North Carolina SB 524: Rockingham Local Bill.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 524

Short Title: Community Safety Partnership Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Theodros and Bradley (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S524-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY BY INCENTIVIZING COMMUNITY 2
PARTICIPATION IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING A 3
STATE-MANDATED BONUS FOR POLICE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY 4
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. 5
Whereas, public safety is a fundamental priority for the State of North Carolina; and 6
Whereas, increased community involvement in neighborhood watch programs has 7
been shown to reduce crime and improve trust between law enforcement and the communities 8
they serve; and 9
Whereas, supporting law enforcement officers in their engagement with local 10
communities will promote safer, stronger, and more connected neighborhoods; and 11
Whereas, Article I, Section 3, and Article VII, Section 1 of the North Carolina 12
Constitution authorize the General Assembly to regulate public safety measures; Now, therefore, 13
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
SECTION 1.(a) Chapter 17F of the General Statutes reads as rewritten: 15
"Chapter 17F. 16
"Law Enforcement. 17
"Article 1. 18
"General Provisions. 19
"§ 17F-1. Reserved for future codification purposes. 20
"§ 17F-2. Reserved for future codification purposes. 21
"§ 17F-3. Reserved for future codification purposes. 22
"§ 17F-4. Reserved for future codification purposes. 23
"Article 2. 24
"Liability Provisions. 25
"§ 17F-5. Defense of Highway Patrol members and other State law-enforcement officers in 26
civil actions; payment of judgments. 27
... 28
"Article 3. 29
"Early Warning System. 30
"§ 17F-10. Development of law enforcement early warning system. 31
... 32
"Article 4. 33
"Community Safety Partnership Act. 34
"§ 17F-11. Short title. 35
This Article shall be known and may be cited as the Community Safety Partnership Act. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 524-First Edition
"§ 17F-11.1. Definitions. 1
As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply: 2
(1) Approved community safety meeting. – A neighborhood watch program 3
meeting or training session approved by the Secretary of the Department of 4
Public Safety as being legitimately constituted and operated for the purpose 5
of improving the safety of communities in the State. 6
(2) Certified Community Safety Attendance System. – A digital system 7
implemented by the State to verify and track participation in neighborhood 8
watch programs and police engagement initiatives. 9
(3) Commission. – The Community Safety Partnership Commission. 10
(4) Department. – The Department of Public Safety. 11
(5) Eligible participants. – Residents who actively engage in certified 12
neighborhood watch programs and law enforcement officers participating in 13
community engagement efforts. 14
(6) Fund. – The Community Safety Partnership Fund. 15
(7) Grant Program. – The Community Safety Partnership Competitive Grant 16
Program. 17
(8) Law enforcement officer. – A full-time sworn law enforcement officer 18
certified under Chapter 17C or Chapter 17E of the General Statutes and 19
employed in that capacity by the State or any county or municipal government 20
of the State. 21
(9) Neighborhood watch programs. – Organized community efforts, recognized 22
by local law enforcement, that aim to reduce crime and improve neighborhood 23
safety. 24
"§ 17F-11.2. The Community Safety Partnership Fund. 25
(a) Fund Created. – The Community Safety Partnership Fund is established as a special 26
fund within the Department of Public Safety. The Department is responsible for administering 27
the Fund using personnel and other administrative resources of the Department. 28
(b) Fund Purpose. – The Fund shall be utilized to distribute grant funds pursuant to the 29
Community Safety Partnership Grant Program created by this Article. 30
(c) Fund Sources. – The Fund may receive any of the following: 31
(1) Funds appropriated by the General Assembly. 32
(2) Funds received pursuant to State law. 33
(3) Gifts, grants, or donations from any public or private source. 34
"§ 17F-11.3. The Community Safety Partnership Competitive Grant Program. 35
(a) Grant Program. – There is established the Community Safety Partnership Competitive 36
Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of 37
awarding and distributing grants to county and municipal governments, including internal 38
departments, divisions, or offices of those governments, and nonprofit organizations to support 39
community-led safety projects, which may include any of the following: 40
(1) Improved street lighting. 41
(2) Increased security cameras or maintenance of security cameras. 42
(3) Community alert systems. 43
(4) Other projects with the goal of supporting community-led safety ef