AN ACT to APPROPRIATE continuation funds to support the state search and rescue program.

Whereas, the 2019 Appropriations Act included funding to support the State Search and Rescue Program in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year ($1,000,000 recurring and $1,000,000 nonrecurring) and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year; and

Whereas, the 2019 Appropriations Act was vetoed, and those funds were not received by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management; and

Whereas, in the 2019 Disaster Recovery Act, Session Law 2019‑224, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year was included to support the State Search and Rescue Program; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, the sum of two million three hundred thousand dollars ($2,300,000) in recurring funds for each fiscal year of the 2021‑2023 fiscal biennium to be used to support the State Search and Rescue Program as provided in Article 6 of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes. The funds shall be used in partnership with units of local government to supplement local funds to purchase equipment, maintain equipment, and provide other items necessary to ensure statewide search and rescue services. Any match requirement established by the Secretary may be satisfied by the sponsoring local agency with cash payments or in‑kind contributions.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.