GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2019

 

SENATE BILL 168

RATIFIED BILL

 

 

AN ACT MAKing TECHNICAL, conforming, AND OTHER MODIFICATIONS to laws PERTAINING TO the department of health and human SERVICES AND ADDING A PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIAN PRIVILEGE EXCEPTION TO CRIMES AGAINST JUVENILES REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

part i. technical, conforming, and other changes related to the division of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services

 

ALIGNMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY DEFINITION WITH FEDERAL LAW

SECTION 1.1.  G.S. 122C‑3(12a) reads as rewritten:

(12a)  Developmental disability. – A severe, chronic disability of a person that satisfies all of the following:

a.         Is attributable to one or more impairments.a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments.

….

 

ALLOW CO‑PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES

SECTION 1.2.  G.S. 122C‑112.1(a)(34) reads as rewritten:

(34)    Adopt rules for the implementation of a co‑payment graduated schedule to for behavioral health services, intellectual and developmental disabilities services, and substance use disorder services based on the Medicaid co‑payments for such services, which shall be used by LMEs and by contractual provider agencies under G.S. 122C‑146. The co‑payment graduated schedule shall be developed to adopted under this subdivision shall require a co‑payment for services identified by the Secretary. Families whose family income is three hundred percent (300%) or greater of the federal poverty level are eligible for services with the applicable co‑payment.

 

CONFORMING CHANGE TO PROCEDURE FOR APPEALING DECISIONS ON LICENSURE WAIVER REQUESTS

SECTION 1.3.  G.S. 122C‑23(f) reads as rewritten:

(f)       Upon written application and in accordance with rules of the Commission, the Secretary may for good cause waive any of the rules implementing this Article, provided those rules do not affect the health, safety, or welfare of the individuals within the licensable facility. Decisions made pursuant to this subsection may be appealed to the Commission for a hearing in accordance with by filing a contested case under Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

 

TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO LIST OF PERSONS DHHS SECRETARY MAY CERTIFY TO PERFORM FIRST EXAMINATIONS FOR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT

SECTION 1.4.  G.S. 122C‑263.1(a) reads as rewritten:

(a)      Physicians and eligible psychologists are qualified to perform the commitment examinations required under G.S. 122C‑263(c) and G.S. 122C‑283(c). The Secretary of Health and Human Services may individually certify to perform the first commitment examinations required by G.S. 122C‑261 through G.S. 122C‑263 and G.S. 122C‑281 through G.S. 122C‑283 other health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals whose scope of practice includes diagnosing and documenting psychiatric or substance use disorders and conducting mental status examinations to determine capacity to give informed consent to treatment as follows:

(1)        The Secretary has received a request:

a.         To certify a licensed clinical social worker, a master's or higher level degree nurse practitioner, a licensed professional counsellor, clinical mental health counselor or a physician's assistant to conduct the first examinations described in G.S. 122C‑263(c) and G.S. 122C‑283(c).

b.         To certify a master's level licensed clinical addictions specialist to conduct the first examination described in G.S. 122C‑283(c).

…

(5)        In no event shall the certification of a licensed clinical social worker, master's or higher level degree nurse practitioner, licensed professional counsellor, clinical mental health counselor, physician assistant, or master's level certified clinical addictions specialist under this section be construed as authorization to expand the scope of practice of the licensed clinical social worker, the master's level nurse practitioner, licensed professional counsellor, clinical mental health counselor, physician assistant, or the master's level certified clinical addictions specialist.

….

 

CORRECTION TO EXPANDED USE OF TELEHEALTH TO CONDUCT FIRST AND SECOND INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT EXAMINATIONS DURING THE COVID‑19 EMERGENCY

SECTION 1.5.(a)  Section 3F.1(b) of S.L. 2020‑3 reads as rewritten:

SECTION 3F.1.(b)  Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes or any other provision of law to the contrary, the first examination of a respondent required by G.S. 122C‑263(a) to determine whether the respondent will be involuntarily committed due to mental illness or required by G.S. 122C‑283(a) to determine whether the respondent will be involuntarily committed due to substance use disorder may be conducted either in the physical face‑to‑face presence of the commitment examiner or utilizing telehealth equipment and procedures. A commitment examiner who examines a respondent by means of telehealth must be satisfied to a reasonable medical certainty that the determinations made in accordance with G.S. 122C‑283(d) would not be different if the examination had been conducted in the physical presence of the commitment examiner. A commitment examiner who is not so satisfied must note that the examination was not satisfactorily accomplished, and the respondent must be taken for a face‑to‑face examination in the physical presence of a person authorized to perform examinations under G.S. 122C‑283.

