FILED SENATE
Mar 25, 2021
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.B. 351
SESSION 2021 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE BILL DRS45191-MKa-111
Short Title: Be Pro Be Proud NC Pilot Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Johnson and Sawyer (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES SYSTEM
3 OFFICE FOR THE BE PRO BE PROUD NORTH CAROLINA PILOT PROGRAM.
4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
5 SECTION 1. Program Established; Purpose. – From the funds appropriated in
6 Section 3 of this act, the Community Colleges System Office shall contract with Be Pro Be Proud
7 to build, implement, operate, and support a three-year mobile statewide workforce development
8 pilot program. The pilot program shall focus on generating student, parent, and educator interest
9 in technical professions within the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and utility
10 industries by emphasizing the high-tech, high-wage potential of these student career paths. The
11 program shall also support progress towards North Carolina's postsecondary attainment goals to
12 increase postsecondary degrees and certificates in the skilled trade professions.
13 SECTION 2. Components of the Program. – In meeting the goals of the pilot
14 program, Be Pro Be Proud shall provide for at least the following:
15 (1) A custom-built mobile workshop that brings elements of up to 12 skilled
16 professions to middle and high school students through simulators and virtual
17 reality experiences. Students on board this state of the art workshop will learn
18 about various careers, job responsibilities, and average statewide wages for
19 each career while stepping virtually into these professions. Students can
20 engage directly with partners and are invited to sign up to learn more about
21 one or more professions of interest.
22 (2) Information and data collection for students by setting up a digital profile on
23 Be Pro Be Proud's national "Join the Movement" partnership. With the
24 consent of parents and students participating in the mobile workshops, the data
25 collected shall be shared with the Community Colleges System Office,
26 Department of Public Instruction, myFutureNC Commission, industry
27 associations, and companies that are prompted to connect with the potential
28 student recruits. The database management system shall provide a connection
29 for student internships, scholarships, apprenticeships, full-time jobs, and other
30 opportunities.
31 (3) Follow-up opportunities for interested students to pursue their interests
32 through hands-on leadership opportunities, including gaining onsite learning
33 experiences, volunteering, and participating in networking opportunities with
34 potential job and postsecondary school recruiters.
35 (4) Motivation for interested educators to stay engaged through a combination of
36 scholarship opportunities and incentive programs.
*DRS45191-MKa-111*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021
1 (5) Operation of the pilot program to coincide with the public school instructional
2 calendar and various events for students that take place throughout the
3 summer. A Be Pro Be Proud team shall operate the day-to-day functions of
4 the statewide tour and engage with students each day. Additional volunteers
5 shall be recruited to assist with the pilot program, including partner
6 associations, companies, and schools, as well as teachers, parents, and
7 students.
8 SECTION 3. Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the
9 Community Colleges System Office the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring
10 funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year for the contract with Be Pro Be Proud to implement the
11 mobile statewide workforce development pilot program in accordance with the requirements of
12 this act. Any unexpended funds at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund
13 but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes described by this act until June 30,
14 2024.
15 SECTION 4. Report. – The Community Colleges System Office shall submit a
16 report by April 1, 2024, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal
17 Research Division on the activities described by this act and the use of State funds.
18 SECTION 5. This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.
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