Part I.

Amends GS 115C-218.85 to allow a charter school to meet the required number of instructional hours/days by providing in-person or blended instruction, with blended instruction referring to a combination of remote and in-person classroom instruction. Amends GS 115C-218.8 by adding that providing blended instruction is not considered a material revision of the charter. 

Part II.

Enacts new GS 115C-218.27 providing that a charter school is not obligated to give a local board of education demographic information on its student body or any individual student enrolled at the charter school except to the extent the information is necessary for the local school administrative unit to verify that a student enrolled in the charter school resides within the local school administrative unit.

Part III. 

Amends GS 115C-218.100 which requires that upon dissolution of a charter school, all of the school's net assets purchased with public funds be deemed the property of the local school administrative unit in which the charter school is located; now excludes capital-sourced assets from this requirement. Defines capital-sourced assets as including: (1) capital funds provided to a charter school by one or more counties pursuant to new GS 115C-218.105(b1) and (2) net assets purchased or improved with such funds, up to the total amount of the funds provided. Deems capital-sourced assets to be the property of the county or counties providing the funding and, if applicable, divided between the counties in proportion to the funds provided. 

Enacts new GS 115C-218.105(b1) allowing counties to provide funds to charter schools by direct appropriation under new GS 153A-460 and limits the use of those funds to: (1) the acquisition of real property for school purposes; (2) the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, renovation, or replacement of buildings and other structures; and (3) the acquisition or replacement of furniture and furnishings, instructional apparatus, technology, data-processing equipment, business machines, and similar items of furnishings and equipment. Enacts new (b2) providing that if a charter school uses funds provided in subsection (b1) to acquire or improve property, the amount provided by the county must be evidenced by a promissory note and secured by a deed of trust on the property acquired or improved by the funds. Allows the county to subordinate the deed of trust to other liens to facilitate the acquisition or improvement of the property secured by the deed of trust. If the charter school repays the amount to the county, the county must, for the property acquired or improved by the funds, execute and file a deed of release or other documentation of satisfaction showing the charter school repaid the county in the amount of the capital funds provided.

Amends GS 153A-149 to allow a county to levy property tax for the purpose of providing capital funds for charter schools.

Enacts new GS 150A-460 authorizing counties to appropriate funds and lease real property to charter schools and limits the use of funds to the purposes described above in new GS 115C-218.105(b1).

Part IV. 

Enacts new GS 115C-218.107 stating the NCGA's intent to ensure that all funds for public school students attending charter schools are provided in amounts comparable to funds provided for public school students attending other public school units.

Part V.

Amends GS 115C-270.20 by amending the requirement for licensure for a residency license to include when the license is requested by a charter school board of directors. 

Part VI.

Specifies that the act applies beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

Enacts new Article 43, Peer Support Specialist Certification Act, in GS Chapter 90, providing for the following. Provides that the purpose of the Article is to protect the public safety and welfare by certifying individuals to provide peer support services, including Medicaid or State-funded peer support. Prohibits a person from claiming or holding out oneself to the public as certified under the provisions of this Article unless the individual possesses a current certification as a peer support specialist.

Establishes the 11-member North Carolina Peer Support Specialist Certification Oversight Board (Board). Establishes member appointment authority and requirements and sets out qualifications to be met by a member who is a certified peer support specialist. Sets out the Board's 14 powers and duties, including: deny, issue, suspend, revoke, and renew certifications in accordance with the provisions of this Article; conduct administrative hearings in accordance with Article 3A of GS Chapter 150B; develop standards for curricula certifications and standards for accreditation; develop and maintain a Board website that includes an online complaint filing system and procedure; and submit an annual report to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Requires applicants for certification as a peer support specialist to: (1) be 18 or older; (2) have a lived experience of a mental health or substance use disorder; (3) have been in recovery for at least one year; (4) have completed a training course approved by the Board; (5) paid any applicable fees; (6) provide written proof to the Board of a high school diploma or its equivalent; and (7) submit a completed application, with two letters of reference, provided by the Board for certification under this Article. Requires individuals certified under this Article to renew certification every two years through the submission of an approved application; certifications expire two years after the date of issuance unless they are renewed. Provides that after the first two years, a certification is to be renewed every two years on or before the date of birth on the certification. Sets out criminal background check requirements for applicants. Keeps information provided for the the background check confidential and allows charging a fee for the background check. Provides that if the Board denies, revokes, or suspends a certification based on information obtained in a criminal history record check, the Board must disclose to the person the information contained in the criminal history record check that is relevant to the Board's actions. Gives the person the right to appear before the Board to appeal the Board's decision; an appearance before the Board constitutes an exhaustion of administrative remedies in accordance with GS Chapter 150B. Sets out fees for: application for certification, application processing, examination, application for specialization, renewal of certification, renewal of specialization, late fee, and duplicate of original certification.