SECTION 1.5.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

 

PART iI. technical, conforming, and other changes related to the division of PUBLIC HEALTH

 

TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO STATUTE GOVERNING TRANSITIONAL PERMITS FOR FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS

SECTION 2.1.  G.S. 130A‑248(c) reads as rewritten:

(c)      If ownership of an establishment is transferred or the establishment is leased, the new owner or lessee shall apply for a new permit. The new owner or lessee may also apply for a transitional permit. A transitional permit may be issued upon the transfer of ownership or lease of an establishment to allow the correction of construction and equipment problems that do not represent an immediate threat to the public health. Upon issuance of a new permit or a transitional permit for the same establishment, any previously issued permit for an establishment in that location becomes void. This subsection does not prohibit issuing more than one owner or lessee a permit for the same location if (i) more than one establishment is operated in the same physical location and (ii) each establishment satisfies all of the rules and requirements of subsection (g) (a) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, transitional permit shall mean means a permit issued upon the transfer of ownership or lease of an existing food establishment to allow the correction of construction and equipment problems that do not represent an immediate threat to the public health.

 

REGULATION OF TEMPORARY DISPLAY SPAS

SECTION 2.2.  G.S. 130A‑280 reads as rewritten:

§ 130A‑280.  Scope.

This Article provides for the regulation of public swimming pools in the State as they may affect the public health and safety. As used in this Article, the term public swimming pool means any structure, chamber, or tank containing an artificial body of water used by the public for swimming, diving, wading, recreation, or therapy, together with buildings, appurtenances, and equipment used in connection with the body of water, regardless of whether a fee is charged for its use. The term includes municipal, school, hotel, motel, apartment, boarding house, athletic club, or other membership facility pools and spas, spas operating for display at temporary events, and artificial swimming lagoons. As used in this Article, an artificial swimming lagoon means any body of water used for recreational purposes with more than 20,000 square feet of surface area, an artificial liner, and a method of disinfectant that results in a disinfectant residual in the swimming zone that is protective of the public health. This Article does not apply to a private pool serving a single family dwelling and used only by the residents of the dwelling and their guests. This Article also does not apply to therapeutic pools used in physical therapy programs operated by medical facilities licensed by the Department or operated by a licensed physical therapist, nor to therapeutic chambers drained, cleaned, and refilled after each individual use.

 

AUTHORIZATION TO APPOINT RETIRED PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PARAMEDICS, CERTIFIED MEDICOLEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATORS, AND PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANTS AS MEDICAL EXAMINERS

SECTION 2.3.  G.S. 130A‑382(a) reads as rewritten:

(a)      The Chief Medical Examiner shall appoint two or more county medical examiners for each county for a three‑year term. In appointing medical examiners for each county, the Chief Medical Examiner shall give preference to physicians licensed to practice medicine in this State but may also appoint licensed retired physicians previously licensed to practice in this State; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, or nurses licensed to practice in this State; emergency medical technician paramedics. paramedics credentialed under G.S. 131E‑159; medicolegal death investigators certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators; pathologists' assistants; and dentists licensed to practice in this State. A medical examiner may serve more than one county. The Chief Medical Examiner may take jurisdiction in any case or appoint another medical examiner to do so.

 

ALLOW CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER TO APPOINT EMERGENCY MEDICAL EXAMINERS DURING STATES OF EMERGENCY

SECTION 2.4.  G.S. 130A‑382 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

(a1)    During a state of emergency declared by the Governor or by a resolution of the General Assembly as provided in G.S. 166A‑19.20, or by the governing body of a county or municipality as provided in G.S. 166A‑19.22, the Chief Medical Examiner is authorized to appoint temporary county medical examiners to serve for the duration of the declared state of emergency. For purposes of this section, temporary county medical examiner means an individual who has been determined by the Chief Medical Examiner to have the appropriate training, education, and experience to serve as a county medical examiner during a declared state of emergency.

