AN ACT to establish a pilot program for allowing school medical assistants to provide school nursing services in public schools under supervision of a certified school nurse.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of Public Instruction shall establish a Supervising School Nurse Pilot Program (Program) to enable public school units to hire or contract for personnel to provide school nursing services as a school medical assistant.

SECTION 2.(a)  For purposes of the Program, a school medical assistant is a person who works under the supervision of a nurse that has been certified as a school nurse per the requirements of the State Board of Education and is currently employed as a school nurse in a public school unit.

SECTION 2.(b)  The State Board of Education shall develop eligibility criteria to serve as a school medical assistant. The criteria shall require a relevant two‑year degree or an equivalent amount of training and experience. At a minimum, those currently holding the following valid licenses or certifications under North Carolina law shall be eligible to be a school medical assistant:

(1)        Registered Nurse.

(2)        Licensed Practical Nurse.

(3)        Nurse Aide I or II.

(4)        National Certified Medical Assistant.

(5)        Emergency Medical Technician.

SECTION 3.  All school medical assistants shall be supervised by a certified school nurse. The supervising school nurse shall work with the governing body of the public school unit to develop a written policy regarding the use of medical assistants based on local needs and student population.

SECTION 4.  Any public school unit that has at least one full‑time certified school nurse may register with the Department of Public Instruction as participating in the pilot program. School medical assistants may be funded from the instructional support allotment or other available sources. The Department of Public Instruction shall maintain a list of schools participating in the Program.

SECTION 5.  Notwithstanding G.S. 150B‑21.1(a), the State Board of Education is granted authority to adopt temporary rules to effectuate the provisions of this act until such time as permenant rules can be adopted. The State Board shall adopt the rules for eligibility and use of school medical assistants no later than January 15, 2024.

SECTION 6.  No later than April 15, 2024, public school units shall inform the Department of Public Instruction that they are participating in the Program. No later than August 1, 2024, the governing bodies of participating public school units shall adopt the written policy required by Section 3 of this act regarding use of medical assistants.

SECTION 7.  Participating public school units may hire or contract for medical assistants for the 2024‑2025 and 2025‑2026 school years. Authorization for the Program shall expire at the end of the 2025‑2026 school year.

SECTION 8.  No later than February 15, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Department of Public Instruction shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee the following information:

(1)        Participating public school units.

(2)        The number of school medical assistants hired and the school medical assistants' salaries, and the number of school medical assistants contracted for and the cost of the contracts.

(3)        Any benefits to student health or performance as a result of the Program.

(4)        Recommendations on further use of school medical assistants.

(5)        Any other information the Department deems relevant to the report.

SECTION 9.  This act is effective when it becomes law.