North Carolina HB 930: First Responder Bonus/Appreciation Fund/$1500.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 930

Short Title: First Responder Bonus/Appreciation Fund/$1500. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative A. Jones.
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
April 14, 2025
*H930-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE 2025 FIRST RESPONDERS AND NURSES 2
APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
5
PART I. FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM 6
SECTION 1.1. The following definitions apply in this Part: 7
(1) Appreciation bonus payment or bonus. – A one-time supplemental payment 8
to a first responder that does not become part of the first responder's base 9
salary. 10
(2) Base salary. – The regular, recurring annual compensation of a first responder, 11
excluding overtime pay, shift differentials, longevity pay, or any other 12
supplemental forms of compensation. 13
(3) Employing authority. – A State agency or a city, county, or other local 14
political subdivision of this State that employs first responders. 15
(4) First responder. – A public employee whose primary duties involve the 16
protection of life, property, or public safety during emergency situations, 17
including specifically: 18
a. Law enforcement officers. 19
b. Firefighters. 20
c. Emergency medical services personnel. 21
d. Public safety telecommunicators or dispatchers. 22
e. Nurses employed by public hospitals, health departments, correctional 23
facilities, or other government healthcare facilities. 24
(5) Public employee. – A person employed by an employing authority. 25
(6) Years of service. – The total number of years that a first responder has been 26
employed in a qualifying position by any employing authority within the 27
State. 28
SECTION 1.2. Appropriation for First Responders' and Teachers' Appreciation 29
Bonus Payments. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public 30
Safety the sum of one hundred thirty million dollars ($130,000,000) in each year of the 31
2025-2027 fiscal biennium to provide one-time bonus payments to eligible first responders as 32
defined in this act. The Department of Public Safety shall distribute these funds to employing 33
authorities based on the number of eligible first responders employed by each authority. Each 34
eligible first responder shall receive a bonus payment of one thousand five hundred dollars 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 930-First Edition
($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section shall be used exclusively for 1
bonus payments to eligible first responders and may not be used for administrative costs or other 2
purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 3
(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 4
entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 5
(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 6
(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 7
SECTION 1.3. Administration. – The Office of State Budget and Management shall 8
coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to distribute funds to employing authorities by 9
no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. Employing 10
authorities shall distribute bonus payments to eligible first responders no later than December 31 11
of each fiscal year. To be eligible for the bonus payment, a first responder must be employed by 12
an employing authority on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 13
First responders who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the 14
percentage of full-time equivalent hours worked. The Office of State Budget and Management 15
shall develop simplified procedures for the allocation and distribution of bonus funds and shall 16
provide necessary guidance to the Department of Public Safety and employing authorities. The 17
Department of Public Instruction shall assist in coordinating with local school administrative 18
units, charter schools, and regional schools. Employing authorities shall certify to the Department 19
of Public Safety the number of eligible first responders by October 15 of each fiscal year. By 20
February 15 of each fiscal year, employing authorities shall submit a verification that all bonus 21
payments have been distributed to eligible first responders. Any funds not expended for the 22
purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 23
General Fund. 24
25
PART II. TEACHERS' APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM 26
SECTION 2.1. Definition. – For purposes of this Part, the term "teacher" means a 27
classroom teacher, instructional support personnel, principal, or assistant principal employed by 28
any of the following: (i) a local school admini