Bill Summary for S 357 (2023-2024) (2024)

House amendment #1 to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

Section 1

Extends the time that nonrecurring appropriation funds that will revert to the fund from which the appropriation was so that those funds remain available for expenditure until December 31, 2024 (was, September 30, 2024).

Section 2

Removes provisions pertaining to the reduction of funds for premium pay bonuses under SL 2021-180 and the allocation form SFRF to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for child care stabilization grants. Reduces the following nine State Fiscal Recovery Funds appropriated in SL 2021-180:

• Economic Assistance Funds to the Administrative Office of the Courts by $964,680
• Motorsports to the Department of Commerce (DOC) by $125,338
• Premium Pay Bonuses to DHHS by $11,993,088
• Temporary Assistance Funding for ICF/IID’s by $4,686
• Smart School Bus Pilot to the Department of Public Instruction by $3,327,585
• Mainframe Migration to the Department of Revenue (DOR) by $372,237
• Business Recovery Grant Program to DOR by $2,917,143
• Longleaf Commitment Grants to UNC Board of Governors by $13,148,275
• DEQ for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants by $800 million.

Requires state agencies in possession of the above described funds to return the funds to the State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) not later than fifteen business days after the section becomes law. Specifies that if the reductions above are not sufficient to meet the funding reallocations below, the Office of State Budget and Management (OMB) in conjunction with the NC Pandemic Recovery Office, identify additional SFRF funds to meet the allocations.

Directs OMB to allocate SFRF funds for the following purposes:

• $32,853,032 to the Department Health and Human Services (DHHS) for Childcare Stabilization Grants
• $800 million to OSBM to offset existing General Fund appropriations across State government for allowable uses of SFRF funds for FY 2024-2025, to be fully expended by June 30, 2025.

Appropriates $800 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for FY 2024-25 to DEQ for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants.

Section 2A

Appropriates $32,853,032 from SFRF in nonrecurring funds to DHHS’s Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division) from SFRF, $25,498,922 in nonrecurring funds from the Child Care and Development and Block Grant, and $9,148,046 from the General Fund to continue the compensation grants portion of the child care stabilization grants. Requires the Division to continue the compensation grants portion of the child care stabilization grants for the first two quarters of FY 2024-25 at a reduced level to stay within the provided funding limits.

Amends Section 9M.1 of SL 2023-134, as amended, to increase the appropriation lined as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to the Division for Subsidized Child Care from $45,813,694 to $52,316,626; the total TANF funds from $312,353,987 to $318,856,919 for FY 2024-25. Amends Section 9M.1 of SL 2023-134 as amended, to amends the appropriation lined as Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant, Local Program Expenditures, as follows: (1) reduces child care services from $289,070,072 to $282,567,140; (2) increases Quality and Availability Initiatives funds from $61,980,526 to $87,479,448; and overall (3) increases the Total Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant from $411,280,123 to $430,302,451. Specifies that of the $87,479,448 appropriated $25,498,922 must be used to extend the compensation grants portion of the child care stabilization grants.

Amends GS 115C-562.8 (opportunity scholarship grant reserve) and GS 115C-597 to authorize the State Education Assistance Authority (Authority) to allocate unused funds of the additional administrative costs of the Personal Education Student Accounts for Children with Disabilities Program if the actual costs of administering the scholarship grant program is less than the funds authorized for administering the program. Amends the amount the Authority may use for administrative costs.

Amends GS 116-143.1 (relating to provisions for determining resident status for tuition purposes), so that any citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau who is a nonresident is eligible to be charged in-State tuition rate and pay the full amount of the in-State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees. Effective July 1, 2024, and applicable beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.