AN ACT to require public school units to provide information about diabetes to parents and legal GUARDIANS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑375.3 reads as rewritten:

§ 115C‑375.3.  Guidelines to support and assist students with diabetes.Diabetes support and awareness.

(a)        Local boards of education and boards of directors of charter schools Governing bodies of public school units shall ensure that the guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C‑12(31) are implemented in schools in which students with diabetes are enrolled. In particular, the boards governing bodies shall require the implementation of the procedures set forth in those guidelines for the development and implementation of individual diabetes care plans. The boards governing bodies also shall make available necessary information and staff development to teachers and school personnel in order to appropriately support and assist students with diabetes in accordance with their individual diabetes care plans.

(b)        Governing bodies of public school units shall ensure that each school provides parents and legal guardians with information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include all of the following:

(1)        A description of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

(2)        A description of the risk factors and warning signs associated with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

(3)        A recommendation that if a student is displaying warning signs associated with diabetes, the parent or guardian of the student consult with the primary care provider of the student to determine if immediate screening for diabetes is appropriate.

(4)        A description of the screening process for and stages of diabetes.

(5)        A recommendation that if a student receives a diabetes diagnosis, the parent or guardian of the student consult with the primary care provider of the student to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

(6)        Notification that the school is required to assist students with diabetes in accordance with the guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑12(31).

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑150.12C(15) reads as rewritten:

(15)    Health and safety. – The board of trustees shall require that the school meet the same health and safety standards required of a local school administrative unit. The board shall comply with the requirements of Article 25A of this Chapter, including the following:

a.         The board shall ensure that the school provides parents with information about cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, human papillomavirus, and the vaccines available to prevent these diseases. This information shall be provided at the beginning of the school year to parents of children entering grades five through 12. This information shall include the causes and symptoms of these diseases, how they are transmitted, how they may be prevented by vaccination, including the benefits and possible side effects of vaccination, and places parents may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.

b.         The board shall adopt policies to ensure that students in grades nine through 12 receive information annually on the manner in which a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby with a responsible person, in accordance with G.S. 7B‑500.

c.         The board shall ensure that the school complies with G.S. 115C‑375.3, including the guidelines for individual diabetes care plans adopted by the State Board of Education for assisting and supporting students enrolled in the school with diabetes and the annual notification requirements related to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes awareness.

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(7) reads as rewritten:

(7)      Health and safety. – The board of directors shall require that the regional school meet the same health and safety standards required of a local school administrative unit.unit, including the following:

a.         The Department of Public Instruction shall ensure that regional schools comply with G.S. 115C‑375.2A. The board of directors of a regional school shall provide the school with a supply of emergency epinephrine delivery systems necessary to carry out the provisions of G.S. 115C‑375.2A.

b.         The board of directors shall ensure that the regional school complies with G.S. 115C‑375.3, including the guidelines for individual diabetes care plans adopted by the State Board of Education for assisting and supporting students enrolled in the school with diabetes and the annual notification requirements related to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes awareness.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b)(9) reads as rewritten:

(9)      Health and safety. – The chancellor shall require that the laboratory school meet the same health and safety standards required of a local school administrative unit.unit, including the following:

a.         The Department of Public Instruction shall ensure that laboratory schools comply Chancellor shall ensure that the laboratory school complies with G.S. 115C‑375.2A. The chancellor shall provide the laboratory school with a supply of emergency epinephrine delivery systems necessary to carry out the provisions of G.S. 115C‑375.2A.

b.         The Chancellor shall ensure that the laboratory school complies with G.S. 115C‑375.3, including the guidelines for individual diabetes care plans adopted by the State Board of Education for assisting and supporting students enrolled in the school with diabetes and the annual notification requirements related to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes awareness.

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to assist the Department in developing and distributing guidance to public school units on implementing the provisions of this act.

SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026, and applies beginning with the 2026‑2027 school year.