A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the "apseed" pilot project and appropriate funds for that purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), shall establish a three‑year pilot project to implement the "ApSeed" program, a program designed to prepare preschool‑age children, ages birth through four years of age, for prekindergarten through an interactive learning device known as a "seedling" (a device similar to an iPad). The seedling provides games varying in skill level depending on the age and capability of the child and advances in level as the child gains proficiency.
SECTION 1.(b)  The following counties shall participate in the pilot project described under subsection (a) of this section: Forsyth, Hoke, New Hanover, Watauga, and Yadkin. Each of those counties shall select preschool‑age children to participate in the pilot project the county, in its discretion, identifies as having the greatest need, taking into consideration poverty level as a factor.
SECTION 2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), the sum of two million five hundred thousand hundred dollars ($2,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium to provide for the equipment and costs associated with the "ApSeed" pilot project established by this act. These funds shall be allocated to the five counties participating in the pilot project with each county receiving an amount up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), as determined by the Division, for each year of the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium.
SECTION 2.(b)  For the 2021‑2022 fiscal year only, the Director of Budget shall also include in the base budget, as defined by G.S. 143C‑1‑1(d)(1c), the amount of nonrecurring funds needed to support the pilot project established in this act. Upon completion of the pilot project, any unexpended funds shall revert back to the General Fund.
SECTION 3.  Within six months after completion of the pilot project, the Division shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include, at a minimum, each of the following:
(1)	The number of children served, by age and county.
(2)	The skills gained by the participants as compared to those children who did not participate in the pilot project.
(3)	The extent of parental involvement in the pilot project.
(4)	Total project costs, including any administrative costs.
(5)	The amount of funds needed to expand the program statewide.
(6)	Any other relevant information deemed appropriate.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.