Bill Summary for H 953 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

May 12 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 953 (Public) Filed Tuesday, May 11, 2021
AN ACT TO FUND ADDITIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS OVER FIVE YEARS AND TO INCREASE COMPENSATION FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS WHO ARE ALSO LICENSED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.
Intro. by Brown, Cunningham, Carney, A. Baker.

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Bill summary

Includes whereas clauses. 

Enacts GS 115C-316.5, appropriating specified amounts from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 and each subsequent fiscal year thereafter. Requires the Director of Budget to include the appropriated amounts for each fiscal year specified when developing the base budget. Requires allocation of the appropriations to local school administrative units to increase positions for school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists to meet specified statewide ratios for each during each fiscal year, with ratios set at 1:250 students for counselors, 1:400 students for social workers, and 1:700 students for psychologists by 2025-26.

Provides for school counselors who are licensed clinical mental health counselors to receive a salary supplement each month for the 2021-22 fiscal year of 10% of their monthly salary on the "A" Teachers Salary Schedule. Defines school counselor as licensed personnel of public schools who are classified as school counselors.

Appropriates $18.8 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for 2021-22 to provide compensation increases for school counselors pursuant to the act. 

Effective July 1, 2021.