AN ACT TO REQUIRE AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL IN A LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT beginning in the 2021‑2022 school year AND TO appropriate additional FUNDS TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.

Whereas, the health, well‑being, and educational success of public school students in North Carolina are top priorities of the General Assembly; and

Whereas, employing school nurses has been shown to have a critical and positive impact on the health, well‑being, and educational success of public school students in kindergarten through grade 12 due to services directed toward keeping students healthy, in class, and ready to learn; and

Whereas, there has previously been insufficient funding to provide for a full‑time, permanent nurse in every school in a local school administrative unit in North Carolina; and

Whereas, the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) have disrupted and will continue to disrupt school schedules and families' lives; and

Whereas, there is now an even greater need to ensure that all local school administrative units can provide a full‑time, permanent nurse for every school in the unit; and

Whereas, it is the goal of the General Assembly to respond to the critical impacts of COVID‑19 on our schools, our students, and their families and communities, with appropriate investments and programs; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(65)    To Provide at Least One School Nurse in Every School. – Local boards of education shall ensure that each school within the local school administrative unit is staffed by at least one full‑time, permanent school nurse.

SECTION 2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred two million dollars ($102,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year to increase the Instructional Support Allotment. These funds shall be used to increase positions for school nurses in order to provide at least one full‑time, permanent school nurse for every school in the unit.

SECTION 2.(b)  Funds provided to local school administrative units pursuant to this act shall supplement and not supplant any funds already provided for school nurses.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021. Section 1 of this act applies beginning with the 2021‑2022 school year.