Bill Summary for S 820 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

May 26 2022

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
Senate Bill 820 (Public) Filed Thursday, May 26, 2022
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM AT NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO EXPAND INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE IN THE STATE AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO THE UNITED WAY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO EXPAND ITS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Intro. by Crawford, deViere, Mohammed.

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Bill summary

Includes whereas clauses. Requires the State Board of Community Colleges, within funds appropriated under the act, to establish a grant program for community college campuses to offer courses to students to become tax preparers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and to facilitate providing VITA services to students and community members. Sets out VITA's work. States that the goal of the grant program is for community colleges to provide work-based opportunities to students while facilitating access to the VITA program in local communities. 

Requires participating community colleges to: (1) offer a specified fall curriculum course and a spring work-based learning course to students interested in becoming certified as tax preparers for the VITA program, (2) designate a faculty champion to facilitate the program, and (3) provide VITA services to be offered to all students on campus and community members. Sets out information that a community college must include in its grant application.

Appropriates from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office $1,304,000 in nonrecurring funds and $570,100 in recurring funds for 2022-23 to implement the grant program. Specifies how the funds are to be used and in what amount, including to hire personnel. Of the appropriated funds, directs that $549,000 is to remain available until 2023-24 to provide specified bonuses.

Appropriates $50,000 in nonrecurring funds and $100,000 in recurring funds for 2022-23 from the General Fund to the Department of Revenue for community college personnel and student training and technical assistance associated with the grant program; allows the funds to be used to contract with a third-party vendor.

Appropriates $840,000 from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management for 2022-23 to be allocated as a directed grant to the United Way of NC to expand its VITA program as specified. Specifies that the funds are to remain available until the end of 2023-24. 

Effective July 1, 2022.