A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to fund the driver education program from unclaimed lottery prize money for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year and from the proceeds of a late fee on motor vehicle registration in subsequent fiscal years.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEDICATED SOURCE OF REVENUES FOR DRIVER EDUCATION
SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20‑88.03.  Late fee; motor vehicle registration.
(a)	Late Fee. – In addition to the applicable fees required under this Article for the registration of a motor vehicle and any interest assessed under G.S. 105‑330.4, the Division shall charge a late fee according to the following schedule to a person who pays the applicable registration fee required under this Article after the registration expires:
(1)	If the registration has been expired for less than one month, a late fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00).
(2)	If the registration has been expired for one month or greater, but less than two months, a late fee of twenty dollars ($20.00).
(3)	If the registration has been expired for two months or greater, a late fee of twenty‑five dollars ($25.00).
(b)	Proceeds. – The clear proceeds of any late fee charged under this section shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C‑457.2. These funds shall be used to provide a dedicated source of revenue for the driver education program administered by the Department of Public Instruction in accordance with G.S. 115C‑215 and shall be appropriated annually by the General Assembly for this purpose.
(c)	Construction. – For purposes of this section, payment by mail of a registration fee required under this Article is considered to be made on the date shown on the postmark stamped by the United States Postal Service. If payment by mail is not postmarked or does not show the date of mailing, the payment is considered to be made on the date the Division receives the payment."

DECREASE IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT STUDENTS ARE CHARGED FOR DRIVER EDUCATION
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑216(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	Fee for Instruction. – The local boards of education shall fund driver education courses from funds available to them and may charge each student participating in a driver education course a fee of up to forty‑five dollars ($45.00) to offset the costs of providing the training and instruction."

REVIEW OF DRIVER EDUCATION CURRICULUM
SECTION 3.  After the issuance of the final report of the North Carolina State Driver Education Assessment conducted in May 2015 using the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards as a guide, the Department of Public Instruction shall review and revise the driver education program to ensure that instruction in driver education is consistent with best practices.

CONFORMING CHANGE
SECTION 4.  Section 8.15(b) of S.L. 2014‑100 is repealed.

APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM UNCLAIMED LOTTERY PRIZE MONEY FOR FY 2015‑2016
SECTION 5.  Notwithstanding G.S. 18C‑162(c) there is appropriated from the unclaimed lottery prize money to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of twenty‑eight million dollars ($28,000,000) for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year for the driver education program administered by the Department of Public Instruction in accordance with G.S. 115C‑215.

APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE CIVIL PENALTY AND FORFEITURE FUND FOR FY 2016‑2017
SECTION 6.  There is appropriated from the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of twenty‑six million dollars ($26,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2016‑2017 fiscal year for the driver education program administered by the Department of Public Instruction in accordance with G.S. 115C‑215.

EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.