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--- version:Edition 1+++ version:Filed@@ -1,28 +1,27 @@GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINASESSION 2025-H 1-HOUSE BILL 1080+H D+HOUSE BILL DRH40673-NLap-108Short Title: Public Safety Reinvestment Act. (Public)-Sponsors: Representatives Reives, Helfrich, Logan, and Rubin (Primary Sponsors).-For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.-Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House-April 29, 2026-*H1080-v-1*+Sponsors: Representative Reives.+Referred to:++*DRH40673-NLap-108*A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO HIRE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT AND DEPUTY 2-CLERKS OF COURT IN W AKE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES, TO 3-APPROPRIATE FUNDS FO R SALARY INCREASES A T THE DEPARTMENT OF 4+CLERKS OF COURT IN WAKE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES , TO 3+APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR SALARY INCREASES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF 4ADULT CORRECTION, TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR 5-MEMBERS OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO 6+MEMBERS OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL , TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO 6MODERNIZE PUBLIC TRANSIT SAFETY BY MAKING TRAUMA KITS AVAILABLE 7-ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTA TION AND IMPROVING F ARE ENFORCEMENT AND 8+ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND IMPROVING FARE ENFORCEMENT AND 8ANTI-FARE-DODGING MEASURES, TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE SUPPORT 9-OF THE DIVISION OF J UVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTI ON 10-AND THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY, AND TO E NHANCE THE BENEFITS OF 11-CORRECTIONAL OFFICER S WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS' AND 12+OF THE DIVISION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION 10+AND THE STATE CRIME LABORATORY , AND TO ENHANCE THE BENEFITS OF 11+CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS ' AND 12STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM. 13-Whereas, the General Assemb ly recognizes that chronic and historic underfunding 14+Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that chronic and historic underfunding 14and workforce instability in critical State institutions have contributed to a public safety crisis 15where courts and jail systems are overburdened, weakening timely responses and increasing the 16risk of harm to the public, victims, and frontline personnel; and 17@@ -43,134 +42,137 @@adding a new section to read: 32"§ 136-44.28. Emergency trauma kits and first aid training. 33(a) All public transportation operators receiving State funds, including any metropolitan 34-transit authority, regional transit authority, or municipal transit system operating bus, rail, light 35-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 2 House Bill 1080-First Edition-rail, commuter rail, streetcar, or other fixed-route public transportation services within this State, 1-shall equip every revenue service vehicle, including each bus and each individual train car, with 2-an emergency trauma response kit. 3-(b) Each emergency trauma response kit shall include , at minimum, all of the following 4-items: 5-(1) Commercially manufactured tourniquets. 6-(2) Hemostatic dressings. 7-(3) Pressure bandages. 8-(4) Trauma shears. 9-(5) Protective gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment. 10-(6) Any additional lifesaving supplies recommended by the Department of Health 11-and Human Services in consultation with the Department of Public Safety. 12-(c) All operators and supervisory personnel employed by a public transportation sy stem 13-shall complete emergency first aid and bleeding control training consistent with nationally 14-recognized standards, including training in the proper use of tourniquets and trauma response 15-kits. Such training shall be completed within six months of hire and refreshed at least once every 16-two years. An employee who renders emergency aid in good faith pursuant to this section shall 17-be afforded the protections of G.S. 90-21.14. 18-(d) The Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department 19-of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety, shall adopt minimum implementation 20-standards to ensure consistency across public transportation systems." 21-SECTION 1.(b) Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by 22-adding a new section to read: 23-"§ 136‑44.29. Fare enforcement and anti-fare-dodging measures. 24-(a) All public transportation operators receiving State funds shall implement reasonable 25-and effective measures to deter and prevent fare evasion. Such measures shall include all of the 26-following: 27-(1) Installation and use of physical access control systems, including turnstiles or 28-gated entry systems where operationally and structurally practicable based on 29-facility design. 30-(2) Use of electronic validation systems, including barcode scanners, mobile 31-ticket validation, or contactless fare verification technology. 32-(3) In-person fare inspection programs, including uniformed or plainclothes fare 33-inspectors. 