 

ESTABLISHMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY FOR CERTAIN DEATH INVESTIGATION INFORMATION

SECTION 2.5.  Article 16 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 130A‑386.5.  Confidentiality of certain death investigation information and records received by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

All information and records provided by a city, county, or other public entity to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, or its agents, concerning a death investigation shall retain the same degree of confidentiality it had while in the possession of the city, county, or other public entity. Such information and records shall not become public records, as defined under Chapters 121 and 132 of the General Statutes, when provided to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, or its agents, unless the information and records otherwise constituted public records while in the possession of the city, county, or other public entity.

 

PART iI‑A. technical, conforming, and other changes related to DHHS Block Grants

SECTION 2A.1.(a)  Section 1.1 of S.L. 2019‑192, as amended by Section 4.9 of S.L. 2020‑4, reads as rewritten:

DHHS BLOCK GRANTS

SECTION 1.1.(a)  Except as otherwise provided, appropriations from federal block grant funds are made for each year of the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2021, according to the following schedule:

 

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY                     FY 2019‑2020         FY 2020‑2021

FAMILIES (TANF) FUNDS

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Division of Social Services

 

      01. Work First Family Assistance                                        $37,549,914             $35,549,914

 

      02. Work First County Block Grants                                      80,093,566               80,093,566

 

      03. Work First Electing Counties                                             2,378,213                 2,378,213

 

      04. Adoption Services – Special Children

            Adoption Fund                                                                    2,026,877                 2,026,877

 

      05. Child Protective Services – Child Welfare

            Workers for Local DSS                                                      9,412,391                 9,412,391

                                                                                                                                       21,559,645

 

      06. Funding for Counties to Assist with County

            Implementation of NC FAST, Project 4                                    8,092                               0

 

      07. Child Welfare Program Improvement Plan                           775,176                    775,176

 

      08. Child Welfare Collaborative                                                 400,000                    400,000

 

      09. Child Welfare Initiatives                                                    1,400,000                 1,400,000

 

Division of Child Development and Early Education

 

      10. Subsidized Child Care Program                                       53,203,069               45,813,694

 

      11. Swap‑Child Care Subsidy                                                   5,400,000               12,600,000

 

      12. NC Pre‑K Services                                                           66,300,000               68,300,000

 

Division of Public Health

 

      13. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives                               3,450,000                 3,450,000

 

DHHS Administration

 

      14. Division of Social Services                                                2,482,260                 2,482,260

 

      15. Office of the Secretary                                                             34,042                      34,042

 

      16. Eligibility Systems – Operations and

            Maintenance                                                                          653,815                    711,349

                                                                                                                                         1,045,775

 

      17. NC FAST Implementation                                                 1,817,362                  0396,659

 

      18. Division of Social Services – Workforce

            Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)                                  93,216           93,21683,874

 

Transfers to Other Block Grants

 

Division of Child Development and Early Education

 

      19. Transfer to the Child Care and

            Development Fund                                                           21,773,001               21,773,001

 

Division of Social Services

 

      20. Transfer to Social Services Block

            Grant for Child Protective Services –

            Training                                                                              1,300,000                 1,300,000

 

      21. Transfer to Social Services Block

            Grant for Child Protective Services                                    5,040,000                 5,040,000

 

      22. Transfer to Social Services Block

            Grant for County Departments of

            Social Services for Children's Services                            13,097,783               13,097,783

 

      23. Transfer to Social Services Block

            Grant – Foster Care Services                                              1,385,152                 1,385,152

 

      24. Transfer to Social Services Block                                      1,582,000                 1,582,000

            Grant – Child Advocacy Centers

 

      25. Transfer to Social Services Block                                         737,067                    737,067

            Grant – Child Protective Services,

            Child Welfare Training for Counties

 

TOTAL TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR

NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) FUNDS                                  $312,392,996           $310,435,701

                                                                                                                                   $323,304,698

 

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF)

EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY FUNDS

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Division of Child Development and Early Education

 

      01. Subsidized Child Care                                                    $33,439,988             $33,439,988

                                                                                                                                     $34,818,946

 

TOTAL TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR

NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) EMERGENCY

CONTINGENCY FUNDS                                                       $33,439,988             $33,439,988

                                                                                                                                     $34,818,946

 

SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Divisions of Social Services and Aging and Adult Services

 

      01. County Departments of Social Services                         $19,905,849             $19,905,849

 

      02. County Departments of Social Services

            (Transfer From TANF)                                                     13,097,783               13,097,783

 

      03. EBCI Tribal Public Health and Human Services                  244,740                    244,740

 

      04. Child Protective Services

            (Transfer From TANF)                                                       5,040,000                 5,040,000

 

      05. State In‑Home Services Fund                                             1,943,950                 1,943,950

 

      06. Adult Protective Services                                                   2,138,404                 2,138,404

 

      07. State Adult Day Care Fund                                                 1,994,084                 1,994,084

 

      08. Child Protective Services/CPS

            Investigative Services – Child Medical

            Evaluation Program                                                               901,868                    901,868

 

      09. Special Children Adoption Incentive Fund                           462,600       462,600762,600

 

      10. Child Protective Services – Child

            Welfare Training for Counties

            (Transfer From TANF)                                                       1,300,000                 1,300,000

 

      11. Child Protective Services – Child

            Welfare Training for Counties

            (Transfer From TANF)                                                          737,067                    737,067

 

      12. Home and Community Care Block

            Grant (HCCBG)                                                                  2,696,888                 2,696,888

 

      13. Child Advocacy Centers

            (Transfer from TANF $1,582,000)                                     1,582,000                 1,582,000

 

      14. Guardianship – Division of Social Services                       1,802,671 1,802,6713,082,411

 

      15. Foster Care Services

            (Transfer From TANF)                                                       1,385,152                 1,385,152

 

Division of Central Management and Support

 

      16. DHHS Competitive Block Grants

            for Nonprofits                                                                     4,774,525                 4,774,525

 

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services

 

      17. Mental Health Services – Adult and

            Child/Developmental Disabilities Program/

            Substance Abuse Services – Adult                                     4,149,595                 4,149,595

 

DHHS Program Expenditures

 

Division of Services for the Blind

 

      18. Independent Living Program                                              3,603,793                 3,603,793

 

Division of Health Service Regulation

 

      19. Adult Care Licensure Program                                              402,951                    402,951

 

      20. Mental Health Licensure and

            Certification Program                                                            200,880                    200,880

 

Division of Aging and Adult Services

 

      21. Guardianship                                                                       3,825,443                 3,825,443

 

DHHS Administration

 

      22. Division of Aging and Adult Services                                   679,541                    679,541

 

      23. Division of Social Services                                                   654,220                    654,220

 

      24. Office of the Secretary/Controller's Office                           132,047                    132,047

 

      25. Legislative Increases/Fringe Benefits                                   236,278                    236,278

 

      26. Division of Child Development and

            Early Education                                                                       13,878                      13,878

 

      27. Division of Mental Health, Developmental

            Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services                            27,446                      27,446

 

      28. Division of Health Service Regulation                                  121,719                    121,719

 

TOTAL SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT                  $74,055,372             $74,055,372

                                                                                                                                     $75,635,112

 

LOW‑INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Division of Social Services

 

      01. Low‑Income Energy Assistance

            Program (LIEAP)                                                           $40,298,638             $40,298,638

                                                                                                                                     $40,950,767

 

      02. Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)                                    40,298,638               40,298,638

                                                                                                                                       40,950,767

 

Local Administration

 

Division of Social Services

 

      03. County DSS Administration                                               6,618,366                 6,618,366

                                                                                                                                         6,725,467

 

DHHS Administration

 

Division of Central Management and Support

 

      04. Division of Social Services                                                     10,000                      10,000

 

      04A. AR4CA Replacement Project                                                                              119,486

 

      04B. Winter Heating Program Outreach                                                                      100,000

 

      05. Office of the Secretary/DIRM                                               128,954                    128,954

 

      06. Office of the Secretary/Controller's Office                             18,378                      18,378

 

      07. NC FAST Development                                                     2,287,188                 2,287,188

                                                                                                                                            581,123

 

      08. NC FAST Operations and Maintenance                             2,539,033                 2,539,033

                                                                                                                                         2,335,226

 

Transfers to Other State Agencies

 

Department of Environmental Quality

 

      09. Weatherization Program                                                     8,692,641                 8,552,641

                                                                                                                                         9,493,643

 

      10. Heating Air Repair and Replacement

            Program (HARRP)                                                             5,881,761                 5,701,761

                                                                                                                                         6,171,429

 

      11. Local Residential Energy Efficiency Service

            Providers – Weatherization                                                   544,742       514,742573,072

 

      12. Local Residential Energy Efficiency Service

            Providers – HARRP                                                              327,169       277,169351,654

 

      13. DEQ – Weatherization Administration                                 544,742       514,742623,072

 

      14. DEQ – HARRP Administration                                            277,169       277,169381,654

 

