NC S424

Appropriates $87,300,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020, $174,700,000 for 2020-2021, and $262,000,000 for 2021-2022 and subsequent years to the Department of Public Instruction for school counselor and psychologist positions.

Requires allocation of funds to local school administrative units to achieve statewide personnel-to-student ratios of 1:322 for counselors and 1:1,234 for psychologists in 2019-2020, improving to 1:250 and 1:700 respectively by 2021-2022.

Mandates that school counselors hired with these funds prioritize preventative and responsive services, including mental health counseling, consultation, individual and small group counseling, crisis counseling, referrals, and peer facilitation.

Requires the Director of the Budget to include the appropriated amounts in the base budget for each fiscal year specified.

Becomes effective July 1, 2019.