Bill > H710

This bill establishes a Mental Health Crisis Unit Pilot Program for local school administrative units (LSAUs) in North Carolina, which will run from the 2025-2026 school year through June 30, 2028. The State Board of Education will select up to eight LSAUs to participate, considering factors such as available resources, potential student mental health impact, and history of traumatic events. Each participating LASU will receive $250,000 annually to create and maintain a mental health crisis unit composed of at least one school nurse, one school social worker, and one licensed clinical mental health counselor or licensed clinical social worker. These units will provide mental health resources to students and staff, be on call during school hours to respond to mental health emergencies, and rotate between schools when not actively addressing a crisis. The Department of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Center for Safer Schools, will develop guidelines for the units' operation and staffing. The State Board of Education must submit an annual report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee detailing the participating LSAUs and the program's impact on student mental health. The bill appropriates $2 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the program and will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H710