Department of Administration

 

      15. N.C. Commission on Indian Affairs                                        87,736                      87,736

 

TOTAL LOW‑INCOME ENERGY

      ASSISTANCE BLOCK GRANT                                    $108,555,155           $108,125,155

                                                                                                                                   $109,602,428

 

CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Division of Child Development and Early Education

 

      01. Child Care Services                                                      $268,109,943           $239,499,318

                                                                                                                                   $245,658,197

 

      02. Smart Start Subsidy                                                            7,392,654                 7,392,654

 

      03. Transfer from TANF Block Grant

            for Child Care Subsidies                                                   21,773,001               21,773,001

 

      04. Quality and Availability Initiatives

            (TEACH Program $3,800,000)                                        67,217,124               55,217,124

                                                                                                                                       48,045,765

 

DHHS Administration

 

Division of Child Development and Early Education

 

      05. DCDEE Administrative Expenses                                      9,710,886                 9,710,886

                                                                                                                                       10,062,728

 

Division of Social Services

 

      06. Local Subsidized Child Care

            Services Support                                                               18,533,357               18,533,357

                                                                                                                                       18,685,609

 

      07. Direct Deposit for Child Care Payments                               505,100           505,1005,000

 

Division of Central Management and Support

 

      08. NC FAST Development                                                        464,290                  0100,880

 

      09. NC FAST Operations and Maintenance                             1,104,504                 1,201,697

                                                                                                                                         1,766,649

 

      10. DHHS Central Administration – DIRM

            Technical Services                                                                 645,162                    645,162

 

      11. DHHS Central Administration                                                  7,346           7,346350,000

 

Division of Public Health

 

      12. Child Care Health Consultation Contracts                              62,205                      62,205

 

TOTAL CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT

      FUND BLOCK GRANT                                                  $395,525,572           $354,547,850

 

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

      01. Mental Health Services – Child                                        $4,779,087               $4,779,087

 

      02. Mental Health Services – Adult/Child                             18,531,361               18,531,360

                                                                                                                                       19,295,850

 

      03. Mental Health Services – First

            Psychotic Symptom Treatment                                          1,976,970                 1,976,970

                                                                                                                                         3,367,375

 

DHHS Administration

 

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services

 

      04. Administration                                                                       200,000                    200,000

 

TOTAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

      BLOCK GRANT                                                                $25,487,418             $25,487,417

                                                                                                                                     $27,642,312

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services

 

      01. Substance Abuse – HIV and IV Drug                              $3,500,747               $2,550,915

 

      02. Substance Abuse Prevention                                              9,110,422                 9,110,422

 

      03. Substance Abuse Services – Treatment for

            Children/Adults

            (Medication‑Assisted Opioid Use Disorder

            Treatment Pilot Program $500,000;

            First Step Farm of WNC, Inc. $100,000)                         28,203,732               29,500,823

                                                                                                                                       31,400,777

 

      05. Crisis Solutions Initiatives – Collegiate

            Wellness/Addiction Recovery                                            1,085,000                 1,085,000

 

      06. Crisis Solutions Initiatives – Community

            Paramedic Mobile Crisis Management                                   20,000                      20,000

 

DHHS Program Expenditures

 

Division of Central Management and Support

 

      07. Competitive Grants                                                             1,600,000                 1,600,000

 

DHHS Administration

 

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services

 

      08. Administration                                                                       454,000                    454,000

 

      09. Controlled Substance Reporting System

            Enhancement                                                                         427,655                    427,655

 

      10. Veterans Initiatives                                                                250,000                    250,000

 

Division of Public Health

 

      11. HIV Testing for Individuals in Substance

            Abuse Treatment                                                                1,300,000                               0

 

TOTAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION

      AND TREATMENT BLOCK GRANT                            $45,951,556             $44,998,815

                                                                                                                                     $46,898,769

 

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

Division of Public Health

 

      01. Women and Children's Health Services

            (Safe Sleep Campaign $45,000; Sickle Cell

            Centers $100,000; Prevent Blindness $575,000;

            March of Dimes $350,000; Teen Pregnancy

            Prevention Initiatives $650,000;

            17P Project $52,000; Nurse‑Family

            Partnership $550,000; Perinatal & Neonatal

            Outreach Coordinator Contracts $440,000;

            Mountain Area Pregnancy Services $250,000;

            Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship $400,000)            $14,719,224             $14,719,224

