AN ACT TO ALLOW CIVIC YOUTH GROUPS TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑206 reads as rewritten:

§ 115C‑206.  State Board of Education; duties; responsibilities.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare and present to the State Board of Education recommendations for general guidelines for encouraging increased community involvement in the public schools and use of public school facilities. These recommendations shall include, but shall not be limited to provisions for:

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(4)        Local boards of education are to be directed to give priority in the use of school facilities to Requiring public school units to permit any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, in order to encourage schools to facilitate access for students to participate in activities provided by these groups at times other than instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging civic education.the opportunity to give a presentation on the purpose of the group, how to become a member of the group, and encouraging civic education. Presentations given pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed 10 minutes and shall be scheduled between the start and release times of the instructional day. Presentation time does not count toward any instructional hour requirements. Nothing in this section, or a policy or rule adopted pursuant to this section, shall be construed as requiring a public school unit to provide equal access to an organization that is not designated as a patriotic organization.

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SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑150.12C(28) reads as rewritten:

(28)    Access for youth groups. – Schools for the deaf and blind are encouraged to facilitate access for students to participate in activities provided by any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils. Student participation in any activities offered by these organizations shall not interfere with instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging civic education.shall develop policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4).

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑207 reads as rewritten:

§ 115C‑207.  Authority and responsibility of local boards of education.

Every local board of education that uses State funds to implement programs under this Article shall:

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(4)        Give priority in the use of school facilities to any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, in order to encourage schools to facilitate access for students to participate in activities provided by these groups at times other than instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging civic education. If the local board of education denies priority access to a patriotic society listed in Title 36 of the United States Code, the local board shall provide reasons for the denial in writing to the requesting entity.Develop policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4).

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SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 115C‑218.75(f) reads as rewritten:

(f)       Access for Youth Groups. – Charter schools are encouraged to facilitate access for students to participate in activities provided by any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils. Student participation in any activities offered by these organizations shall not interfere with instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging civic education.Charter schools shall develop policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4).

SECTION 2.(d)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(13) reads as rewritten:

(13)    Access for youth groups. – Regional schools are encouraged to facilitate access for students to participate in activities provided by any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, such as the Boy Scouts of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils, and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and its affiliated North Carolina groups and councils. Student participation in any activities offered by these organizations shall not interfere with instructional time during the school day for the purposes of encouraging civic education.Regional schools shall develop policies to ensure that patriotic youth groups have access to schools in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑206(4).

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.