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Bill Summary · HB 616

Summary — HB 616: Firefighter Training Facility Funds (Hoke County)

Note: This summary addresses the North Carolina House Bill 616 (2023 session) titled “Firefighter Training Facility Funds/Hoke County.” (Multiple jurisdictions use the bill number “HB 616” for different proposals; this summary is limited to the Hoke County appropriation bill.)

Main purpose

Authorize a one-time State grant to support construction of a live-burn firefighter training facility operated by Puppy Creek Fire Department, Inc., to improve firefighter training capacity for Hoke County.

Key provisions

  • Appropriation: $180,000 in nonrecurring funds from the North Carolina General Fund for the 2023–2024 fiscal year.
  • Recipient: Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) shall allocate the funds in the form of a grant to Puppy Creek Fire Department, Inc., a nonprofit corporation.
  • Use of funds: To be used to construct a live burn training facility (i.e., a structure or training asset enabling live-fire training exercises).
  • Effective date: The act becomes effective July 1, 2023.

Who is affected / benefits

  • Primary beneficiary: Puppy Creek Fire Department, Inc. (as grant recipient and project operator).
  • Direct users: Firefighters in Hoke County (and potentially neighboring departments) who will use the live-burn facility for hands‑on training.
  • State agencies: OSBM — responsible for allocating the appropriation.
  • Fiscal impact on state: One-time General Fund expenditure of $180,000 in FY 2023–24.

Fiscal and implementation notes

  • The appropriation is nonrecurring (one-time) and limited to FY 2023–24.
  • The bill does not specify additional oversight, reporting, or matching-fund requirements beyond allocation to the named nonprofit.
  • Implementation depends on the nonprofit’s ability to carry out construction and comply with any grant agreement terms OSBM may impose.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Filed: April 13, 2023 (House).
  • Referred to Appropriations (and related committees); passed first reading and subsequent committee referral actions in the 2023 session.
  • Effective upon the July 1, 2023 effective date cited in the act.

Considerations

  • A live-burn facility enhances practical skills (fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, safety) but requires ongoing maintenance, governance, and safety oversight once constructed.
  • Because the funding is one-time, long-term operating and maintenance costs would fall to the local department or other local funding sources unless additional appropriations are made.

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

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