NC H199

Establishes a permanent Charter School Transportation Grant Program to reimburse charter schools for up to 65% of eligible transportation costs including fuel, vehicle maintenance, contracted services, and personnel salaries.

Charter schools qualify if at least 50% of their student enrollment in a semester either qualify for federal free or reduced-price lunch or are identified students under the Community Eligibility Provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Department of Public Instruction must establish application guidelines by August 1, accept fall semester applications by December 31 and spring semester applications by May 15, and award grants by February 15 and June 15 respectively, with each grant capped at $100,000.

Department must provide annual reports by March 15 to legislative committees on the number of schools receiving funds, grant amounts awarded, and impacts on school lunch offerings, student lunch participation, and student transportation services.

Appropriates $2,500,000 in recurring funds to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2019-2020 fiscal year and becomes effective July 1, 2019.