Enacts GS Chapter 17C, Article 3 (North Carolina Police Leadership Fellows Program), and provides definitions for the Article. Establishes the 10-member North Carolina Police Leadership Fellows Committee as a special committee of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission in GS 17C-31. Outlines the membership of the committee, terms of office, meeting schedule and vacancy procedures.

Establishes the Police Leadership Fellows Program goal of increasing criminal justice professionals by providing forgivable loans for bachelor’s degrees from constituent institutions of the UNC System in criminal justice and related fields selected by the committee in GS 17C-32. Outlines the administration of the program and the procedure for awarding forgivable loans, up to a maximum of $20,000 per recipient. Requires at least 50 recipients each year, with a cap of 100. Creates eligibility criteria, including residency in the state and lack of criminal history, and an application process. Specifies that the committee must adopt standards for awarding the loans based on scholastic profiles and potential for excellence in criminal justice provisions. Provides the obligations for recipients, including maintaining enrollment and a minimum 2.0 GPA in appropriate credit hours for the required degree. Requires the program administrator and committee to report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety no later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter on the number of loans awarded, student performance, employment, forgiveness and termination of loans, and retention rates of recipients in the criminal justice profession.

Specifies the terms of the forgivable loans in GS 17C-33. Caps interest rates for loans at 10%. Provides that loans and interest will be forgiven if the recipient is employed on a full-time basis for a period of at least eight years in an eligible criminal justice profession. Allows for extensions and conditions of repayment if the recipient decides to forego criminal justice employment. Provides default terms and procedures if the recipient does not comply with the terms of the program.

Effective July 1, 2025.