                                                                                                                                     $15,892,309

 

      02. Oral Health                                                                              48,227           48,22754,215

 

      03. Evidence‑Based Programs in Counties

            With Highest Infant Mortality Rates                                  1,575,000                 1,575,000

 

DHHS Program Expenditures

 

      04. Children's Health Services                                                  1,427,323                 1,427,323

                                                                                                                                         1,477,119

 

      05. Women's Health – Maternal Health                                      169,864       169,864174,727

 

      06. Women and Children's Health – Perinatal

            Strategic Plan Support Position                                               68,245           68,24581,622

 

      07. State Center for Health Statistics                                           158,583       158,583160,965

 

      08. Health Promotion – Injury and

            Violence Prevention                                                                87,271           87,27191,082

 

DHHS Administration

 

      09. Division of Public Health Administration                             552,571       552,571604,248

 

TOTAL MATERNAL AND CHILD

      HEALTH BLOCK GRANT                                              $18,806,308             $18,806,308

                                                                                                                                     $20,111,287

 

PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

 

Local Program Expenditures

 

      01. Physical Activity and Prevention                                     $3,030,116               $3,030,116

 

      02. Injury and Violence Prevention

            (Services to Rape Victims – Set‑Aside)                                160,000                    160,000

 

DHHS Program Expenditures

 

Division of Public Health

 

      03. HIV/STD Prevention and

            Community Planning                                                             137,648                    137,648

 

      04. Oral Health Preventive Services                                            150,000                    150,000

 

      05. Laboratory Services – Testing,

            Training, and Consultation                                                      21,000                      21,000

 

      06. Injury and Violence Prevention

            (Services to Rape Victims – Set‑Aside)                                  53,206                      53,206

 

      07. Performance Improvement and

            Accountability                                                                       592,123       592,123643,449

 

      08. State Center for Health Statistics                                             82,505                      82,505

 

DHHS Administration

 

Division of Public Health

 

      09. Division of Public Health                                                        65,000                      65,000

 

TOTAL PREVENTIVE HEALTH

      SERVICES BLOCK GRANT                                             $4,291,598               $4,291,598

                                                                                                                                       $4,342,924

 

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

 

      01. Community Action Agencies                                         $24,170,204             $20,539,214

                                                                                                                                     $24,109,518

 

      02. Discretionary Funding                                                           921,096       921,096723,194

 

      03. Office of Economic Opportunity                                           981,096    981,0961,141,652

 

      04. Office of Economic Opportunity – Workforce

            Investment Opportunities Act (WIOA)                                   60,000                      60,000

 

      05. AR4CA Replacement Project                                                                                 358,458

 

TOTAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

      BLOCK GRANT                                                                $26,132,396             $22,501,406

                                                                                                                                     $26,392,822

 

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TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) FUNDS

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SECTION 1.1.(h)  The sum of nine million four hundred twelve thousand three hundred ninety‑one dollars ($9,412,391) twenty‑one million five hundred fifty‑nine thousand six hundred forty‑five dollars ($21,559,645) appropriated in this act to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, in TANF funds for each fiscal year of the 2019‑2021 2020‑2021 fiscal biennium year for child welfare improvements shall be allocated to the county departments of social services for hiring or contracting staff to investigate and provide services in Child Protective Services cases; to provide foster care and support services; to recruit, train, license, and support prospective foster and adoptive families; and to provide interstate and post‑adoption services for eligible families.

Counties shall maintain their level of expenditures in local funds for Child Protective Services workers. Of the Block Grant funds appropriated for Child Protective Services workers, the total expenditures from State and local funds for fiscal years 2019‑2020 and 2020‑2021 shall not be less than the total expended from State and local funds for the 2012‑2013 fiscal year.

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SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

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SECTION 1.1.(s)  The sum of three million eight hundred twenty‑five thousand four hundred forty‑three dollars ($3,825,443) for each fiscal year of the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium six million nine hundred seven thousand eight hundred fifty‑four dollars ($6,907,854) for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year appropriated in this act in the Social Services Block Grant to the Department of Health and Human Services, Divisions of Social Services and Aging and Adult Services, shall be used for guardianship services pursuant to Chapter 35A of the General Statutes. The Department may expend funds allocated in this section to support existing corporate guardianship contracts during the 2019‑2020 and 2020‑2021 fiscal years.year.

