GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 549*

 

 

Short Title:      UNC Benchmark/Reporting Dates.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representative Fraley.

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Referred to:

Education - Universities

April 5, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT authorizing the board of governors to set the expenditure benchmark for the president of the university of north carolina at an amount consistent with the maximum benchmark set for constituent institutions; authorizing the board of governors to submit annual progress reports on the installation of fire sprinklers in residence halls; and changing the date by which the board of governors shall begin reporting annually the number of students who graduated from early college high school and applied for admission to a constituent institution.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 116‑31.10 reads as rewritten:

"§ 116‑31.10.  Powers of Board regarding certain purchasing contracts.

(a)        Notwithstanding G.S. 143‑53.1 or G.S. 143‑53(a)(2), the expenditure benchmark for the President of The University of North Carolina or a special responsibility constituent institution with regard to competitive bid procedures and the bid value benchmark shall be an amount not greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). The Board shall set the benchmark for the President and each institution from time to time. In setting an institution's the benchmark for the President or an institution in accordance with this section, the Board shall consider the institution's overall capabilities including staff resources, purchasing compliance reviews, and audit reports.reports of the President's administrative staff or the institution. The Board shall also consult with the Director of the Division of Purchase and Contract and the Director of the Budget prior to setting the benchmark.

(b)        Each If the President or a constituent institution with has an expenditure benchmark greater than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), the President or constituent institution shall comply with this subsection for any purchase greater than the President's or institution's benchmark set by the Board but not greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). This The President or institution shall submit to the Division of Purchase and Contract for that Division's approval or other action deemed necessary by the Division a copy of all offers received and the President's or institution's recommendation of award or other action. Notice of the Division's decision shall be sent to that the President or the institution. The President or institution shall then proceed with the award of contract or other action recommended by the Division."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 143‑53.1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 143‑53.1.  Setting of benchmarks; increase by Secretary.

(a)        On and after July 1, 2014, the procedures prescribed by G.S. 143‑52 with respect to competitive bids and the bid value benchmark authorized by G.S. 143‑53(a)(2) with respect to rule making by the Secretary of Administration for competitive bidding shall promote compliance with the principles of procurement efficiency, transparency, and fair competition to obtain the State's business. For the President of The University of North Carolina or a special responsibility constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, the benchmark prescribed in this section is as provided in G.S. 116‑31.10. For community colleges, the benchmark prescribed in this section is as provided in G.S. 115D‑58.14.

…."

SECTION 3.  Section 26.4 of S.L. 2012‑142 reads as rewritten:

"REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS RESERVE ALLOCATION

…

"SECTION 26.4.(b)  Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑4‑3(d), of the funds allocated to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina in subsection (a) of this section, a portion shall be used by the Board of Governors for the installation of fire sprinklers in university residence halls. This portion shall be in addition to funds otherwise appropriated in this act for the same purpose. Such funds shall be allocated among the university's constituent institutions by the President of The University of North Carolina, who shall consider the following factors when allocating those funds:

(1)        The safety and well‑being of the residents of campus housing programs.

(2)        The current level of housing rents charged to students and how that compares to an institution's public peers and other UNC institutions.

(3)        The level of previous authorizations to constituent institutions for the construction or renovation of residence halls funded from the General Fund, or from bonds or certificates of participation supported by the General Fund, since 1996.

(4)        The financial status of each constituent institution's housing system, including debt capacity, debt coverage ratios, credit rankings, required reserves, the planned use of cash balances for other housing system improvements, and the constituent institution's ability to pay for the installation of fire sprinklers in all residence halls.

(5)        The total cost of each proposed project, including the cost of installing fire sprinklers and the cost of other construction, such as asbestos removal and additional water supply needs.

The Board of Governors shall submit progress reports to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations. Reports shall include the status of completed, current, and planned projects. Reports also shall include information on the financial status of each constituent institution's housing system, the constituent institution's ability to pay for fire protection in residence halls, and the timing of installation of fire sprinklers. Reports shall be submitted on January 1 and July 1 of each year until all residence halls have fire sprinklers.

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SECTION 4.  Section 11.16 of S.L. 2015‑241 reads as rewritten:

"EARLY COLLEGE GRADUATES/UNC ADMISSION POLICY

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"SECTION 11.16.(b)  Beginning March 1, 2017, September 30, 2017, the Board of Governors shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee regarding the number of students who graduated from a cooperative innovative high school program with an associate degree and which option was chosen by those students when applying for admission to a constituent institution.

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SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.