34-(4) Randomized fare verification protocols. 35-(5) Any other technology or enforcement practice determined appropriate by the 36-governing board of the transit authority. 37-(b) Each public transportation operator shall adopt written fare enforcement policies that 38-balance revenue protection, public safety, and equitable enforcement and s hall make such 39-policies publicly available." 40-SECTION 1.(c) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 41-Transportation the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 42-2026-2027 fiscal year to implement the pr ovisions of G.S. 136‑44.28 and G.S. 136‑44.29, as 43-enacted in this section. Funds appropriated in this section shall be distributed by the Department 44-of Transportation to public transportation operators receiving State funds through a 45-formula-based allocati on consistent with existing public transportation funding formulas 46-administered by the Department. Funds may be used for: 47-(1) Purchase and installation of emergency trauma response kits. 48-(2) Training of transit personnel in first aid and bleeding control. 49-(3) Capital expenditures associated with fare enforcement modernization, 50-including access control systems and electronic fare validation technology. 51-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-House Bill 1080-First Edition Page 3-(4) Associated implementation and compliance costs. 1-SECTION 1.(d) Beginning no later than December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, 2-each public transportation operator receiving State funds shall submit a report to the Joint 3-Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee 4-on Justice and Public Safety, and the F iscal Research Division. The report shall include, at 5-minimum: 6-(1) Estimated fare evasion rates for the preceding fiscal year. 7-(2) Total fare revenue collected. 8-(3) Estimated revenue losses attributable to fare evasion. 9-(4) A description of anti-fare-dodging measures in place. 10-(5) Enforcement actions taken, including citations or warnings issued. 11-(6) Capital investments made to deter fare evasion. 12-(7) Any safety incidents involving public transportation personnel or passengers. 13-The Department of Transportat ion shall compile and publish a statewide summary 14-report aggregating data from all reporting transit authorities. No later than December 1, 2027, the 15-Department shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation, the Joint 16-Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, and the Fiscal Research Division 17-on the use of funds appropriated under this section, including the amounts distributed to each 18-transit authority, the categories of expenditures, and the status of statewide compliance with the 19-provisions of this section. 20-SECTION 1.(e) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 21- 22-COURT SYSTEM STAFFING FOR WAKE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES 23-SECTION 2.(a) Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, there is appropriated from 24-the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) the sum of thirty million 25-dollars ($30,000,000) in recurring funds to be used to hire in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties 26-assistant and deputy clerk of court positions. The AOC shall determine the appropriate allocation 27-of positions between the counties and, no later than 60 days after the allocation, provide a report 28-to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the Fiscal Research 29-Division on (i) the number of posit ions allocated to each county and (ii) the reasoning used in 30-determining those numbers. 31-SECTION 2.(b) Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, there is appropriated from 32-the General Fund to the AOC, Budget Fund 100072, the sum of thirty million dollars 33-($30,000,000) in recurring funds to be used to hire in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties assistant 34-district attorney positions. Notwithstanding G.S. 7A-60, the AOC shall determine the appropriate 35-allocation of positions between the counties and, no later than 60 days after the allocation, 36-provide a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and 37-the Fiscal Research Division on (i) the number of positions allocated to each county and (ii) the 38-reasoning used in determining those numbers. 39-SECTION 2.(c) No later than July 1, 2027, the Department of Health and Human 40-Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, 41-in coordination with the Administrative Office of the Courts, shall provide a report to the Joint 42-Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Legislative Oversight 43-Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division on the status of the 44-appropriation contained in this section, inclu ding (i) cost -savings to the court system, (ii) 45-reductions in case loads, (iii) reductions in the State's incarcerated population, and (iv) any 46-impacts on recidivism. An updated report shall be provided no later than December 1, 2027, and 47-annually thereafter. 