Bill > H665

This bill establishes the Public School Disaster Preparedness Fund, a special revenue fund administered by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to help schools in high-risk areas improve or replace existing structures to mitigate damage from future natural disasters. The fund will be initially funded with $25 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, and local school administrative units can apply for disbursements by submitting a disaster preparedness plan that identifies vulnerable structures, their associated risks, and proposed improvements. The State Board of Education will develop rules for determining risk levels, creating preparedness plan templates, and evaluating applications, with approval requiring a unanimous vote. Approved school districts must submit annual reports detailing fund expenditures and progress towards their preparedness plans, and the DPI must provide an annual report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee summarizing fund disbursements and the status of ongoing preparedness efforts. The bill will become effective on July 1, 2025, providing a structured approach to helping schools in disaster-prone areas become more resilient to potential weather-related damage.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H665