Provides that the Article does not prevent: (1) an individual from conducting activities or services in offering peer-to-peer support; (2) physicians, psychologists, or other licensed professionals or practitioners from engaging in scope-of-practice activities; (3) fee-based pastoral counselors, clergy, family partners peer support, or other qualified professional group members from providing peer support and other related services; or (4) any individual participating in working with or participating in 12-step programs, assistance programs, or other related programs that provide support services.

Allows the Board to seek an injunction against a person violating or seeking to violate the Article. Allows the Board to assess a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for violations of the Article; sets out issues to be considered when fixing the penalty amount. Requires the Board to establish a schedule of civil penalties for violations of this Article. Allows the Board to assess the costs of disciplinary actions against a person found to be in violation of this Article or rules adopted by the Board. Makes violations of the Article a Class 2 misdemeanor. Provides civil immunity to the Board and its officers, employees, and staff, either personally or in their official capacity, for exercising, in good faith, the powers and duties given to the Board under this Article for denying certification or reinstatement of a certification to an applicant or revoking a certification based on information provided in the applicant's criminal history record check.

Effective October 1, 2023.

Requires the Board to adopt temporary rules to implement this act, which will remain in effect until permanent rules that replace the temporary rules become effective. Requires the initial Board appointments to be made on or before October 1, 2021, with the initial terms of the appointees beginning on January 1, 2022.

Deems any individual who possesses a certification as a peer support specialist issued by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services prior to this act becoming effective, to be in compliance with the act's provisions for the two-year period of that individual's certification. Requires those individuals to comply with the act's provisions when renewing their certifications when this act becomes effective.

Amends GS 14-160.1, which makes it illegal to (1) alter, deface, destroy or remove the permanent serial number, manufacturer's identification plate, or other permanent, distinguishing number or identification mark from any item of personal property with the intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of said item or (b) knowingly to sell, buy, or be in possession of any item of personal property, not one's own, on which the permanent serial number, manufacturer's identification plate, or other permanent, distinguishing number or identification mark has been altered, defaced, destroyed or removed for the purpose of concealing or misrepresenting the identity of said item. All violations were a Class 1 misdemeanor; now makes it a (1) Class 1 misdemeanor if the personal property was valued at less than $1,000 at the time of the offense or (2) a Class H felony if the personal property was valued at $1,000 or more at the time of the offense.

Amends GS 14-401.4(d), which prohibits willfully removing, defacing, destroying, altering or covering over the manufacturer's serial or engine number or any other manufacturer's number or other distinguishing number or identification mark on any machine or other apparatus, including, but not limited to, farm equipment, machinery and apparatus, and prohibits placing or stamping any serial, engine, or other number or mark upon such machinery, apparatus, or equipment or possessing or giving away or disposing of such machinery, apparatus, or equipment after the serial or engine number or mark has been willfully removed, defaced, destroyed, altered, or covered up. All violations were a Class 1 misdemeanor; now makes it a (1) Class 1 misdemeanor if the farm machinery, farm equipment, or farm apparatus was valued at less than $1,000 at the time of the offense or (2) a Class H felony if the farm machinery, farm equipment, or farm apparatus was valued at $1,000 or more at the time of the offense.

Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.

Enacts new GS 71A-7.3 to designate and officially recognize the following as the Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation of North Carolina (Tuscarora Nation of Indians) as of July 1, 2021: the Indians now residing in small communities in various North Carolina counties, who in 1718 were granted a 56,000-acre tract of reservational lands on the Roanoke River in what is now Bertie County and who are of the same linguistic stock as the other tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy of New York and Canada. Specifies that they continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges, and immunities as an American Indian Tribe with a recognized tribal governing body carrying out and exercising substantial governmental duties and powers similar to the State, being recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Effective July 1, 2021.

