A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to PROHIBIT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM REQUIRING A SCHOOL NURSE TO HOLD OR OBTAIN A FOUR‑YEAR DEGREE AND TO REQUIRE THAT REGISTERED NURSES WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH CLINIC serving as a school nurse BE PAID UNDER THE CERTIFIED SCHOOL NURSE PAY Scale.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑315(d2) reads as rewritten:
"(d2)	School Nurses. – The State Board of Education, in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, shall adopt rules to establish the qualifications and training required to be hired or contracted for as a school nurse subject to the following:
(1)	The Board shall not require or impose a requirement that would require a school nurse to obtain a four‑year degree.
(2)	The Board shall require that a school nurse who meets all of the following criteria be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale as established by the Board:
a.	Is a registered nurse licensed under Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.
b.	Has at least two years of experience serving in a hospital or health clinic."
SECTION 2.  The State Board of Education has authority to adopt temporary rules to enact the provisions of this act until such a time as permanent rules can be adopted.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to school nurses hired or contracted for as a school nurse on or after that date.