H.B. 986
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
May 2, 2024
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH30460-MTa-234
Short Title: UNC AI Hubs. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Hawkins.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HUBS AT CONSTITUENT
3 INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO
4 APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6 SECTION 1. No later than December 1, 2024, the Board of Governors of The
7 University of North Carolina shall select up to three constituent institutions of The University of
8 North Carolina to serve as Artificial Intelligence Hubs (AI Hubs) in this State. At least one AI
9 Hub shall be one of North Carolina's Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities or North
10 Carolina's Historically American Indian University, the University of North Carolina at
11 Pembroke. Each AI Hub shall convene industry and academia to ensure that artificial intelligence
12 (i) generates economic growth for the State of North Carolina and (ii) protects the rights and
13 liberties of the citizens of this State.
14 SECTION 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors
15 of The University of North Carolina for the 2024-2025 fiscal year the following sums for AI
16 Hubs in this State:
17 (1) Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in nonrecurring funds to be allocated
18 equally among constituent institutions selected for an AI Hub pursuant to
19 Section 1 of this act, to establish AI Hubs, including necessary infrastructure.
20 These funds shall not be made available to a selected constituent institution
21 until that institution matches ten percent (10%) of the funds made available
22 pursuant to this subdivision with non-State funds.
23 (2) One million dollars ($1,000,000) in recurring funds to be allocated equally
24 among each constituent institution selected for an AI Hub pursuant to Section
25 1 of this act. These funds shall be used for operational support and personnel
26 needed for the AI Hubs, including to establish an expert in residence position
27 at each AI Hub.
28 SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2024.
*DRH30460-MTa-234*