48- 49-FUNDING FOR SALARY INCREASES AND WORKPLACE SAFETY 50-IMPROVEMENTS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ADULT CORRECTION 51-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 4 House Bill 1080-First Edition+transit authority, regional transit authority, or municipal transit system operating bus, rail, light 35+rail, commuter rail, streetcar, or other fixed-route public transportation services within this State, 36+H.B. 1080+Apr 28, 2026+HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+Page 2 DRH40673-NLap-108+shall equip every revenue service vehicle, including each bus and each individual train car, with 1+an emergency trauma response kit. 2+(b) Each emergency trauma response kit shall include , at minimum, all of the following 3+items: 4+(1) Commercially manufactured tourniquets. 5+(2) Hemostatic dressings. 6+(3) Pressure bandages. 7+(4) Trauma shears. 8+(5) Protective gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment. 9+(6) Any additional lifesaving supplies recommended by the Department of Health 10+and Human Services in consultation with the Department of Public Safety. 11+(c) All operators and supervisory personnel employed by a public transportation system 12+shall complete emergency first aid and bleeding control training consistent with nationally 13+recognized standards, including training in the proper use of tourniquets and trauma response 14+kits. Such training shall be completed within six months of hire and refreshed at least once every 15+two years. An employee who renders emergency aid in good faith pursuant to this section shall 16+be afforded the protections of G.S. 90-21.14. 17+(d) The Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department 18+of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety, shall adopt minimum implementation 19+standards to ensure consistency across public transportation systems." 20+SECTION 1.(b) Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by 21+adding a new section to read: 22+"§ 136‑44.29. Fare enforcement and anti-fare-dodging measures. 23+(a) All public transportation operators receiving State funds shall implement reasonable 24+and effective measures to deter and prevent fare evasion. Such measures shall include all of the 25+following: 26+(1) Installation and use of physical access control systems, including turnstiles or 27+gated entry systems where operationally and structurally practicable based on 28+facility design. 29+(2) Use of electronic validation systems, including barcode scanners, mobile 30+ticket validation, or contactless fare verification technology. 31+(3) In-person fare inspection programs, including uniformed or plainclothes fare 32+inspectors. 33+(4) Randomized fare verification protocols. 34+(5) Any other technology or enforcement practice determined appropriate by the 35+governing board of the transit authority. 36+(b) Each public transportation operator shall adopt written fare enforcement policies that 37+balance revenue protection, public safety, and equitable enforcement and shall make such 38+policies publicly available." 39+SECTION 1.(c) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 40+Transportation the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 41+2026-2027 fiscal year to implement the provisions of G.S. 136‑44.28 and G.S. 136‑44.29, as 42+enacted in this section. Funds appropriated in this section shall be distributed by the Department 43+of Transportation to public transportation operators receiving State funds through a 44+formula-based allocation consistent with existing public transportation funding formulas 45+administered by the Department. Funds may be used for: 46+(1) Purchase and installation of emergency trauma response kits. 47+(2) Training of transit personnel in first aid and bleeding control. 48+(3) Capital expenditures associated with fare enforcement modernization, 49+including access control systems and electronic fare validation technology. 50+(4) Associated implementation and compliance costs. 51+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+DRH40673-NLap-108 Page 3+SECTION 1.(d) Beginning no later than December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, 1+each public transportation operator receiving State funds shall submit a report to the Joint 2+Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee 3+on Justice and Public Safety, and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include, at 4+minimum: 5+(1) Estimated fare evasion rates for the preceding fiscal year. 6+(2) Total fare revenue collected. 7+(3) Estimated revenue losses attributable to fare evasion. 8+(4) A description of anti-fare-dodging measures in place. 9+(5) Enforcement actions taken, including citations or warnings issued. 10+(6) Capital investments made to deter fare evasion. 11+(7) Any safety incidents involving public transportation personnel or passengers. 12+The Department of Transportation shall compile and publish a statewide summary 13+report aggregating data from all reporting transit authorities. No later than December 1, 2027, the 14+Department shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation, the Joint 15+Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, and the Fiscal Research Division 16+on the use of funds appropriated under this section, including the amounts distributed to each 17+transit authority, the categories of expenditures, and the status of statewide compliance with the 18+provisions of this section. 