GRADUTATIONS/SCHOOL CALENDAR/CERTAIN COUNTIES. (NEW)

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 129 (Local) Filed Tuesday, February 23, 2021
AN ACT TO PERMIT INCREASED ACCESS TO INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FACILITIES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES FOR GRADUATION OR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES IN PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO CERTAIN LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS TO ALIGN THE SCHOOL CALENDARS OF THOSE UNITS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
Intro. by K. Hall, Lambeth, Carter, Stevens.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Apr 29 2021)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was AN ACT TO PERMIT INCREASED ACCESS TO CERTAIN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPORTING FACILITIES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES FOR SPORTING EVENTS IN PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

H 129

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Apr 13 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition deletes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following.

    Makes the act applicable to only Rockingham, Stokes, and Surry counties.

    Requires the governing board of a public or nonpublic school to consult with the local health department and set out the number of people who may attend graduation or commencement ceremonies held for the 2020-21 school year. Prohibits that number from exceeding the occupancy or fire capacity of the venue used for the ceremony.

    Amends GS 115C-84.2 to provide that the school opening and closing dates (no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and no later than the Friday closest to June 11, respectively) do not apply when the school's calendar is aligned so that it is no earlier than the opening date of a community college serving the county in which the school unit is located. Makes organizational and clarifying changes. Applies beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

    Makes conforming changes to the act's titles.


  • Summary date: Feb 23 2021 - View Summary

    Applicable to the counties of Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin only, establishes the following requirements for indoor and outdoor sporting events at qualifying schools, defined to include public and nonpublic schools, community colleges, and UNC constituent institutions, notwithstanding emergency executive or secretarial orders or directives. Sets a permitted occupancy range for sporting facilities with a certificate of occupancy in accordance with the State Building Code, limiting spectators to no less than 25% and no more than 50% capacity. Defines spectator to exclude athletes and their families, as defined, school employees, entertainers, and support staff. Requires qualifying schools to comply with the following in allowing access to sporting facilities, so long as the applicable requirements do not conflict with the act: (1) the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12), as it existed February 2, 2021; (2) Interim Guidance for Administrators and Participants of Youth and Amateur Sports Programs, as it existed on January 28, 2021; and (3) Interim Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education, as it existed December 23, 2020. Expires at the earlier of December 31, 2021, or the date the Governor issues an executive order rescinding Executive Order No. 116 (2020), or lifts restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic.