This bill proposes the establishment of the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine under the University of North Dakota's School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The center aims to provide mental health resources and assistance for obtaining medical certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to flight students, pilots, and aviation professionals. It will also cooperate with the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine, support access to mental health resources, and facilitate collaboration on research initiatives related to aviation and space medicine. Additionally, the center will focus on providing mental health education and outreach.
To support the establishment and operation of the center, the bill includes an appropriation of $500,000 from the state general fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. This funding will cover various expenses, including personnel recruitment, facility costs, professional development, and initial research funding.