AN ACT to codify the North Carolina collaboratory and to appropriate additional funds for its operation.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Section 11.8 of S.L. 2016‑94, as amended by Section 8(c) of S.L. 2020‑74, reads as rewritten:

SECTION 11.8.  The Beginning with the 2021‑2022 fiscal year, the one million dollars ($1,000,000) in recurring funds appropriated in this act to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina for the 2016‑2017 fiscal year to establish and operate a North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall be used used, in addition to any other funds appropriated for this purpose, to establish a Collaboratory that facilitates the dissemination of the policy and research expertise of The University of North Carolina and other institutions of higher learning within North Carolina for practical use by State and local government, although, wherever possible, funding preference may be given to campuses within The University of North Carolina System. Any funds appropriated by the General Assembly for use by the Collaboratory may not be used for indirect overhead costs. The Collaboratory, at a minimum, shall conduct research on natural resources management, including, but not limited to, research related to the environmental and economic components of the management of the natural resources within the State of North Carolina and of new technologies for habitat, environmental, and water quality improvement. The Collaboratory shall develop and disseminate relevant best practices to interested parties, may lead or participate in projects across the State related to natural resource management, and may make recommendations to the General Assembly from time to time.and operate the North Carolina Collaboratory pursuant to Article 31A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes.

SECTION 1.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in additional recurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year to be allocated to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the operation of the North Carolina Collaboratory pursuant to Article 31A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes, as enacted by this act.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:

Article 31A.

The North Carolina Collaboratory.

§ 116‑255.  The North Carolina Collaboratory established.

(a)        Collaboratory Established. – There is established the North Carolina Collaboratory (Collaboratory) to facilitate the dissemination of the policy and research expertise of The University of North Carolina and other institutions of higher education within North Carolina for practical use by State and local governments. The Collaboratory shall be housed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

(b)        Duties and Powers. – The Collaboratory shall do at least the following within the funds available:

(1)        Conduct, manage, or participate in research on natural resources management, including, but not limited to, research related to the environmental and economic components of the management of the natural resources within the State of North Carolina and of new technologies for habitat, environmental, and water quality improvements.

(2)        Conduct, manage, or participate in other projects and opportunities, including, but not limited to, research that may be of interest to citizens and policymakers within the State.

(3)        Expand the research capacity and collaborative opportunities across constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina identified as Historically Minority‑Serving Institutions (HMSIs) through an annual grant program to Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Winston‑Salem State University.

(4)        Identify, pursue, and support research and development opportunities through technology research and development, including, but not limited to, funding opportunities and partnerships between institutions of higher education, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and both private and public businesses.

(5)        Develop and disseminate relevant best practices to interested parties, lead or participate in projects across the State, and make policy, research, funding, and other recommendations to the General Assembly from time to time.

(c)        Funding Conditions and Restrictions. – The following applies to funding received by the Collaboratory:

(1)        In disseminating State funds, the Collaboratory may give funding preference to constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, wherever possible.

(2)        Funds appropriated by the General Assembly for use by the Collaboratory may not be used for indirect overhead costs at an institution partnering with the Collaboratory.

(3)        For research or investigations that need to be carried out expeditiously in response to a project, opportunity, or a legislative mandate, the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, G.S. 143‑129, and G.S. 116‑131.10 shall not apply to the Collaboratory for the purchase of apparatus, supplies, material, or equipment in projects addressing an emerging or immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare. For each project that utilizes this exemption, the Collaboratory shall provide a justification in writing and make this document available on its website for the duration of the project.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.