H.B. 1048
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
May 2, 2024
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH10549-MTa-246
Short Title: HBCU/HMSI Omnibus. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Hawkins.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS AND MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE LAWS
3 TO SUPPORT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND
4 UNIVERSITIES AND HISTORICALLY MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS IN
5 NORTH CAROLINA.
6 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
7
8 PART I. PERMANENT COMPLETION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
9 SECTION 1.(a) Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by
10 adding the following new section to read:
11 "§ 116-44.9. Completion Assistance Programs.
12 (a) Definition. – For purposes of this section, the term "eligible constituent institutions"
13 refers to the following constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina:
14 (1) Elizabeth City State University.
15 (2) Fayetteville State University.
16 (3) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
17 (4) North Carolina Central University.
18 (5) The University of North Carolina at Asheville.
19 (6) The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
20 (7) The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
21 (8) Winston-Salem State University.
22 (b) Program. – To the extent funds are provided for this purpose, the Board of Governors
23 of The University of North Carolina shall establish a Completion Assistance Program (Program)
24 at each eligible constituent institution. At a minimum, each Program shall meet the following
25 criteria:
26 (1) A student enrolled in a Program established by this section may receive up to
27 one thousand dollars ($1,000) per academic year under that Program to pay
28 for the costs of continuing attendance and earning necessary credit hours at
29 the eligible constituent institution.
30 (2) A student shall be eligible to receive funds under a Program if the student
31 meets at least the following requirements:
32 a. Needs financial assistance to remain enrolled at the eligible constituent
33 institution and earn credits necessary to graduate on time.
34 b. Is a resident for tuition purposes, as provided in G.S. 116-143.1.
35 c. Meets satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the Board.
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1 d. Has completed or is on track to complete at least 60 academic credit
2 hours by the end of the semester in which the funds are provided.
3 e. Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
4 for the academic year in which the funds are provided.
5 f. Has an unpaid balance with the eligible constituent institution. This
6 may include an unpaid balance for tuition, fees, room, board, or other
7 expenses of attendance.
8 (c) Report. – The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall report
9 on each Completion Assistance Program established pursuant to this section to the Joint
10 Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later than March 15 of each year. The report shall
11 include, at a minimum, an analysis of the impact of each Program on the following:
12 (1) On-time graduation rates.
13 (2) Student debt at graduation.
14 (d) Allocation of Funds. – The Board shall allocate funds provided for the Program to
15 each eligible constituent institution of The University of North Carolina proportional to the
16 number of undergraduate students enrolled at each eligible constituent institution who are
17 residents of North Carolina and recipients of a federal Pell Grant."
18 SECTION 1.(b) Section 8.3 of S.L. 2023-134 is repealed.
19 SECTION 1.(c) Notwithstanding the Committee Report described in Section 43.2
20 of S.L. 2023-134, the two million dollars ($2,000,000) in nonrecurring funds allocated for the
21 Completion Assistance Programs enacted in Section 8.3 of S.L. 2023-134 shall instead be used
22 for the Completion Assistance Programs authorized by this section.
23 SECTION 1.(d) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of
24 Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of eight million five hundred thousand
25 dollars ($8,500,000) in recurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year for the Completion
26 Assistance Programs established pursuant to G.S. 116-44.9, as enacted by this section.
27
28 PART II. JOINT LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE AT
29 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
30 SECTION 2.(a) There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee (Committee)
31 on Infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
32 SECTION 2.(b) The Committee shall consist of nine members of the Senate
33 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and nine members of the House of
34 Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President Pro
35 Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint a
36 cochair of the Committee from among its membership. These appointments shall be made no
37 later than September 1, 2024.
38 It is expected that the makeup of the Committee reflect geographic and urban/rural
39 diversity. At least one member of the House of Representatives and at least one member of the
40 Senate shall be from the minority party of their respective chambers.
41 SECTION 2.(c) In consultation with the Board of Governors of The University of
42 North Carolina and the president or equivalent officer of each HBCU in this State, the Committee
43 shall study all of the following related to buildings on HBCU campuses in the State:
44 (1) Threats posed to HBCUs by the proximity of certain facilities to toxic sites.
45 (2) Vulnerability of facilities to natural disasters and environmental risks.
46 (3) Age of facilities.
47 (4) Student enrollment in relation to classroom capacity.
48 (5) The condition of major systems, including heating, ventilation, air
49 conditioning, electrical, water, and sewer.
50 (6) The condition of exterior components of facilities, including roofing,
51 windows, and doors.
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1 (7) Critical health of and other safety conditions of campus buildings.
2 (8) Facilities in significant disrepair and any deferred maintenance on those
3 facilities.
4 (9) Any other issue the Committee considers relevant.
5 SECTION 2.(d) The Committee shall meet upon the call of its cochairs. A quorum
6 of the Committee is a majority of its members. No action may be taken except by a majority vote
7 at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Committee, while in the discharge of its official
8 duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through
9 G.S. 120-19.4. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services, as
10 provided by G.S. 120-32.02. If the Committee hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a
11 State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services. Members
12 of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in
13 G.S. 120-3.1. The expenses of the Committee shall be considered expenses incurred for the joint
14 operation of the General Assembly.
15 SECTION 2.(e) The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and
16 clerical staff to assist the Committee in its work. The Director of Legislative Assistants of the
17 House of Representatives and the Director of Legislative Assistants of the Senate shall assign
18 clerical support to the Committee.
