GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 656

Short Title:      College of Albemarle/Construction Funds.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representative Steinburg. For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to:	State and Local Government I, if favorable, Education - Community Colleges

April 11, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to provide flexibility to the college of the ALBEMARLE in using state funds to enter into certain construction projects for educational facilities with the counties served by the community college.

Whereas, the College of the Albemarle is in need of new facilities to educate and prepare adult and high school students in northeastern North Carolina for the economic enhancement of the region, to promote the transfer of students to four‑year baccalaureate degree programs, and to increase the public safety and vocational skills in high demand throughout the region; and

Whereas, the College of the Albemarle's service delivery area includes seven counties and four campuses, with several counties within this area willing to invest public funds into construction of educational facilities for skills training and college transfer programs for the benefit of students throughout the region; and

Whereas, the College of the Albemarle and the counties in the community college's service delivery area mutually desire to enter into long‑term lease agreements for the College of the Albemarle to occupy educational facilities to be constructed by the counties on property currently owned by the counties; and

Whereas, Dare County and Currituck County wish to use construction delivery methods chosen by the counties as owners of the educational facilities; and

Whereas, the College of the Albemarle would need exemptions from certain State law requirements to enter into such an agreement with the counties and use State funds, including Connect NC Bond funds; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Board of Trustees of the College of the Albemarle shall be exempt from any provisions of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes that require a community college to be the owner of real property to expend available State funds, including Connect NC Bond funds, for the construction and renovation of educational facilities for projects in which construction and renovation of educational facilities shall be on county property of a county within the service area of the College of the Albemarle, including the counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank, and Perquimans, and shall be leased for a period of at least 30 years to the Board of Trustees of the College of the Albemarle, including for the following pending projects:

(1)        Construction of two facilities and renovation of a third facility located in Dare County. The facilities would house community college transfer programs and health care, public safety, and other vocational community college programs for adults and for high school students participating in Career and College Promise programs.

(2)        Construction of a public safety facility located in Currituck County, which would enable the relocation of the community college's emergency services programs.

SECTION 2.  The Board of Trustees of the College of the Albemarle may contract for the renovation or construction of educational facilities as described in Section 1 of this act with any of the counties within the service area of the College of the Albemarle, including the counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank, and Perquimans, without being subject to the provisions of Chapter 133 of the General Statutes, Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, and G.S. 143‑341.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.