H 374

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  1
  HOUSE BILL 374
 Short Title:   NCARCOG Funding/Operations Improvements.  (Public)
 Sponsors:      Representatives Cohn, Logan, Dew, and K. Brown (Primary Sponsors).
  For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
 Referred to:   Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  March 12, 2025
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTION AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM AND
3     THE OPERATIONS OF REGIONAL COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT.
4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
5SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of
6 Commerce the sum of three million nine hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,950,000) in recurring
7 funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to be allocated to the North Carolina Association of Regional
8 Councils of Governments (NCARCOG), which shall use the funds to create a financial
9 administration program. This program shall provide the resources to employ 32 additional
10 finance professionals in the 16 regional councils of governments created pursuant to
11 G.S. 160A-470 to assist small local governments and public authorities with returning to
12 compliant status. NCARCOG shall prioritize assistance funded under this section to small units
13 of local government and public authorities (i) with limited means and (ii) on the Unit Assistance
14 List issued by the Department of State Treasurer.
15SECTION 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of
16 Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, the sum of three million nine hundred
17 thousand dollars ($3,900,000) in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to be allocated to
18 the NCARCOG, which shall use the funds to develop, implement, and provide relief pursuant to
19 a disaster response plan. The plan shall include specific standards and goals for building capacity;
20 assisting relief efforts, including local financial administration training, assistance for applying
21 for federal disaster recovery funds, and technical assistance for post-disaster recovery periods to
22 identify and facilitate repair of infrastructure, health, safety, and rebuilding needs; and increasing
23 readiness and resiliency in the event of future natural disasters. NCARCOG shall consult with
24 the Division of Emergency Management in developing the plan required by this section, and the
25 Division of Emergency Management shall identify and incorporate the plan in areas where the
26 Division's disaster relief plans might be made more efficient or effective by collaborating and
27 aligning disaster response with regional councils of government.
28SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
  *H374-v-1*