AN ACT to require the department of public instruction to develop a plan to provide internet service to schools in times of emergency and to establish the emergency internet service fund.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑23.  Emergency Internet Service Plan and Fund.

(a)        The Department of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Department of Information Technology, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, shall develop and maintain an Emergency Internet Service Plan (EISP) related to the provision of temporary internet service to public school units during a state of emergency. This plan shall provide for at least the following:

(1)        The number of months of emergency internet service that can be provided through the EISP within funds available for the purpose.

(2)        Conditions necessary to activate the EISP.

(3)        Public school units may not be required to provide funds to initiate service under the EISP.

(4)        Equipment needed to support the EISP, including ensuring each public school has access to the equipment necessary to activate emergency internet when needed.

(5)        Identification of any third‑party relationships needed to support the EISP, including identifying the party that will be responsible for maintaining or establishing required accounts.

(6)        Protection of sensitive information or data.

(b)        There is established under the control and direction of the Superintendent of Public Instruction the Emergency Internet Service Fund consisting of any monies appropriated to it by the General Assembly. The fund is subject to the following:

(1)        The fund shall be nonreverting.

(2)        The fund may be used for the purchase of equipment or to maintain contracts or accounts necessary to make internet service available in a time of emergency.

(c)        No later than February 15 of each year, the Superintendent shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on at least the following:

(1)        If there have been changes to the EISP since the last report, a copy of the EISP developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(2)        An accounting of any services provided since the last report.

(3)        The balance of the Emergency Internet Service Fund and any funds expended from the fund.

(4)        Any other information the Superintendent deems relevant.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of three million nine hundred twenty‑seven thousand three hundred eighty dollars ($3,927,380) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025‑2026 school year to be allocated to the Emergency Internet Service Fund as established by this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.