North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H930 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 930
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH30374-LRa-127A
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: First Responder Bonus/Appreciation Fund/$1500. (Public)
8	9		Sponsors: Representative A. Jones.
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
11		-	April 14, 2025
12		-	H930 -v-1
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH30374 -LRa-127A
13	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
14	14		AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE 2025 FIRST RESPONDER S AND NURSES 2
15	15		APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM . 3
16	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
17	17		5
18	18		PART I. FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM 6
19	19		SECTION 1.1. The following definitions apply in this Part: 7
20	20		(1) Appreciation bonus payment or bonus. – A one-time supplemental payment 8
21	21		to a first responder that does not become part of the first responder's base 9
22	22		salary. 10
23	23		(2) Base salary. – The regular, recurring annual compensation of a first responder, 11
24	24		excluding overtime pay, shift differentials, longevity pay, or any other 12
25	25		supplemental forms of compensation. 13
26	26		(3) Employing authority. – A State agency or a city, county, or other local 14
27	27		political subdivision of this State that employs first responders. 15
28	28		(4) First responder. – A public employee whose primary duties involve the 16
29	29		protection of life, property, or public safety during emergency situations, 17
30	30		including specifically: 18
31	31		a. Law enforcement officers. 19
32	32		b. Firefighters. 20
33	33		c. Emergency medical services personnel. 21
34	34		d. Public safety telecommunicators or dispatchers. 22
35	35		e. Nurses employed by public hospitals, health departments, correctional 23
36	36		facilities, or other government healthcare facilities. 24
37	37		(5) Public employee. – A person employed by an employing authority. 25
38	38		(6) Years of service. – The total number of years that a first responder has been 26
39	39		employed in a qualifying position by any employing authority within the 27
40	40		State. 28
41	41		SECTION 1.2. Appropriation for First Responders' and Teachers' Appreciation 29
42	42		Bonus Payments. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public 30
43	43		Safety the sum of one hundred thirty million dollars ($130,000,000) in each year of the 31
44	44		2025-2027 fiscal biennium to provide one-time bonus payments to eligible first responders as 32
45	45		defined in this act. The Department of Public Safety shall distribute these funds to employing 33
46	46		authorities based on the number of eligible first responders employed by each authority. Each 34
47		-	eligible first responder shall receive a bonus payment of one thousand five hundred dollars 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 930-First Edition
49		-	($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section shall be used exclusively for 1
50		-	bonus payments to eligible first responders and may not be used for administrative costs or other 2
51		-	purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 3
52		-	(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 4
53		-	entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 5
54		-	(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 6
55		-	(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 7
56		-	SECTION 1.3. Administration. – The Office of State Budget and Management shall 8
57		-	coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to distribute funds to employing authorities by 9
58		-	no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. Employing 10
59		-	authorities shall distribute bonus payments to eligible first responders no later than December 31 11
60		-	of each fiscal year. To be eligible for the bonus payment, a first responder must be employed by 12
61		-	an employing authority on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 13
62		-	First responders who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the 14
63		-	percentage of full-time equivalent hours worked. The Office of State Budget and Management 15
64		-	shall develop simplified procedures for the allocation and distribution of bonus funds and shall 16
65		-	provide necessary guidance to the Department of Public Safety and employing authorities. The 17
66		-	Department of Public Instruction shall assist in coordinating with local school administrative 18
67		-	units, charter schools, and regional schools. Employing authorities shall certify to the Department 19
68		-	of Public Safety the number of eligible first responders by October 15 of each fiscal year. By 20
69		-	February 15 of each fiscal year, employing authorities shall submit a verification that all bonus 21
70		-	payments have been distributed to eligible first responders. Any funds not expended for the 22
71		-	purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 23
72		-	General Fund. 24
73		-	25
74		-	PART II. TEACHERS' APPRECIATION BONUS PR OGRAM 26
75		-	SECTION 2.1. Definition. – For purposes of this Part, the term "teacher" means a 27
76		-	classroom teacher, instructional support personnel, principal, or assistant principal employed by 28
77		-	any of the following: (i) a local school administrative unit, (ii) a charter school, (iii) a regional 29
78		-	school, (iv) a school operated under Article 9C of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, or (v) a 30
79		-	school operated under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes. 31
80		-	SECTION 2.2. Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the 32
81		-	Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred sixty-five million dollars 33
82		-	($165,000,000) in each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to provide one-time bonus 34
83		-	payments to teachers. The Department of Public Instruction shall distribute these funds to local 35
84		-	school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools based on the number of eligible 36
85		-	teachers employed by each entity. Each eligible teacher shall receive a bonus payment of one 37
86		-	thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section 38
87		-	shall be used exclusively for bonus payments to eligible teachers and may not be used for 39
88		-	administrative costs or other purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 40
89		-	(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 41
90		-	entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 42
91		-	(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 43
92		-	(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 44
93		-	SECTION 2.3. Administration. – The State Board of Education and the Department 45
94		-	of Public Instruction shall establish procedures and guidelines for the administration of the 46
95		-	teacher bonus program consistent with this section. The Department of Public Instruction shall 47
96		-	distribute these funds to local school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools 48
97		-	no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. To be eligible for 49
