FREE THE SMILES ACT. (NEW)

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
Senate Bill 173 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 2, 2021
AN ACT TO PROVIDE PARENTAL DISCRETION IN REQUIREMENTS FOR FACE COVERINGS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL UNIT PROPERTYCE COVERING DETERMINATIONS DURING THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
Intro. by Krawiec, Burgin, Perry.

Status: Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Mar 9 2022)

SOG comments (3):

Identical bill

Identical to H 224, filed 3/3/21.

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AND ENTER INTO AN INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR THE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

Long title change

Conference report to the 3rd edition changed the long title. Previous long title was AN ACT TO PROVIDE LOCAL AUTHORITY FOR SCHOOL FACE COVERING DETERMINATIONS DURING THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR.

Bill History:

S 173

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Feb 24 2022 - View Summary

    The Governor vetoed the act on 02/24/22. The Governor's objections and veto message are available here: https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewBillDocument/2021/53816/0/S173-BD-NBC-9460.


  • Summary date: Feb 17 2022 - View Summary

    Conference report deletes the content of the 3rd edition and replaces it with the following. 

    Part I.

    Enacts GS 115C-375.30, authorizing a parent, as defined, to elect for their child to not wear a face covering while on public school unit property, subject to notification of the public school unit by an annualized procedure adopted by the unit. Prohibits requiring parents to provide a reason or certification of the child's health or education status. Prohibits treating students without face coverings differently than students with face coverings, including assignments, non-academic and extracurricular activities, discipline, and grading. Grants limited immunity to governing bodies of public school units, its members, employees, agents, and volunteers for any act or omission in compliance with the act. 

    Part II.

    Amends the following statutes to mandate compliance with new GS 115C-375.30, as enacted, by local boards of education, charter schools, regional school boards, and laboratory schools: GS 115C-47; GS 115C-218.75; GS 115C-238.66; and GS 116-239.8.

    Part III.

    Repeals Section 10, SL 2021-130, which required public school units to adopt a policy regarding face coverings for the 2021-22 school year and vote monthly on whether to modify the policy. 

    Changes the act's long title. 


  • Summary date: Jun 23 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Adds the following requirements regarding the exclusive authority granted to the governing board of any public school unit or any nonpublic school to determine the use of face coverings, and any appropriate exceptions to those requirements, during the instructional day on its respective campus for the 2021-22 school year. Requires a local board to vote on a policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day that will apply in the first instructional month of the school year by August 1, 2021. Requires the local board to vote at least monthly on whether such a policy adopted during the school year should be repealed or modified, regardless of whether the policy applies to the first instructional month or later, for as long as the policy remains in effect.


  • Summary date: Jun 22 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute deletes the content of the 1st edition and now provides the following.

    Grants the governing board of any public school unit or any nonpublic school the exclusive authority to determine the use of face coverings, and any appropriate exceptions to those requirements, during the instructional day on its respective campus for the 2021-22 school year. 

    Authorizes the Governor to require the use of face coverings for an individual public or nonpublic school for the 2021-22 school year to reduce the transmission of an airborne communicable disease during a state of emergency, with specified reasons for the requirement stated in the executive order. Bars a single executive order from including a statewide face covering requirement for public or nonpublic schools. 

    Changes the act's titles. 


  • Summary date: Mar 2 2021 - View Summary

    Enacts new Article 18I, Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, to GS Chapter 90. States the purpose and objectives of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (Compact) and sets forth 26 defined terms. Grants licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants the privilege to practice in Compact states, subject to the requirements and restrictions provided in the Compact. Sets criteria for State participation in the Compact, including having a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about licensees. Requires states to use procedures for considering criminal history records for initial privileges, including fingerprinting or similar biometric-based procedures to obtain criminal history records from the FBI and the respective state's criminal history database. Details further requirements of states regarding criminal background checks of applicants. Establishes qualifications licensees must meet to exercise the Compact privilege, including having no encumbrances on any state license and having notified the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission (Commission) that the licensee is seeking the privilege in a remote state. Establishes that the privilege to practice is derived from the home state license, and provides for the jurisdiction of the remote member state in regards to practicing laws and licensure. Authorizes member states to charge a fee for granting a compact privilege. Requires occupational therapy assistants practicing in remote states to be supervised by an occupational therapist licensed or holding a Compact privilege in that remote state. 

    Limits occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to one home state license at a time and provides for privilege validity until expiration of the home state license. Provides for obtaining a new home state license by virtue of the Compact privilege. Sets forth detailed parameters regarding practice in remote member states. Allows remote state regulatory authorities to remove a Compact privilege, impose fines, and take other adverse actions. Also authorizes remote states to issue subpoenas for hearings and investigations. Restricts authority to take adverse action against a license issued by the home state to the home state. Mandates loss of privilege in any remote state if a home state license is encumbered until the home state license is no longer encumbered and two years have elapsed from the date of the adverse action, subject to initial privilege requirements. Provides for active duty military personnel and their spouses' home state designation. Establishes parameters for adverse actions, investigations, and required notifications.

    Establishes the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission (Commission) as a joint public agency created by member states. Provides for Commission membership, voting, meetings, powers and duties, executive committee, financing, recordkeeping, and member qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification. Among the 19 powers and duties charged of the Committee, includes prosecuting legal proceedings and actions, and the acquisition and disposal of property. Requires the Commission to provide for the development, maintenance and use of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and investigative information on all licensed individuals in members states. Provides for reporting, access, and removal of specified information by member states. Provides for Commission rulemaking procedures and effect, as well as member state rejection of a Commission rule. Details dispute resolution procedures between member states and Compact enforcement. 

    Provides for the Compact to become effective upon enactment in the 10th member state. Details initial Commission powers, effect of Commission rules on joining states, member withdrawal procedures, and Compact amendment parameters. 

    Deems the provisions of the Compact severable and advises on its construction and effect on other laws. 

    Conditions the effectiveness of the Compact to when at least 10 state have enacted the Compact, as set forth in Article 18I. Requires the Board of Occupational Therapy to report to the Revisor of Statutes at that time.