Includes whereas clauses.

Part I.

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to submit any necessary State Plan amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the merger of the NC Health Choice program into the North Carolina Medicaid program on January 1, 2022, which would eliminate NC Health Choice. Makes all children currently eligible for NC Health Choice eligible for Medicaid on January 1, 2022. 

Appropriates $134,000 for 2021-22 from the General Fund to the DHHS, Division of Health Benefits, for needed IT changes to the North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology System (NC FAST). Provides that these funds provide a State match for $266,000 in nonrecurring federal funds for the 2021-22 fiscal year and appropriates those federal funds to the Division of Health Benefits for IT changes to the NC FAST system.

Repeals Part 8 of Article 2 of GS Chapter 108A, Health Insurance Program for Children.

Amends GS 108A-54.3A to require Medicaid coverage to be provided to children though age 18 with family incomes equal or less than 210% of the federal poverty guidelines (makes a conforming removal of children age 6-18 with family a income equal or less than 133% of the federal poverty guidelines). 

Effective January 1, 2022.

Part II.

Makes conforming changes by removing references to NC Health Choice and the Health Insurance Program for Children in the following: GS 90-21.50, GS 105-164.13, GS 108A-24, GS 108A-54.1B, GS 108A-142, GS 108C-2, GS 108C-13, GS 108D-1, GS 108D-1, GS 108D-2, GS 108D-13, GS 108D-14, GS 108D-15, GS 108D-35, GS 143-682, the title of Article 23 of GS Chapter 120, GS 120-209, GS 120-209.1, GS 120-209.3, GS 120-209.4. Makes additional technical changes. Makes conforming repeals of GS 108A-57(c) and GS 150B-1(e)(17). 

Requires the Revisor of Statutes to eliminate the following phrases from wherever they appear in the General Statutes: (1) Health Choice, (2) NC Health Choice, (3) NC Health Choice program, (4) North Carolina Health Choice, and (5) North Carolina Health Insurance Program for Children. Requires the Revisor of Statutes to change all references to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice wherever it appears in the General Statutes to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid.

Effective January 1, 2022.

Includes whereas clauses.

Part I.

Provides for an additional $10,000 per year, paid in monthly amounts, for school psychologists for 2021-22 in addition to the salary provided under the "A" Teacher Salary Schedule. Provides for a 12% salary supplement, based on the modified salary, for school psychologists who have Nationally Certified School Psychologists Certification for 2021-22. Defines school psychologist to include licensed personnel of the public schools who are classified as such.

Appropriates $14,000,664 in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2021-22 to provide these compensation increases.

Effective July 1, 2021.

Part II.

Enacts GS 115C-318.1, directing the State Board of Education (State Board) to establish the School Psychologists Recruitment and Retention Program (program) to recruit and retain high-quality school psychologists to identified public school units (broadly defined to include charter schools, regional schools, and schools operated by the State Board, UNC, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Safety, as specified) by providing signing and retention bonuses to select school psychologists. Provides for administration by a recruitment and retention coordinator at DPI, who is to coordinate with identified public school units to allocate any funds appropriated to the Program. Establishes five parameters for funding allocation, including required terms of agreement between the identified public school unit and the school psychologist, which is subject to the coordinator's approval, capped individual bonuses at $10,000, and required considerations of identified public school units. Directs the recruitment and retention coordinator to quarterly report to the specified NCGA leaders, committee and division, beginning September 30, 2021, on the name of the identified public school units that received funds, the amount of funds received, and the purposes for which the funds were used.

Appropriates $650,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund to DPI for 2021-22 to establish and implement the program, with DPI directed to use $100,000 to establish one new, full-time equivalent recruitment and retention coordinator position to administer the program. 

Effective July 1, 2021.

Part III.

Appropriates $4,526,550 in recurring funds from the General Fund to DPI for 2021-22 to provide monthly stipends to up to 100 school psychology interns, for a period for up to 12 months, equal to the monthly salary amounts provided on the first step of the Teacher Salary Schedule for school psychologists. Requires DPI to establish selection criteria that includes enrollment in a graduate program accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists and agreement to an internship of at least 1,200 hours of field experience on a full-time basis over the course of an academic year.

