North Carolina SB 647: Amend CPA Laws/Practice Privileges.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 647

Short Title: The Child Promise Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Garrett, Everitt, and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S647-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO FULFILL NORTH CAROLINA'S PROMISE TO ITS CHILDREN THROUGH 2
COMPREHENSIVE INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND 3
CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS 4
TO QUALITY EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES REGARDLESS OF 5
GEOGRAPHY OR FAMILY INCOME, TO STRENGTHEN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD 6
WORKFORCE, AND TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE. 7
Whereas, the General Assembly hereby finds that investing in high-quality early 8
childhood education and childcare is essential to fulfilling our State's promise to the next 9
generation of North Carolinians; and 10
Whereas, this act establishes a framework to ensure every child has the opportunity 11
to reach their full potential through accessible, affordable, and high-quality early learning 12
experiences; Now, therefore, 13
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
SECTION 1.(a) NC Pre-K Expansion. – There is appropriated from the General 15
Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and 16
Early Education, the sum of ninety million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($90,250,000) in 17
recurring funds for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to continue implementing the prekindergarten 18
program (NC Pre-K). These funds shall be used to increase the number of slots available in the 19
program to 10,000 over the next three years as follows: 3,000 in year one; 3,500 in year two; and 20
3,500 in year three. The NC Pre-K program shall serve children who are 4 years of age on or 21
before August 31 of the program year. In determining eligibility, the Division shall establish 22
income eligibility requirements for the program at or below three hundred percent (300%) of the 23
federal poverty level. All sites established under this section shall achieve and maintain a 4- or 24
5-star rating. The Division may use up to three percent (3%) of these funds each fiscal year of 25
the fiscal biennium for administrative expenses associated with implementing the provisions of 26
this section. 27
SECTION 1.(b) There is appropriated from the Economic Development Reserve 28
Fund in the Department of Commerce and available ARPA funds to the Division of Child 29
Development and Early Education (DCDEE) the sum of six million eight hundred thousand 30
dollars ($6,800,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to 31
administer a grant program for childcare facilities, new or existing, in census tracts where the 32
ratio of children under 5 to licensed child care providers exceeds 3:1. Childcare facilities with 33
20-49 children are eligible to receive a grant of up to one hundred fifty thousand dollars 34
($150,000); 50-74 up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000); 75 or more up to five 35
hundred thousand dollars ($500,000); and family childcare homes up to fifty thousand dollars 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 647-First Edition
($50,000). Grant recipients shall provide a fifteen percent (15%) match and shall commit to 1
provide the services for at least five years. Of the funds appropriated in this act, the sum of three 2
hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) in each fiscal year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium 3
shall be used to employ one full-time program manager and two full-time specialists and the sum 4
of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) may be used for technical assistance. DCDEE 5
shall consult with the Department of Commerce in administering the grant program. 6
SECTION 1.(c) The Division of Child Development and Early Education shall 7
coordinate with other appropriate divisions in the Department of Health and Human Services to 8
develop modernized inspections standards for childcare centers. Inspections shall be conducted 9
on a biannual basis for 4- and 5-star childcare centers and an electronic checklist system shall be 10
made available to providers. Inspection standards shall include reasonable space requirements 11
for both indoor and outdoor and allow for expedited review for expansions by providers with 12
three or more years in good standing. DCDEE shall implement the modernized standards required 13
by this section over a period of eighteen months. DCDEE shall use funds available to it to 14
implement the provisions of this subsection. 15
SECTION 1.(d) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of 16
Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) the sum of nine million five hundred 17
sixty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($9,562,500) in recurring funds and from the North 18
Carolina Education Lottery Fund the sum of three million one hundred eighty-seven thousand 19
five hundred dollars ($3,187,500) for the