98		-	the bonus payment, a teacher must be employed by a local school administrative unit, charter 50
99		-	school, or regional school on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100		-	House Bill 930-First Edition Page 3
101		-	Teachers who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the percentage of 1
102		-	full-time equivalent hours worked. Local school administrative units, charter schools, and 2
103		-	regional schools shall certify to the Department of Public Instruction the number of eligible 3
104		-	teachers by October 15 of each fiscal year. By February 15 of each fiscal year, local school 4
105		-	administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools shall submit a verification that all 5
106		-	bonus payments have been distributed to eligible teachers. Any funds not expended for the 6
107		-	purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 7
108		-	General Fund. 8
109		-	9
110		-	PART III. STATE BUDGET ACT 10
111		-	SECTION 3.1. State Budget Act Applies. – The provisions of this act are subject to 11
112		-	compliance with Chapter 143C of the General Statutes. If there is a conflict between this act and 12
113		-	the State Budget Act (SBA), the provisions of the SBA shall control. 13
114		-	14
115		-	PART IV. EFFECTIVE DATE 15
116		-	SECTION 4.1. Effective Date. – This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 16
	47	+	eligible first responder shall receive a bonus payment of one thousand five hundred dollars 35
	48	+	($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section shall be used exclusively for 36
	49	+	H.B. 930
	50	+	Apr 10, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH30374-LRa-127A
	53	+	bonus payments to eligible first responders and may not be used for administrative costs or other 1
	54	+	purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 2
	55	+	(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 3
	56	+	entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 4
	57	+	(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 5
	58	+	(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 6
	59	+	SECTION 1.3. Administration. – The Office of State Budget and Management shall 7
	60	+	coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to distribute funds to employing authorities by 8
	61	+	no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. Employing 9
	62	+	authorities shall distribute bonus payments to eligible first responders no later than December 31 10
	63	+	of each fiscal year. To be eligible for the bonus payment, a first responder must be employed by 11
	64	+	an employing authority on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 12
	65	+	First responders who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the 13
	66	+	percentage of full-time equivalent hours worked. The Office of State Budget and Management 14
	67	+	shall develop simplified procedures for the allocation and distribution of bonus funds and shall 15
	68	+	provide necessary guidance to the Department of Public Safety and employing authorities. The 16
	69	+	Department of Public Instruction shall assist in coordinating with local school administrative 17
	70	+	units, charter schools, and regional schools. Employing authorities shall certify to the Department 18
	71	+	of Public Safety the number of eligible first responders by October 15 of each fiscal year. By 19
	72	+	February 15 of each fiscal year, employing authorities shall submit a verification that all bonus 20
	73	+	payments have been distributed to eligible first responders. Any funds not expended for the 21
	74	+	purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 22
	75	+	General Fund. 23
	76	+	24
	77	+	PART II. TEACHERS' APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM 25
	78	+	SECTION 2.1. Definition. – For purposes of this Part, the term "teacher" means a 26
	79	+	classroom teacher, instructional support personnel, principal, or assistant principal employed by 27
	80	+	any of the following: (i) a local school administrative unit, (ii) a charter school, (iii) a regional 28
	81	+	school, (iv) a school operated under Article 9C of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, or (v) a 29
	82	+	school operated under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes. 30
	83	+	SECTION 2.2. Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the 31
	84	+	Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred sixty-five million dollars 32
	85	+	($165,000,000) in each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to provide one-time bonus 33
	86	+	payments to teachers. The Department of Public Instruction shall distribute these funds to local 34
	87	+	school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools based on the number of eligible 35
	88	+	teachers employed by each entity. Each eligible teacher shall receive a bonus payment of one 36
	89	+	thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section 37
	90	+	shall be used exclusively for bonus payments to eligible teachers and may not be used for 38
	91	+	administrative costs or other purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 39
	92	+	(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 40
	93	+	entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 41
	94	+	(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 42
	95	+	(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 43
	96	+	SECTION 2.3. Administration. – The State Board of Education and the Department 44
	97	+	of Public Instruction shall establish procedures and guidelines for the administration of the 45
	98	+	teacher bonus program consistent with this section. The Department of Public Instruction shall 46
	99	+	distribute these funds to local school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools 47
	100	+	no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. To be eligible for 48
	101	+	the bonus payment, a teacher must be employed by a local school administrative unit, charter 49
	102	+	school, or regional school on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 50
	103	+	Teachers who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the percentage of 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH30374-LRa-127A Page 3
	105	+	full-time equivalent hours worked. Local school administrative units, charter schools, and 1
	106	+	regional schools shall certify to the Department of Public Instruction the number of eligible 2
	107	+	teachers by October 15 of each fiscal year. By February 15 of each fiscal year, local school 3
	108	+	administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools shall submit a verification that all 4
	109	+	bonus payments have been distributed to eligible teachers. Any funds not expended for the 5
	110	+	purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 6
	111	+	General Fund. 7
	112	+	8
	113	+	PART III. STATE BUDGET ACT 9
	114	+	SECTION 3.1. State Budget Act Applies. – The provisions of this act are subject to 10
	115	+	compliance with Chapter 143C of the General Statutes. If there is a conflict between this act and 11
	116	+	the State Budget Act (SBA), the provisions of the SBA shall control. 12
	117	+	13
	118	+	PART IV. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
	119	+	SECTION 4.1. Effective Date. – This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 15