Includes whereas clauses.

Enacts new GS 95-31.1 making it State public policy that the employment at-will doctrine is inconsistent with the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Abolishes the doctrine of at-will employment in this state and allows an employee to be fired only for just cause.

Amends GS 116-143.1 (provisions for determining resident status for tuition purposes in State supported institutions of higher learning). Adds new subsection (n) to establish that a person who meets four qualifications must be accorded resident tuition status: (1) the person received a high school diploma from a secondary or high school within North Carolina or received a high school equivalency diploma within North Carolina; (2) the person attended NC schools for a minimum of two consecutive years immediately prior to high school graduation; (3) if the person does not have lawful immigration status, then the person must also file an affidavit with the constituent institution or community college to which the person is enrolled stating that the person has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so; and (4) the person satisfies the admission standards for the constituent institution or community college to which the person applied and has secured admission and enrolled as a student at the constituent institution or community college. Adds new subsection (o) to establish that any information obtained as part of the process for applying for in-State tuition pursuant to new subsection (n) is confidential and not public record. Effective July 1, 2021, and applies beginning with the 2021-22 academic year. 

Enacts GS 115C-98A to require the governing bodies of public school units to ensure the following information is annually posted on each school's website, organized by subject area and grade level: (1) the instructional materials and activities that were used during the prior school year, as specified, and (2) any procedures for the documentation, review, or approval of the learning materials for instruction at the school. Details further requirements of the information for identification of materials and activities used. Specifies that digital reproduction of the materials or separate reporting of material components is not required. Defines activities and instructional materials. Does not require compliance by a governing body that is responsible for the operation of schools with fewer than 500 students cumulatively.

Amends GS 115C-12, GS 115C-47, GS 115C-238.66, and GS 115C-218.85 to require the State Board, local boards, regional school boards of directors, and charter schools to ensure that the information about instructional materials is displayed on the websites of innovative schools, schools for students with visual and hearing impairments, each school in the respective administrative unit, regional schools (appears to also intend charter schools) as appropriate for each authority. Similarly amends GS 116-239.8 to enact identical requirements of chancellors to ensure that information about instructional materials is displayed on the websites of laboratory schools.

Applies beginning with the display of instructional materials used during the 2021-22 school year. 

Enacts GS 114-2.7B, directing the Department of Justice (Department) to develop and maintain a statewide database for use by law enforcement agencies that tracks all critical incident data of officers in the State. Defines critical incident as one involving any use of force by an officer that results in death or serious bodily injury to a person. Requires consultation with the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission. Requires cooperation of all law enforcement agencies in the State. Provides for information collected that is confidential under State or federal law to remain confidential.

Enacts the following statutes, requiring the specified law enforcement agency or type of agency to provide the Department requested information regarding the use of force of its officers to maintain the statewide database pursuant to GS 114-2.7B, and providing for continued confidentiality of the information as appropriate: GS 20-196.7 (State Highway Patrol and State Troopers); GS 74E-10.2 (company police agencies and their law enforcement officers); GS 74G-10.2 (campus police agencies and their law enforcement officers); GS 143B-927.2 (the State Bureau of Investigation and its law enforcement officers); GS 153A-213.1 (counties and their law enforcement officers); and GS 160A-290.1 (cities and their law enforcement officers).

Effective October 1, 2021. 

Subject to approval of voters at the general election in 2022, makes the following changes to Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution. Amends Section 6 by adding the following concerning vacancies on the NC Supreme Court and makes conforming changes to the Section's title. Requires that when there is a vacancy in the office of a Justice by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Governor must, no later than seven days after receiving a list of three nominees from the State executive committee of the political party with which the vacating Justice was affiliated when elected, appoint one person from the list to serve for the unexpired part of the term. Amends Section 7 by adding the following concerning vacancies on the NC Court of Appeals and makes conforming changes to the Section's title. Requires that when there is a vacancy in the office of a judge by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Governor must, no later than seven days after receiving a list of three nominees from the State executive committee of the political party with which the vacating judge was affiliated when elected, appoint one person from the list to serve for the unexpired part of the term. If approved, the amendments become effective January 1, 2023, and apply to vacancies occurring on or after that date.