AN ACT to PROHIBIT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM REQUIRING A SCHOOL NURSE TO HOLD OR OBTAIN A FOUR‑YEAR DEGREE AND TO REQUIRE THAT REGISTERED NURSES WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH CLINIC serving as a school nurse BE PAID UNDER THE CERTIFIED SCHOOL NURSE PAY Scale.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑315(d2) reads as rewritten:

(d2)    School Nurses. – The State Board of Education, in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, may shall adopt rules to establish the qualifications and training required to be hired or contracted for as a certified school nurse except the subject to the following:

(1)        The Board may shall not require or impose a requirement that would require a school nurse to obtain a four‑year degree as a condition of employment.degree.

(2)        The Board shall require that a school nurse who meets all of the following criteria be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale as established by the Board:

a.         Is a registered nurse licensed under Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.

b.         Has at least two years of experience serving in a hospital or health clinic.

SECTION 2.(a)  The State Board of Education has authority to adopt temporary rules to enact the provisions of this act until such a time as permanent rules can be adopted.

SECTION 2.(b)  The Department of Public Instruction shall conform any salary manuals with the provisions of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to school nurses hired or contracted for as a school nurse on or after that date.