A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to STUDY the installation of carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems in existing public school buildings, to AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL NATIONALLY STANDARDIZED TESTS TO SATISFY NINTH GRADE PRIVATE SCHOOL TESTING REQUIREMENTS, and to provide municipal water and sewer services to charter schoolS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The State Board of Education shall survey all public school units to determine the number of existing school buildings that are currently not equipped with carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems, but would have to install those systems if required to be in compliance with the requirements for new buildings in Section 915 of the North Carolina State Building Code, Fire Prevention Code (non‑equipped buildings). The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, House Appropriations Committee, and Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee the following information no later than December 15, 2021:
(1)	The number of non‑equipped buildings statewide, and by public school unit.
(2)	The estimated cost statewide, and by public school unit, to permit, install, and inspect all non‑equipped buildings with carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems.
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑549 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑549.  Standardized testing requirements.
(a)	Each private church school or school of religious charter shall administer, at least once in each school year, a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrative officer of such school, to all students enrolled or regularly attending grades three, six and nine, as follows:
(1)	For grades three and six, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics.
(2)	For grade nine, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure either of the following:
a.	Achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
b.	Competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.
(b)	Each school shall make and maintain records of the results achieved by its students. For one year after the testing, all records shall be made available, subject to G.S. 115C‑174.13, at the principal office of such school, at all reasonable times, for annual inspection by a duly authorized representative of the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑557 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑557.  Standardized testing requirements.
(a)	Each qualified nonpublic school shall administer, at least once in each school year, a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrative officer of such school, to all students enrolled or regularly attending grades three, six and nine, as follows:
(1)	For grades three and six, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics.
(2)	For grade nine, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure either of the following:
a.	Achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
b.	Competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.
(b)	Each school shall make and maintain records of the results achieved by its students. For one year after the testing, all records shall be made available, subject to G.S. 115C‑174.13, at the principal office of such school, at all reasonable times, for annual inspection by a duly authorized representative of the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 115C‑562.5(a)(4) reads as rewritten:
"(4)	Administer, at least once in each school year, a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrative officer of the nonpublic school to all eligible students whose tuition and fees are paid in whole or in part with a scholarship grant enrolled in grades three and higher. For grades three through eight, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics. For grades nine through 12, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure either (i) achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics or (ii) competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas. Test performance data shall be submitted to the Authority by July 15 of each year. Test performance data reported to the Authority under this subdivision is not a public record under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 2.(d)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to tests given beginning with the 2021‑2022 school year.
SECTION 3.  Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑330.  Provision of water and sewer services to charter schools.
(a)	For the purposes of this section, the term "charter property" means real property that is owned by or leased to an entity for use as a charter school facility for a charter school that has received State Board of Education approval under G.S. 115C‑218.5.
(b)	A municipality shall provide water, sewer, or water and sewer services to a charter property to which those services are not otherwise provided if the following requirements are met:
(1)	The property owner of the charter property requests in writing water, sewer, or water and sewer services to the charter property.
(2)	The municipality has available capacity in the requested service or services.
(3)	The property owner of the charter property agrees in writing to the requirements contained in a utility extension agreement established by the municipal governing board.
(4)	The property owner of the charter property agrees to payment of all costs for extending the requested services.
(c)	A developer of a charter property, with the written consent of the property owner, may make the request for services under subsection (b) of this section, agree to the requirements of a utility extension agreement with the municipal governing board, and pay for the costs of extension of the requested services.
(d)	If the charter property is not located within the municipal limits and the owner of the charter property petitions for annexation under Part 1 or Part 4 of Article 4A of this Chapter, the municipality shall grant the petition if the charter property is otherwise eligible for annexation under those Parts."
SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.