Identical to H 97, filed 2/12/13.

Under current law, 40% of the North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds are allocated to the Public School Building Capital Fund (Capital Fund) for school construction. Current law also prohibits use of money in the Capital Fund to pay for school technology needs. Amends GS 115C-546.2(d) to permit a county to use the monies in the Capital Fund to meet digital learning needs such as school connectivity, digital textbooks and instructional resources, or digital devices for the time period beginning July 1, 2012, through June 20, 2016.

Requires that a county using these funds to meet digital learning needs also use a portion of the funds to ensure high-quality, ongoing professional development for teachers.

Effective July 1, 2016, only permits a county to use money from the Capital Fund for digital learning needs if the State Board of Education determines that the local school administrative unit has shown consistent growth and improvement in student outcomes.