19 SECTION 2.(f) Meetings of the Committee shall begin no later than August 15,
20 2024. The Committee shall submit a final report on the results of its study and development,
21 including proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on or
22 before January 1, 2025, by filing a copy of the report with the Office of the President Pro Tempore
23 of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative
24 Education Oversight Committee, and the Legislative Library. The Committee shall terminate on
25 January 1, 2025, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever comes first.
26
27 PART III. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR CERTAIN HISTORICALLY
28 BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
29 SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors
30 of The University of North Carolina the following sums in nonrecurring funds for the 2024-2025
31 fiscal year:
32 (1) To be allocated to Winston-Salem State University:
33 a. Five million one hundred thousand dollars ($5,100,000) for
34 renovations to Hauser Hall.
35 b. Eight million dollars ($8,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for
36 emergency steam room repairs.
37 c. Two million dollars ($2,000,000) to repair and replace the
38 campus-wide steam distribution system.
39 (2) To be allocated to Fayetteville State University:
40 a. Three million thirty-seven thousand five hundred eighty-five dollars
41 ($3,037,585) to renovate the A.B. Rosenthal Building.
42 b. Two million seven hundred sixty-eight thousand three hundred
43 eighty-five dollars ($2,768,385) to renovate the H.T. Chick building.
44 c. Three million two hundred thousand dollars ($3,200,000) to improve
45 residence hall card access.
46 (3) To be allocated to Elizabeth City State University:
47 a. Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for a sky bridge.
48 b. Two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for a campus-wide
49 lockdown system.
50 c. Two million two hundred forty thousand dollars ($2,240,000) for
51 emergency generator power.
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1 (4) Five million three hundred forty-six thousand three hundred fifty dollars
2 ($5,346,350) to be allocated to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical
3 State University for a boiler replacement.
4 (5) Four million dollars ($4,000,000) to be allocated to North Carolina Central
5 University to repair and replace steam, sewer, and stormwater systems.
6
7 PART IV. NURSING FELLOWS PILOT PROGRAM AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE
8 UNIVERSITY
9 SECTION 4.(a) Article 23 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by
10 adding the following new Part to read:
11 "Part 3A. North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program.
12 "§ 116-209.64. Definitions.
13 The following definitions apply in this Part:
14 (1) Commission. – The North Carolina Nursing Fellows Commission.
15 (2) Director. – The Director of the North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program.
16 (3) Eligible nursing program. – Any educational program in North Carolina
17 leading to a bachelor of science in nursing that is offered by Winston-Salem
18 State University and meant to prepare a person to meet the educational
19 requirements for licensure under Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General
20 Statutes.
21 (4) Forgivable loan. – A forgivable loan made under the Program.
22 (5) Program. – The North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program.
23 (6) Qualifying nurse. – A nurse who meets the following criteria:
24 a. Received a forgivable loan.
25 b. Graduated within 10 years from an eligible nursing program,
26 excluding any authorized deferment for extenuating circumstances.
27 c. Is licensed and employed as a registered nurse in this State.
28 (7) Trust Fund. – The North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program Trust Fund.
29 "§ 116-209.65. North Carolina Nursing Fellows Commission established; membership.
30 (a) Commission Established. – There is established the North Carolina Nursing Fellows
31 Commission. The Commission shall determine program and forgivable loan recipient selection
32 criteria and selection procedures and shall select the recipients to receive forgivable loans under
33 the North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program in accordance with the requirements of this Part.
34 The Director of the North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program shall appoint staff to the
35 Commission.
36 (b) Membership. – The Commission shall consist of 14 members who shall be appointed
37 or serve as ex officio members as follows:
38 (1) The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall appoint
39 four members to the Commission in even-numbered years as follows:
40 a. Two deans of schools of nursing at postsecondary constituent
41 institutions of The University of North Carolina.
42 b. The president of a North Carolina community college.
43 c. A nurse who graduated from a school of nursing located in the State
44 within three years of appointment to serve on the Commission.
45 (2) The General Assembly shall appoint two members to the Commission in
46 odd-numbered years in accordance with G.S. 120-121 as follows:
47 a. One dean of a school of nursing at a private postsecondary institution
48 operating in the State upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the
49 House of Representatives.
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1 b. One dean of a school of nursing at a private postsecondary institution
2 operating in the State upon the recommendation of the President Pro
3 Tempore of the Senate.
4 (3) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint a representative of
5 the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Health and Human Services.
6 (4) The following seven members shall serve as ex officio members to the
7 Commission:
8 a. The chair of the Board of the State Education Assistance Authority, or
9 the chair's designee.
10 b. The Director of the North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program.
11 c. The President of the Winston-Salem State National Alumni
12 Association, or the President's designee.
13 d. The chair of the Board of Nursing, or the chair's designee.
14 e. The chair of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Health Care
15 Facilities Association, or the chair's designee.
16 f. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, or his or her designee.
17 g. The State Treasurer in his or her capacity as Chair of the State Health
18 Plan, or a designee of the State Treasurer who represents the State
19 Health Plan.
20 (c) Terms of Office. – Appointments to the Commission shall be for two-year terms,
21 beginning July 1 and expiring June 30.
22 (d) Vacancies. – Except as otherwise provided, if a vacancy occurs in the membership of
23 the Commission, the appointing authority shall appoint another person meeting the same
24 qualifications to serve for the balance of the unexpired term.
25 (e) Chair; Meetings. – The Director of the