19+SECTION 1.(e) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 20+ 21+COURT SYSTEM STAFFING FOR WAKE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES 22+SECTION 2.(a) Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, there is appropriated from 23+the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) the sum of thirty million 24+dollars ($30,000,000) in recurring funds to be used to hire in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties 25+assistant and deputy clerk of court positions. The AOC shall determine the appropriate allocation 26+of positions between the counties and, no later than 60 days after the allocation, provide a report 27+to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the Fiscal Research 28+Division on (i) the number of positions allocated to each county and (ii) the reasoning used in 29+determining those numbers. 30+SECTION 2.(b) Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, there is appropriated from 31+the General Fund to the AOC, Budget Fund 100072, the sum of thirty million dollars 32+($30,000,000) in recurring funds to be used to hire in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties assistant 33+district attorney positions. Notwithstanding G.S. 7A-60, the AOC shall determine the appropriate 34+allocation of positions between the counties and, no later than 60 days after the allocation, 35+provide a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and 36+the Fiscal Research Division on (i) the number of positions allocated to each county and (ii) the 37+reasoning used in determining those numbers. 38+SECTION 2.(c) No later than July 1, 2027, the Department of Health and Human 39+Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, 40+in coordination with the Administrative Office of the Courts, shall provide a report to the Joint 41+Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Legislative Oversight 42+Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division on the status of the 43+appropriation contained in this section, including (i) cost -savings to the court system, (ii) 44+reductions in case loads, (iii) reductions in the State 's incarcerated population, and (iv) any 45+impacts on recidivism. An updated report shall be provided no later than December 1, 2027, and 46+annually thereafter. 47+ 48+FUNDING FOR SALARY INCREASES AND WORKPLACE SAFETY 49+IMPROVEMENTS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ADULT CORRECTION 50+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+Page 4 DRH40673-NLap-108SECTION 3. Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, there is appropriated from the 1General Fund to the Department of Adult Correction (DAC) the sum of two hundred fifty million 2dollars ($250,000,000) in recurring funds to be used for (i) salary increases for employees of the 3-DAC to align with current market rates and attract and retain qualified employees and (ii) costs 4-incurred from improving workplace safety. For any funds used for salary increases, the DAC 5+DAC to align with current market rates and attract and retain qualified employees and (ii) costs 4+incurred from improving workplace safety . For any funds used for salary increases, t he DAC 5shall determine how to allocate the funds appropriated in this section and, no later than 60 days 6after the allocation, provide a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and 7Public Safety and the Fiscal Research Division on (i) the positions receiving a salary increase, 8(ii) the amount of the salary increase for each position, and (iii) rationale for each salary increase 9provided. 1011-PROVIDE COMPENSATION INCREASES TO MEMBERS OF T HE STATE 12+PROVIDE COMPENSATION INCREASES TO MEMBERS OF THE STATE 12HIGHWAY PATROL 13SECTION 4.(a) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund 14to the Reserve for Compensation Increases to provide pay raises for the State Highway Patrol & 15Law Enforcement Support Staff the sum of forty million four hundred eighty-two thousand four 16hundred eighty dollars ($40,482,480) in each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to establish 17the pay scales set forth in this section. 18-SECTION 4.(b) Effective July 1, 2025, the law enforcement officers of the Stat e 19+SECTION 4.(b) Effective July 1, 2025, the law enforcement officers of the State 19Highway Patrol shall be paid based upon the following experience-based annual salary schedule: 20Years of Experience 2025-2027 Biennium 210 $56,000 22@@ -199,16 +201,16 @@SECTION 5. Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, there is appropriated from the 45General Fund to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 46Prevention (JJDP), the sum of twenty -five million dollars ($25,000,000) in recurring funds to 47-address staffing shortfalls and stabilize juvenile facility operations and juvenile court services, 48+address staffing shortfalls and stabilize juvenile facility operations and juvenile court services, 48including recruitment and retention initiatives for hard-to-fill positions, experience-based salary 49schedule implementation or other compensation adjustments for frontline and supervisory 50-classifications, training and onboarding capacity, and temporary st affing measures necessary to 51-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-House Bill 1080-First Edition Page 5+classifications, training and onboarding capacity, and temporary staffing measures necessary to 51+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+DRH40673-NLap-108 Page 5maintain safe staffing coverage while vacancies are filled. The JJDP shall report to the Joint 1Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, the Fiscal Research Division, and 2the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees no later than 3-March 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, on the use of funds and outcomes, including vacancy 4+March 1, 202 7, and annually thereafter, on the use of funds and outcomes, including vacancy 4rates, turnover, time-to-hire, and overtime hours. 