North Carolina SB 991: Community College Workforce Readiness Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 991

Short Title: Community College Workforce Readiness Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Lee, Overcash, and Barnes (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S991-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY 2
COLLEGES AND TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE LAWS AFFECTING 3
NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGES. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
6
PART I. NCCCS IDD WORKFORCE TRAINING EXPANSION 7
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115D-10.21(a) reads as rewritten: 8
"(a) The State Board of Community Colleges shall establish a community college training 9
program for up to 15 25 community colleges. The program shall provide opportunities for 10
micro-credentials or other credentials that lead to increased employment outcomes for 11
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To the extent funds are 12
appropriated for this purpose, the program shall improve the ability of participating community 13
colleges to offer training and educational components that include improving employability skills 14
and providing on-the-job training and apprenticeships with business and industry for individuals 15
with IDD. The goal of the program shall be to inform community colleges and address 16
cross-departmental supports within the individual community colleges on programs for 17
individuals with IDD related to at least the following: 18
(1) Establishing best practices for providing vocational training for individuals 19
with IDD. 20
(2) Providing financial and benefits counseling. 21
(3) Developing strategies on integrating assistive technology. 22
(4) Maximizing access, with supports, to credential and degree programs, 23
including micro-credentials that are established by the State Board. 24
(5) Identifying methods to increase orientation and integration of individuals with 25
IDD into the college community to the greatest extent possible. 26
(6) Determining a needs assessment, marketing, and evaluation to serve a broad 27
array of individuals with developmental and other similar disabilities or 28
learning challenges to assure adequate demand for new or existing programs." 29
SECTION 1.(b) Of the funds appropriated for North Carolina Community Colleges 30
System IDD Workforce Training Expansion in this section, the Community Colleges System 31
Office shall use the funds as follows: 32
(1) The sum of six hundred forty thousand dollars ($640,000) in recurring funds 33
shall be used to create two positions to facilitate the creation of work-based 34
learning opportunities and be dedicated to engagement with business and 35
industry partners statewide. These funds shall also be used for the expansion 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 991-First Edition
of Career and College Promise high school pathways and pre-apprenticeships 1
and work-based learning for individuals with intellectual and developmental 2
disabilities. 3
(2) The sum of eight hundred ten thousand dollars ($810,000) in recurring funds 4
may be used for marketing evaluation, online resources, professional 5
development, and infrastructure support. 6
(3) The remaining funds shall be used to expand the program developed pursuant 7
to G.S. 115D-10.21, as amended by this section. 8
SECTION 1.(c) The Community Colleges System Office shall continue to provide 9
funds to community colleges participating in the program developed pursuant to 10
G.S. 115D-10.21, as amended by this section, at the rate of one hundred ninety-four thousand 11
dollars ($194,000) per participating community college. 12
SECTION 1.(d) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community 13
Colleges System Office the sum of three million eight hundred fifty thousand dollars 14
($3,850,000) in recurring funds beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year to implement the 15
provisions of this section. 16
17
PART II. EXPEDITED TEACHER PIPELINE PATHWAY STUDY 18
SECTION 2. No later than March 15, 2027, ApprenticeshipNC shall report to the 19
Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on a plan to facilitate one or more expedited 20
pathways for apprenticeship candidates to enter the teaching profession. ApprenticeshipNC shall 21
develop the plan in collaboration with the Board of Governors of The University of North 22
Carolina, the State Board of Community Colleges, the Department of Public Instruction, and 23
Teach NC. In addition, ApprenticeshipNC may, in its discretion, collaborate with representatives 24
of approved educator preparation programs, local school administrative units, and existing 25
apprenticeship programs. The plan shall include at least the following components: 26
(1) Options for an accelerated transition pathway that allows high school students 27
to earn college credits leading to a teaching license while participating in 28
structured, paid, or other experiential le