AN ACT to appropriate funds for a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training and fellows program at fayetteville state university to build readiness and a community support model of care.

Whereas, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE nurses) are critical to the victim healing process and to law enforcement investigations. They are trained to approach victims with compassion, take steps to avoid re‑traumatization, and connect victims with the resources they need to help process and recover from trauma and violence; and

Whereas, there is a shortage of SANE nurses across North Carolina. There is a need to create a workforce pipeline for these individuals. The University of North Carolina, through the Fayetteville State University (FSU) nursing program, will build capacity in the State through an expanded training program and fellows program.

Whereas, a pilot program for SANE nurses at FSU will serve as the foundation needed to fill vacancies of SANE nurses across the State and create a viable pathway for nurses through the fellows program; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year to be allocated to Fayetteville State University to establish a two‑year pilot program to expand its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training program and establish a SANE fellows program. These funds shall not revert at the end of the 2022‑2023 fiscal year but shall remain available until the end of the 2023‑2024 fiscal year.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2022.