Enacts Article 7, the NC Emergency Citizen Pilot Training Program (Program), to GS Chapter 166A to set standards and certification for citizen pilots to assist emergency response and recovery operations after declared disasters. Places the Program within the Division of Emergency Management (Division) of the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Tasks the Director of Emergency Management (director) with administering the Program. Requires the Program to offer classes and training courses, training emergency citizen pilots on four specified skill areas including, assisting State and federal emergency response and recovery operations after declared disasters within an emergency area in GS 166A-72. Caps Program fees at $500. Establishes an Emergency Citizen Pilot Registry (Registry) maintained by DPS that lists all certified emergency citizen pilots who have an active status (defined), or inactive status (defined) certificate awarded by the Program. Requires continuing education to maintain active status. Directs DPS to work with the State Emergency Response Team, units of local governments, its Civil Air Patrol Section, other State agencies, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop standards, criteria, best practices, safety standards, and any other criteria necessary in its discretion to integrate emergency citizen pilot training into the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and other disaster response plans in GS 166A-73.
Includes emergency citizen pilots as one of those first responders who are eligible for unpaid leave from civilian employment in the event of a declaration of emergency under GS 166A-19.76.
Also includes emergency citizen pilots as emergency management workers under GS 166A-19.60, setting out immunity and liability for emergency management activities.
Effective October 1, 2025.
Requires the Division to adopt rules to implement the act and to have the Program operational by January 1, 2027. Instructs the Division to report to the specified NCGA committee on the implementation of the Program on or before October 1, 2026, and one year after.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 166A-19.76, 166A-19.60