AN ACT to appropriate funds for the expansion of statewide local reentry council SERVICES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Adult Correction the sum of two million two hundred sixty‑one thousand dollars ($2,261,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be allocated in equal amounts to each of the 17 local reentry councils in the State for the purpose of hiring at each local reentry council one permanent, full‑time Housing Support Specialist position and one permanent, full‑time Support Specialist position.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Adult Correction the sum of three million eight hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($3,825,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be allocated in equal amounts to each of the 17 local reentry councils in the State for the purpose of providing reentry rental assistance to individuals served by each council. Funds appropriated by this section shall not revert and shall be available to each local reentry council for the purpose of providing reentry rental assistance until the funds are expended.

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Adult Correction the sum of eight hundred sixty‑seven thousand dollars ($867,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be allocated in equal amounts to each of the 17 local reentry councils in the State for the purpose of providing transportation vouchers to individuals on post‑release supervision served by each council. Funds appropriated by this section shall not revert and shall be available to each local reentry council for the purpose of providing transportation vouchers to individuals on post‑release supervision until the funds are expended.

SECTION 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Adult Correction the sum of one hundred forty thousand dollars ($140,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be provided to contract with Central Piedmont Community College and Fayetteville Technical Community College for the purpose of hiring one full‑time Reentry Education Navigator position at each community college to serve the needs of justice‑involved students.

SECTION 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Adult Correction the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be allocated to the State Reentry Council Collaborative to be used to develop online professional development modules focused on teaching State agencies, educational institutions, and other nongovernmental stakeholders how best to serve individuals with criminal records.

SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.