Identical to S 801, filed 5/2/24.

Contains whereas clauses.  Adds new Part 7, concerning health and safety requirements to Article 7B of GS Chapter 115C. Adds new 115C-77.1, requiring that each school within a public school unit has a school nurse available at all times during the instructional days. Allows governing bodies to hire full or part-time nurses or contract with third party services to provide nursing services. Appropriates $89 million from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2024-25 to provide nurses as outlined above. 

Adds new GS 115C-77.5 (concerning school supply of naloxone nasal sprays), requiring governing bodies of each public school unit to provide a supply of emergency naloxone nasal spray on school property for use by trained school personnel to provide emergency medical aid to persons suffering from an opioid or fentanyl emergency during the school day and at school-sponsored events on school property. Provides for minimum amounts and storage locations. Specifies that school property does not include transportation to or from school for purposes of GS 115C-77.5. Defines naloxone nasal spray. Requires the principal to designate one or more personnel for training and annual retraining regarding the storage and use of naloxone nasal spray. Requires those persons to obtain a non-patient specific prescription for naloxone nasal spray. Requires the principal of each school to develop an emergency plan with four required components. Indemnifies a governing body of a public school unit; its members, employees, designees, agents, or volunteers; and a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner of the local health department from liability in civil damages to any party for any act authorized by GS 115C-77.5 or for any omission relating to that act unless that act or omission amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. Appropriates $350,000 from the Opioid Abatement Reserve to DPI in nonrecurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to be allocated to public school units for the purchase of an initial school supply of naloxone nasal spray and to facilitate the training required.

Specifies that funds appropriated pursuant to the act supplement and do not supplant any funds from any source already provided for the same purposes. Effective July 1, 2024, and applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.