AN ACT to provide funds for evidence‑based supported employment services for individuals with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, the sum of one hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($125,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025‑2027 fiscal biennium to be allocated as a grant to the North Carolina Association of People Supporting Employment First (NC APSE) to develop and implement training programs for the Department, including online training modules, on the provision of evidence‑based supported employment services for individuals in targeted populations, in order to assist these individuals with preparation for, identification of, and maintenance of integrated, paid, competitive employment. The Department shall make these training programs available throughout the State to (i) employers that have hired or are willing to hire individuals in targeted populations, (ii) service providers of local management entities/managed care organizations, and (iii) any other entity the Department determines will benefit from receiving this training in order to achieve improved employment outcomes for individuals in targeted populations. As used in this section, individuals in targeted populations means individuals with serious mental illness who are not in or at risk of entry into an adult care home and individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or both.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.