North Carolina HB 374: North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments (NCARCOG) Funding/Operations Improvements.

Bill Text

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