56STATE CRIME LAB WORKFORCE COMPETITIVENESS 7@@ -235,7 +237,7 @@… 28(11c) "Law-Enforcement Officer" means a full-time paid employee of an employer 29who is actively serving in a position with assigned primary duties and 30-responsibilities for prevention and dete ction of crime or the general 31+responsibilities for prevention and detection of crime or the general 31enforcement of the criminal laws of the State of North Carolina or serving 32civil processes, and who possesses the power of arrest by virtue of an oath 33administered under the authority of the State. "Law-Enforcement Officer" also 34@@ -249,15 +251,15 @@"§ 143-166.41. Special separation allowance options for State law enforcement officers. 42… 43(b) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 44-(1) Allowance. – The annual special separation allowance for State law 45+(1) Allowance. – The annual special separation allowance for State law 45enforcement officers provided for under this section. 46(1a) Correctional officer. – As defined in G.S. 135-1. 47(2) Creditable service. – The service for which credit is allowed under the 48retirement system of which the officer is a member. 49-(3) Law enforcement officer. – As defined in either G.S. 135-1 or 50+(3) Law enforcement officer. – As defined in either G.S. 135-1 or 50G.S. 143-166.30(a). 51General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 6 House Bill 1080-First Edition+Page 6 DRH40673-NLap-108(4) Officer. – A law enforcement officer. 1(5) Probation/parole officer. – As defined in G.S. 135-1. 2(b1) Eligibility for Allowance and Calculation of Allowance Amount. – To be eligible for 3@@ -275,11 +277,11 @@a law enforcement officer immediately preceding the officer's service 15retirement. Any break in this required continuous service that is a 16result of disability retirement or disability salary continuation benefits 17-shall not adversely affect an officer's qual ification to receive an 18+shall not adversely affect an officer 's qualification to receive an 18allowance under this subdivision so long as the officer returned to 19service within 45 days after the disability benefits had ceased and is 20otherwise qualified to receive the allowance. 21-d. At least fifty percent (50%) of the officer' s creditable service is as 22+d. At least fifty percent (50%) of the officer 's creditable service is as 22meets one or more of the following: 231. The service is as a law enforcement officer, or for officer. 242. For service prior to July 1, 2017, the service is as a 25@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@officer. 28(2) For officers meeting all of the following criteria, the annual special separation 29allowance to be paid is equal to eighty-five hundredths percent (0.85%) of the 30-annual equivalent of the base rate of compensation at th e time the officer 31+annual equivalent of the base rate of compensation at the time the officer 31attained 30 years of service multiplied by 30: 32a. Prior to attaining 62 years of age, the officer has completed 30 or more 33years of creditable service, at least fifty percent (50%) of which was 34@@ -302,7 +304,7 @@a law enforcement officer immediately preceding the officer's service 42retirement. Any break in this required continuous service that is a 43result of disability retirement or disability salary continuation benefits 44-shall not adversely affect an officer's qualification to receive an 45+shall not adversely affect an officer 's qualification to receive an 45allowance under this subdivision so long as the officer returned to 46service within 45 days after the disability benefits had ceased and is 47otherwise qualified to receive the allowance. 48@@ -310,7 +312,7 @@employer making the allowance payments shall allow the officer to choose which of the two 50calculation formulas to use for that officer's allowance. This election by the officer is a one-time, 51General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-House Bill 1080-First Edition Page 7+DRH40673-NLap-108 Page 7irrevocable election and shall be made prior to the first allowance payment. If no election is made 1by the officer, then the calculation amount under subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be used. 2…." 3@@ -320,5 +322,5 @@SECTION 7.(d) This section is effective July 1, 2026. 78EFFECTIVE DATE 9-SECTION 8. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 10+SECTION 8. Except as otherwise provided, t his act is effective when it becomes 10law. 11
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