A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide additional funds for the community college child care program.
Whereas, the cost of child care is a significant barrier to many students accessing higher education; and
Whereas, many students are in danger of dropping out or not enrolling at all because they cannot afford child care while they are attending classes; and
Whereas, to alleviate the problem, the General Assembly has appropriated funds for the Community College Child Care Program; and
Whereas, this program provides funding for child care services at each community college to assist student parents enrolled in that community college; and
Whereas, funding for this program is very limited and serves only an average of 1,100 students a year; and 
Whereas, approximately 1,800 students remain unserved under the current level of funding; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of three million sixty thousand dollars ($3,060,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of three million sixty thousand dollars ($3,060,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to meet the needs of students who remain unserved by the Community College Child Care Program.  These funds are in addition to continuation budget funds appropriated for this program.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.