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LOW‑INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE BLOCK GRANT

SECTION 1.1.(v)  For the 2020‑2021 fiscal year, the Division of Social Services shall have the authority to realign appropriated funds between the State‑level services Low Income Energy Assistance Payments and Crisis Assistance Payments without prior consultation with the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services to ensure needs are effectively met without exceeding the total amount appropriated for these State‑level service items. Additional emergency contingency funds received may be allocated for Energy Assistance Payments or Crisis Intervention Payments without prior consultation with the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services. Additional funds received shall be reported to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division upon notification of the award. The Department of Health and Human Services shall not allocate funds for any activities, including increasing administration, other than assistance payments, without prior consultation with the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services.

SECTION 1.1.(w)  The sum of forty million two hundred ninety‑eight thousand six hundred thirty‑eight dollars ($40,298,638) for each year of the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium nine hundred fifty thousand seven hundred sixty‑seven dollars ($40,950,767) for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year appropriated in this act in the Low‑Income Energy Assistance Block Grant to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, shall be used for Energy Assistance Payments for the households of (i) elderly persons age 60 and above with income up to one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the federal poverty level and (ii) disabled persons eligible for services funded through the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

County departments of social services shall submit to the Division of Social Services an outreach plan for targeting households with 60‑year‑old household members no later than August 1 of each year. The outreach plan shall comply with the following:

(1)        Ensure that eligible households are made aware of the available assistance, with particular attention paid to the elderly population age 60 and above and disabled persons receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

(2)        Include efforts by the county department of social services to contact other State and local governmental entities and community‑based organizations to (i) offer the opportunity to provide outreach and (ii) receive applications for energy assistance.

(3)        Be approved by the local board of social services or human services board prior to submission.

SECTION 1.1.(w1)  The Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a centralized system to collect, track, analyze, monitor, and disseminate performance, outputs, and outcome data for the Community Services Block Grant Program and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Weatherization Assistance Program to replace the current software solution, Accountable Results for Community Action (AR4CA). The project shall not proceed until the business case has been approved by the Office of State Budget and Management and the State Chief Information Officer in the Enterprise Project Management Office's Touchdown System. Upon approval, amounts not to exceed one hundred nineteen thousand four hundred eighty‑six dollars ($119,486) in Low Income Energy Assistance funds may be budgeted for transfer to Budget Code 24410 for information technology projects for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year.

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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

SECTION 1.1.(z)  The sum of one million nine hundred seventy‑six thousand nine hundred seventy dollars ($1,976,970) three million three hundred sixty‑seven thousand three hundred seventy‑five dollars ($3,367,375) appropriated in this act in the Mental Health Services Block Grant to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, for each year of the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium the 2020‑2021 fiscal year is allocated for Mental Health Services – First Psychotic Symptom Treatment.

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MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BLOCK GRANT

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SECTION 1.1.(dd)  The sum of sixty‑eight thousand two hundred forty‑five dollars ($68,245) eighty‑one thousand six hundred twenty‑two dollars ($81,622) allocated in this section in the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Women and Children's Health Section, for each fiscal year of the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium the 2020‑2021 fiscal year shall not be used to supplant existing State or federal funds. This allocation shall be used for a Public Health Program Consultant position assigned full‑time to manage the North Carolina Perinatal Health Strategic Plan and provide staff support for the stakeholder work group.

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COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

SECTION 1.1.(gg)  Upon development, implementation, and approval of the centralized system described in subsection (w1) of this section, amounts not to exceed three hundred fifty‑eight thousand four hundred fifty‑eight dollars ($358,458) in Community Service Block Grant funds may be budgeted for transfer to Budget Code 24410 for information technology projects for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year.

SECTION 2A.1.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

 

part III. Psychiatric privilege exemption

SECTION 3.1.(a)  G.S. 14‑318.6(h) reads as rewritten:

(h)      Nothing in this section shall be construed as to require a person with a privilege under G.S. 8‑53.3, 8‑53.7, 8‑53.8, or 8-53.12 or 8‑53.12, with attorney‑client privilege privilege, or a psychiatrist licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes to report pursuant to this section if that privilege would prevent them from doing so.

SECTION 3.1.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

 

PART IV. effective date

SECTION 4.1.  Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective October 1, 2020.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26th day of June, 2020.

 

 

                                                                    s/  Philip E. Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

 

 

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

 

 

 

                                                                        _____________________________________

                                                                         Roy Cooper

                                                                         Governor

 

 

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2020