AN ACT to direct the department of public instruction to study the impact of school‑based mental health services on student outcomes.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of Public Instruction shall conduct a study of the impact of school‑based mental health services on student outcomes. The Department shall report the findings of their study to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later than January 1, 2025. At a minimum, the report shall include the following information:

(1)        The public school units studied.

(2)        The job title and qualifications, including education and experience, of the mental health service providers in the public school units studied.

(3)        Any impact on daily attendance or participation during instructional hours observed once the school‑based services were offered versus the daily attendance or participation during instructional hours the school observed before offering services.

(4)        Any other information the Department deems relevant to the study.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of seventy‑five thousand dollars ($75,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to conduct the study and issue the report required by this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2024.