A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to increase the fee for filing a divorce action from seventy‑five dollars to one hundred twenty‑five dollars to support the family stabilization fund and establish the family stabilization fund.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 7A‑305(a2) reads as rewritten:
"(a2)	In every action for absolute divorce filed in the district court, a cost of one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($125.00) shall be assessed against the person filing the divorce action. Costs collected by the clerk pursuant to this subsection shall be remitted to the State Treasurer, who shall deposit fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Family Stabilization Fund established under G.S. 143B‑394.25 and seventy‑five dollars ($75.00) to the Domestic Violence Center Fund established under G.S. 50B‑9. Costs assessed under this subsection shall be in addition to any other costs assessed under this section."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 143B‑393 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑393.  North Carolina Council for Women – creation; powers and duties.
There is hereby created the North Carolina Council for Women of the Department of Administration. The North Carolina Council for Women shall have the following functions and duties:
(1)	To advise the Governor, the principal State departments, and the State legislature concerning the education and employment of women in the State of North Carolina.
(2)	To advise the Secretary of Administration upon any matter the Secretary may refer to the Council.
(3)	Repealed by Session Laws 2013‑360, s. 30.2(b), effective July 1, 2013.
(4)	To administer the Family Stabilization Fund established under G.S. 143B‑394.25."
SECTION 3.  Article 9 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 10E.  North Carolina Family Stabilization Fund.
"§ 143B‑394.25.  North Carolina Family Stabilization Fund.
(a)	There is established in the Department of Administration the North Carolina Family Stabilization Fund. The Fund shall be administered by the North Carolina Council for Women in accordance with Article 1 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes and shall be used to make grants to organizations that will assist individuals in this State who are returning to or starting in the workforce and in need of services, including, but not limited to, (i) short‑term child care, (ii) resource referral, (iii) resume development, and (iv) case management to achieve goals, such as job training, acquiring a GED, continued education, or long‑term employment. Grants shall be awarded according to criteria established by the Council. No more than ten percent (10%) of these funds shall be used for administrative costs by the Council. In order to be eligible to receive grant funds under this section, the organization shall fulfill all of the criteria established by the Council. The Council shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on the revenues credited to the Fund, the organizations receiving grants from the Fund, the success of those organizations, and the costs associated with administering the Fund.
(b)	The Department, upon recommendations by the Council, shall adopt rules to implement the North Carolina Family Stabilization Fund."
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.