AN ACT to require the department of information technology to provide advisory and consultation resources to exempt agencies.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 143B‑1320 reads as rewritten:

§ 143B‑1320.  Definitions; scope; exemptions.

(a)        Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this Article:

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(b)        Exemptions. – Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, this Article does not apply to the following entities: the General Assembly, the Judicial Department, the Community Colleges System Office, The University of North Carolina and its constituent institutions, the Office of the State Auditor, the State Board of Elections, the State Highway Patrol, and the Department of State Treasurer. These entities may elect to participate in the information technology programs, services, or contracts offered by the Department, including information technology procurement, in accordance with the statutes, policies, and rules of the Department. The election shall be made in writing, as follows:

(1)        For the General Assembly, by the Legislative Services Commission.

(2)        For the Judicial Department, by the Chief Justice.

(2a)      For the Community Colleges System Office, by the State Board of Community Colleges.

(3)        For The University of North Carolina, by the Board of Governors.

(4)        For the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, by the respective boards of trustees.

(5)        For the Office of the State Auditor, by the State Auditor.

(6)        For the State Board of Elections, by the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections.

(7)        For the State Highway Patrol, by the Commander of the State Highway Patrol.

(8)        For the Department of State Treasurer, other than the Investment Authority under Part 1 of Article 6 of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes, by the State Treasurer.

(9)        For the Investment Authority under Part 1 of Article 6 of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes, by the Board of Directors of the Authority.

(c)        Deviations. – Any State agency may apply in writing to the State Chief Information Officer for approval to deviate from this Article. If granted by the State Chief Information Officer, any deviation shall be consistent with available appropriations and shall be subject to any terms and conditions specified by the State CIO.

(c1)      Consultation. – Any exempt agency may request, and the Department shall provide, advisory and consultation resources on any form of information technology activities and services provided by the Department to participating agencies under this Article.

(d)       Review. – Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, any State agency shall review and evaluate any deviation authorized and shall, in consultation with the Department of Information Technology, adopt a plan to phase out any deviations that the State CIO determines to be unnecessary in carrying out functions and responsibilities unique to the agency having a deviation. The plan adopted by the agency shall include a strategy to coordinate its general information processing functions with the Department of Information Technology in the manner prescribed by this Article and shall provide for its compliance with policies, procedures, and guidelines adopted by the Department of Information Technology. Any agency receiving a deviation shall submit its plan to the Office of State Budget and Management as directed by the State Chief Information Officer.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Information Technology the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used to establish an interagency liaison network to effectuate the Department's consultation obligation under Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.