H.B. 348
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Mar 22, 2021
SESSION 2021 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH10151-MTa-65A
Short Title: Add School Nurses for Healthier Students. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Adcock, Lambeth, Gill, and Farkas (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO REQUIRE AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL IN A
3 PUBLIC SCHOOL UNIT BEGINNING IN THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR AND TO
4 APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
5 Whereas, the health, well-being, and educational success of public school students in
6 North Carolina are top priorities of the General Assembly; and
7 Whereas, employing school nurses has been shown to have a critical and positive
8 impact on the health, well-being, and educational success of public school students in
9 kindergarten through grade 12 due to services directed toward keeping students healthy, in class,
10 and ready to learn; Now, therefore,
11 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
12 SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
13 "(65) To Provide at Least One School Nurse in Every School. – Local boards of
14 education shall ensure that each school within the local school administrative
15 unit is staffed by at least one full-time, permanent school nurse."
16 SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
17 "(47) To Provide at Least One School Nurse in Every School. – The State Board of
18 Education shall ensure that each school operated under the control of the State
19 Board of Education, including schools operated under Article 7A and Article
20 9C of this Chapter, is staffed by at least one full-time, permanent school
21 nurse."
22 SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
23 "(i) At Least One School Nurse. – A charter school shall ensure that the school is staffed
24 by at least one full-time, permanent school nurse."
25 SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
26 "(17) At least one school nurse required. – A regional school shall ensure that the
27 school is staffed by at least one full-time, permanent school nurse."
28 SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 116-239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
29 "(19) At least one school nurse required. – A laboratory school shall ensure that the
30 school is staffed by at least one full-time, permanent school nurse."
31 SECTION 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of
32 Public Instruction for the 2021-2022 fiscal year the sum of one hundred two million dollars
33 ($102,000,000) in recurring funds to increase the Instructional Support Allotment. These funds
34 shall be used to increase positions for school nurses in order to provide at least one full-time,
35 permanent school nurse in every school in a public school unit.
*DRH10151-MTa-65A*
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021
1 SECTION 3. Funds provided pursuant to this act shall supplement and not supplant
2 any funds already provided for school nurses.
3 SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2021. Section 1 of this act applies
4 beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.
Page 2 DRH10151-MTa-65A
Statutes affected: Filed: 115C-47, 115C-12, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-239.8
Edition 1: 115C-47, 115C-12, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-239.8