public school unit
to provide equal access to an organization that is not designated as a patriotic
organization.
…."
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C‑150.12C(28) reads as rewritten:
"(28) Access for youth
groups. – Schools for the deaf and blind are encouraged to facilitate access
for students to participate in activities provided by any youth group listed in
Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy
Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the
Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina
groups and councils. Student participation in any activities offered by these
organizations shall not interfere with instructional time during the school day
for the purposes of encouraging civic education.shall develop policies
to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools in accordance with
the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4)."
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 115C‑207 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑207. Authority and responsibility of local boards of education.
Every local board of education that uses State funds to implement programs under this Article shall:
…
(4) Give priority in the
use of school facilities to any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United
States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and its
affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl Scouts of the
United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and
councils, in order to encourage schools to facilitate access for students to
participate in activities provided by these groups at times other than
instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging civic
education. If the local board of education denies priority access to a
patriotic society listed in Title 36 of the United States Code, the local board
shall provide reasons for the denial in writing to the requesting entity.Develop
policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools in
accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4).
…."
SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 115C‑218.75(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f) Access for Youth
Groups. – Charter schools are encouraged to facilitate access for students
to participate in activities provided by any youth group listed in Title 36 of
the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of
America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl
Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina
groups and councils. Student participation in any activities offered by these
organizations shall not interfere with instructional time during the school day
for the purposes of encouraging civic education.Charter schools shall
develop policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools
in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4)."
SECTION 2.(d) G.S. 115C‑238.66(13) reads as rewritten:
"(13) Access for youth
groups. – Regional schools are encouraged to facilitate access for students
to participate in activities provided by any youth group listed in Title 36 of
the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of
America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl
Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina
groups and councils. Student participation in any activities offered by these
organizations shall not interfere with instructional time during the school day
for the purposes of encouraging civic education.Regional schools shall
develop policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools
in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4)."
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.