NC S551

Establishes the Healthy Out-of-School Time (HOST) Recognition Program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education, allowing out-of-school programs to voluntarily obtain certificates demonstrating compliance with National Out-of-School Time Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards.

Requires HOST-certified programs to provide at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity in full-day programs (30 minutes for half-day), limit screen time to under one hour daily for full-day programs, serve only healthy foods and beverages, and ensure staff receive training on healthy eating and physical activity standards.

Mandates the Department of Public Instruction comply with federal Title IV, Part B requirements when administering 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants and prohibits the Department from imposing requirements on sub-grantees that exceed federal law.

Allows existing after-school learning programs for at-risk students to participate in the After-School Quality Improvement Grant Program and receive up to two-year grants of $500,000 annually, with grant recipients acting as their own fiscal agents.

Program implementation is subject to funding availability; the bill becomes effective when signed into law, except the After-School Quality Improvement Grant Program changes take effect July 1, 2015.