An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for scope of article, for definitions, for education program and for follow-up; and making an editorial change.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marla Brown and 12 co-sponsors

State funds $30 million to Rutherford County to build a new Isothermal Community College Health Sciences building to expand allied-health training.

Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

Summary — HB 538: Isothermal Community College Capital Funds

Status (documented version): Introduced as House Bill 538 (NC), filed 2023; text appropriates capital funding and states “This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.” (This summary focuses on the bill version titled “Isothermal Community College Capital Funds” that authorizes the appropriation described below.)

Purpose / Intent

To provide one-time state capital funding to Rutherford County to construct a new Health Sciences building on the main campus of Isothermal Community College (Spindale, NC). The project is intended to expand local allied-health and emergency-services training capacity and help address shortfalls in regional healthcare workforce needs.

Key provisions

Appropriation: Directs a nonrecurring transfer of $30,000,000 from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to Rutherford County for the 2023–2024 fiscal year.

Use of funds: To be used for construction of a new health sciences building on Isothermal Community College’s main campus.

Project description (planning estimates included in bill preamble):

New building: approximately 62,540 square feet, three stories.
Program spaces: anatomy, chemistry and related labs; high‑fidelity simulation classrooms; classrooms and support spaces for nursing and allied‑health programs.
Return of on‑campus nursing programs (currently housed off campus in a repurposed 1950s elementary school).

Local commitment: Rutherford County Board of Commissioners indicated it will assume ongoing maintenance and physical support costs after project completion.

Legislative timing: appropriation is nonrecurring and targeted to the 2023–24 fiscal year; bill text states an effective date of July 1, 2023.

Who is affected

Primary: Isothermal Community College (students and faculty) and Rutherford County (owner/operating responsibility for facility maintenance).

Secondary: Polk County and the regional healthcare workforce (nurses, CNAs, EMTs, paramedics, dental assistants/hygienists, phlebotomists, home‑care specialists, virtual healthcare specialists).

State finance: one-time draw from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund.

Fiscal and practical impacts

Direct state cost: $30 million in nonrecurring capital funds.

Local fiscal impact: Rutherford County assumes future operating, maintenance, and facility support costs (amounts to be determined by county budgeting).

Programmatic benefits: increased capacity for credentialed health professionals, potential to reduce local staffing shortages and support regional healthcare access.

Risks/considerations: capital cost escalation beyond the $30M estimate, construction schedule, coordination of design/ procurement, and longer‑term operating costs for Rutherford County.

Procedural / timeline notes

The bill text appropriates funds for FY 2023–24 and specifies a July 1, 2023 effective date in the introduced version. Local boards (Isothermal trustees, Rutherford and Polk county commissioners) have passed resolutions supporting the project and funding pursuit.

Implementation requires Rutherford County to receive and manage the appropriation and Isothermal Community College to advance design, procurement, and construction per applicable state and local procedures.