A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR HEART/STROKE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE STROKE ADVISORY COUNCIL, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE JUSTUS‑WARREN HEART DISEASE AND STROKE PREVENTION TASK FORCE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly supports the recommendations of the Stroke Advisory Council, as approved by the Justus‑Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force in January 2009.  Initial charges to the Task Force were:
(1)	The Justus‑Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force shall work with health care providers across the State to establish a system of regionally distributed and locally determined stroke care networks for the State.
(2)	The Stroke Advisory Council shall include in its comprehensive plan a process for identifying and disseminating information about certified primary stroke centers in order to assist in the configuration and operation of regional systems of stroke care.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated to the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Branch for continuation of public awareness campaigns and communication strategies in partnership with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association on stroke signs and symptoms and the importance of immediate response.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated for continued operations of the Stroke Advisory Council.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.