NC H953

Appropriates $97,635,089 in fiscal year 2021-2022, escalating to $488,175,445 annually by 2025-2026 and thereafter, to the Department of Public Instruction for school mental health personnel positions.

Requires local school administrative units to increase positions for school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists to meet specified statewide personnel-to-student ratios, improving from 1:354 counselors per student in 2021-2022 to 1:250 by 2025-2026.

Mandates school counselors who are licensed clinical mental health counselors receive a 10% monthly salary supplement on the "A" Teachers Salary Schedule for fiscal year 2021-2022.

Appropriates $18,800,000 in recurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to fund the salary supplement for licensed clinical mental health counselors.

Becomes effective July 1, 2021.