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HB 895

Emergency Citizen Pilot Training Program.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Jennifer Balkcom and 9 co-sponsors

Establishes a state program certifying civilian pilots to assist in disaster response, with training, a registry, and leave protections for volunteers.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 895

Summary — HB 895: Emergency Citizen Pilot Training Program

Status: Passed 1st Reading (filed Apr 10, 2025; program must be operational by Jan 1, 2027)
Primary sponsors: Representatives Winslow, Balkcom, Bell, and Gillespie

Purpose

Establishes a state-run Emergency Citizen Pilot Training Program to train, certify, and register private (civilian) pilots to assist State and federal emergency response and recovery operations following declared disasters. The goal is to standardize training, safety, coordination, and integration of private aviation resources into the State emergency response system.

Key provisions

  • Establishment and administration

    • Creates the "Emergency Citizen Pilot Training Program" within the Division of Emergency Management (Department of Public Safety). The Division Director administers the Program.
    • Division must adopt implementing rules and have the Program operational by January 1, 2027.

  • Definitions

    • Defines terms including Program, Division, Director, Emergency citizen pilot (certificate holder), and State Emergency Response Team (SERT).

  • Program curriculum and scope

    • Offers classes and training to enable pilots to:
    • Assist State and federal response/recovery in declared disaster/emergency areas.
    • Define levels of assistance and the role of private air assistance versus State/federal activities.
    • Teach safe and efficient private assistance by air (flight paths, restricted airspace, SOPs, permissible aircraft, emergency communications, coordination).
    • Include other standards/metrics as the Division deems necessary.

  • Fees and certification

    • The Division may charge a reasonable participation fee not to exceed $500 per candidate.
    • Graduates receive a certificate and eligibility to enroll in an Emergency Citizen Pilot Registry maintained by the Division.
    • Registry tracks active and inactive certificated pilots.

  • Continuing training and active status

    • The Division sets continuing training requirements; pilots who meet them are "active status." The Division determines certification status criteria.

  • Coordination and integration

    • Division must coordinate with SERT, local governments, the Civil Air Patrol, other State agencies, and FEMA.
    • Program standards must be integrated into the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and other disaster response plans.

  • Employment protections / leave

    • Amends G.S. 166A-19.76 to include emergency citizen pilots in leave-without-pay protections: volunteers called into State service after a Governor-declared emergency or SERT activation may take leave without pay from civilian employment and are not compelled to use accrued vacation/sick leave.
    • Service must be requested in writing by the Division Director or head of a local emergency management agency; a copy is provided to the pilot’s employer.
    • Enforcement of leave provisions assigned to the Commissioner of Labor.
    • Defines qualifying emergency as SERT Activation Level 2 or greater (24-hour SERC staffing).

  • Reporting

    • Division must report to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee on Program implementation by Oct 1, 2026, and again one year later.

Who is affected

  • Private/civilian pilots who volunteer to assist in disaster response (new certification pathway).
  • Division of Emergency Management (program administration, rulemaking, registry maintenance).
  • State Emergency Response Team, local emergency management agencies, Civil Air Patrol, FEMA (coordination partners).
  • Employers of volunteer pilots (leave protections and notice requirements).
  • Volunteer fire/rescue/EMS sectors (codifies similar protections and recognition).

Potential impacts

  • Intends to improve safe, standardized use of private aviation in disaster response and speed integration of civilian assets.
  • Administrative costs for the Division to develop curriculum, certification criteria, a registry, and rulemaking — partially offset by candidate fees (up to $500).
  • Provides legal/administrative protections for volunteers called into service; does not itself create explicit liability immunity or funding appropriations beyond administrative authority to charge fees.
  • Creates new coordination requirements for emergency planning and may increase available aerial resources during declared disasters.

For implementation questions (rulemaking, training content, liability, and insurance considerations), stakeholders should monitor the Division’s rulemaking process and required reports to the Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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