NC S451

Establishes the North Carolina Jail Fund as a nonreverting special fund in the Department of Health and Human Services to provide financial assistance to sheriffs for jail repairs and improvements needed to meet minimum health and safety standards.

Appropriates $10,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the jail fund.

Requires sheriffs applying for funds to submit detailed information about jail deficiencies, a remediation plan with deadlines and itemized costs, and commit to matching funds on a 1:1 basis with county funds.

Authorizes up to $200,000 annually for fund administration costs and protects participating jails from citations or closure orders while executing a Facility Correction Agreement in good faith, except for newly discovered deficiencies.

Grants the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary sole discretion in determining eligibility and awarding funds in a manner that incentivizes self-reporting by sheriffs and facilitates rapid remedy of deficiencies.