A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the tarheel challenge academy for improvements to the program and to support the adoption of the high school diploma and credit recovery program.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in recurring funds for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year to make improvements to the Tarheel Challenge Academy program, including improvements to infrastructure and grounds, employment of temporary staff, and other program activities and costs. These funds will provide a State match for up to one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in federal funds that have been made available for this purpose.
SECTION 1.(b)  If federal funds are not made available for the Tarheel Challenge Academy program in a subsequent fiscal year, the Department of Public Safety may use the funds appropriated in subsection (a) of this section for improvements to the Tarheel Challenge Academy program for that fiscal year.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety the sum of three hundred seven thousand dollars ($307,000) in recurring funds for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year for the Tarheel Challenge Academy program. These funds shall be used to enter into an education contract for the adoption of the High School Diploma and Credit Recovery program for students enrolled in the Tarheel Challenge Academy and to create six full‑time equivalent teacher positions, with three teacher positions allocated to each campus, to support implementation of the program. Adoption of the High School Diploma and Credit Recovery program will align the Tarheel Challenge Academy with the National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017.