NC S559

NC Leadership Academy (Forsyth County), Alpha Academy (Cumberland County), Durham Charter (Durham County), and United Community School (Mecklenburg County) may elect to join the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees within 30 days of the law's effective date, waiving the normal two-year charter signing deadline.

Charter schools may elect to participate in the State Health Plan either within two years of charter signing (automatic enrollment) or after two years (requires Board of Trustees approval within 180 days), with six-month notice encouraged but not required for participation.

Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund contribution amounts increase from $10.00 to $15.00 per month retroactively, and minimum monthly pensions increase to $175.00, effective January 1, 2025, if Senate Bill 319 becomes law.

Charter school boards may provide paid parental leave consistent with state employee requirements under G.S. 126-8.6 or require education management organizations to provide it; boards not providing parental leave must notify employees that charter school employment will not count toward state parental leave service requirements.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) companies applying for historically underutilized business certification must provide attestation and documentation that at least 51% of stock is owned by plan participants who are members of designated disadvantaged groups.