HB 74- School Safety Grants Program

Primary Sponsors: Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston), Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett), Rep. Josh Dobson (R-Avery), Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne)

This bill would enact the 2019 School Safety Grants Program and increase funding for school resource officer grants. This bill is the result of recommendations by the House Select Committee on School Safety.

The bill defines mental health support personnel as school nurses, counselors, psychologists and social workers.

The 2019 School Safety Grants Program would seek to improve safety by providing grants for the following:

  • Services for students crisis
  • School safety training
  • Safety equipment in schools
  • School mental health support personnel

The bill would provide up to $4,580,000 in recurring funds to award grants to community partners providing services to students in crisis.

The bill would provide up to $4,570,000 in recurring funds to community partners that provide training to students to develop health responses to trauma and stress.

The bill provides up to $18,200,000 in recurring funds to award grants to public school units to provide all or some of the salary and benefits costs to employ additional school mental health support personnel. Grants shall be matched for $2.00 State dollars for every $1.00 in non-State dollars.