AN ACT TO FULLY FUND school social workers AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS OVER ten YEARS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 21 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑316.5.  Appropriation for social workers and school psychologists.

(a)        Beginning with the 2021‑2022 fiscal year, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the following fiscal years the following amounts to the instructional support allotment:

Fiscal Year                                                                                Appropriation

2021‑2022                                                                                    $50,882,384

2022‑2023                                                                                  $101,764,769

2023‑2024                                                                                  $152,647,153

2024‑2025                                                                                  $203,529,537

2025‑2026                                                                                  $254,411,921

2026‑2027                                                                                  $305,294,306

2027‑2028                                                                                  $356,176,690

2028‑2029                                                                                  $407,059,074

2029‑2030                                                                                  $457,941,458

2030‑2031 and each subsequent fiscal year thereafter              $508,823,843.

(b)        When developing the base budget, as defined by G.S. 143C‑1‑1, for each fiscal year specified in subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Budget shall include the appropriated amount for that fiscal year.

(c)        Funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be allocated to local school administrative units to increase positions for school social workers and school psychologists in the following fiscal years to the following statewide ratios of personnel to students:

Fiscal Year                                                              Social Workers        Psychologists

2021‑2022                                                                1:1,254                      1:1,853

2022‑2023                                                                1:1,142                      1:1,725

2023‑2024                                                                1:1,030                      1:1,597

2024‑2025                                                                1:918                         1:1,469

2025‑2026                                                                1:806                         1:1,341

2026‑2027                                                                1:694                         1:1,213

2027‑2028                                                                1:582                         1:1,085

2028‑2029                                                                1:470                         1:957

2029‑2030                                                                1:358                         1:829

2030‑2031 and each subsequent

fiscal year thereafter                                           1:250                         1:700.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.