School Psychologist Omnibus.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 259

Short Title: School Psychologist Omnibus. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Corbin (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 11, 2025
*S259-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENACT PROV ISIONS RELATED TO IM PROVING THE NUMBER A ND 2
QUALITY OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
5
PART I. INCREASE COMPENSATION FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS 6
SECTION 1.(a) For the 2025 -2026 fiscal year, in addition to any salary received 7
under the teacher salary schedule, school psychologists shall receive the following salary 8
supplements: 9
(1) The sum of six hundred fifty dollars ($650.00) per month. 10
(2) School psychologists who have a Nationally Certified School Psychologist 11
(NCSP) credential shall receive a salary supplement each month of twelve 12
percent (12%) of their monthly salary. 13
SECTION 1.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 14
Public Instruction for the 2025-2026 fiscal year the sum of eight million one hundred thousand 15
dollars ($8,100,000) in recurring funds to provide compensation increases for school 16
psychologists pursuant to this section. 17
18
PART II. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS GRANT PROGRAM 19
SECTION 2.(a) Article 21 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 20
adding a new section to read: 21
"§ 115C-316.6. School Psychologists Grant Program. 22
(a) The Department of Public Instruction shall establish the School Psychologists Grant 23
Program (Program) to improve the safety, mental health, and well-being of students by providing 24
grants to public school units to recruit school psychologists, to the extent funds are made 25
available for this purpose, as follows: 26
(1) Grant application. – A public school unit may submit an application to the 27
Superintendent of Public Instruction to receive a grant pursuant to this 28
subdivision. The application shall identify current and ongoing needs for 29
school psychologist services, including needs related to recruitment. 30
(2) Criteria and guidelines. – The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall 31
develop criteria and guidelines for the administration and use of the grants 32
under the Program, including any documentation required to be submitted by 33
applicants. 34
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 259-First Edition
(3) Award of funds. – The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall award grants 1
to public school units to provide signing bonuses to recruit school 2
psychologists, as follows: 3
a. The Department shall prioritize the award of funds to public school 4
units that do not employ a full-time school psychologist at the time the 5
application is submitted. 6
b. No individual bonus shall be greater than five thousand dollars 7
($5,000). 8
c. As a condition of accepting a signing bonus, a school psychologist 9
shall agree to remain employed in the public school unit for at least 10
one year. 11
d. Grants provided to public school units pursuant to the Program shall 12
be used to supplement and not to supplant State or non -State funds 13
already provided for these services. 14
(b) Report. – No later than April 1, 202 6, and each subsequent year thereafter in which 15
funds allocated pursuant to this s ection are awarded, the Superintendent of Public Instruction 16
shall report on the Program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the 17
Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include the identity of each public school unit that 18
received a grant through the Program, the amount of funding provided to the public school unit, 19
and the use of funds by the public school unit." 20
SECTION 2.(b) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 21
the Department of Public Instruction for the 2025-2026 fiscal year the sum of five million dollars 22
($5,000,000) in recurring funds to establish and implement the School Psychologists Grant 23
Program pursuant to G.S. 115C-316.6, as enacted by this section. 24
25
PART III. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 26
SECTION 3.(a) Article 21 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 27
adding a new section to read: 28
"§ 115C-316.7. School psychologists internship program. 29
(a) The Department of Public Instruction shall establish an internship program for school 30
psychologists in public school units . Participants in an approved full -time school psychology 31
preparation program shall re ceive up to a 10 -month stipend during the internship period of the 32
program. The stipend shall be at the beginning salary of a school psychologist. The school 33
psychology preparation program where the intern is enrolled shall provide the Department of 34
Public Instruction with certification that the intern is an eligible full-time student. 35
(b) Field supervisors in public school uni ts providing instruction to school psycholog y 36
interns receiving stipends in accordance with this section shall be eligible to receive one lump 37
sum salary supplement of between five hundred dollars ($500.00) and one thousand two hundred 38
dollars ($1,200) in an amount to be determined by the public school unit." 39
SECTION 3.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 40
Public Instruction for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in 41
recurring funds to establish and implement the school psychologists internship program pursuant 42
to G.S. 115C-316.7, as enacted by this act. 43
44
PART IV. FUNDS FOR A VIRTUAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM 45
SECTION 4. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors 46
of The University of North Carolina for the 2025-2026 fiscal year the sum of five million dollars 47
($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds to be allocated to Appalachian State University (AS U) to 48
host a virtual school psychology training program at the ASU campus in Hickory, North Carolina. 49
50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 259-First Edition Page 3
PART V. INCREASE FUN DS FOR SCHOOL PSYCHO LOGIST TRAINING 1
PROGRAMS 2
SECTION 5. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors 3
of The University of North Carolina the sum of one million six hundred thousand dollars 4
($1,600,000) in recurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year to be allocated to the following 5
constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to support the sch ool psychology 6
programs at those institutions with the goal of doubling the number of school psychologists 7
produced: 8
(1) Appalachian State University. 9
(2) East Carolina University. 10
(3) North Carolina State University. 11
(4) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 12
(5) Western Carolina University. 13
14
PART VI. INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS 15
SECTION 6.(a) Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 16
Article to read: 17
"Article 17F. 18
"School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact. 19
"§ 115C-270.40. Purpose. 20
The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate the interstate practice of School Psychology in 21
educational or school settings, and in so doing to improve the availability of School 22
Psychological Services to the public. This Compact is intended to establish a pathway to allow 23
School Psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses to provide School Psychological Services in 24
any Member State. In this way, this Compact shall enable the Member States to ensure that safe 25
and effective School Psychological Services are available and delivered by appropriately 26
qualified professionals in their educational settings. To facilitate the objectives described above, 27
this Compact does the following: 28
(1) Enables School Psychologists who qualify fo r receipt of an Equivalent 29
License to practice in other Member States without first satisfying 30
burdensome and duplicative requirements. 31
(2) Promotes the mobility of School Psychologists between and among the 32
Member States in order to address workforce shortages and to ensure that safe 33
and reliable School Psychological Services are available in each Member 34
State. 35
(3) Enhances the public accessibility of School Psychological Services by 36
increasing the availability of qualified, licensed School Psychologists through 37
the establishment of an efficient and streamlined pathway for Licensees to 38
practice in other Member States. 39
(4) Preserves and respects the authority of each Member State to protect the health 40
and safety of its residents by ensuring that only qua lified, licensed 41
professionals are authorized to provide School Psychological Services within 42
that state. 43
(5) Requires School Psychologists practicing within a Member State to comply 44
with the Scope of Practice laws present in the state where the School 45
Psychological Services are being provided. 46
(6) Promotes cooperation between the Member States in regulating the practice 47
of School Psychology within those states. 48
(7) Facilitates the relocation of military members and their spouses who are 49
licensed to provide School Psychological Services. 50
"§ 115C-270.41. Definitions. 51
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The following definitions shall apply in this Article: 1
(1) Active Military Member. – Any person with full-time duty status in the Armed 2
Forces of the United States, including members of the National Guard and 3
Reserve. 4
(2) Adverse Action. – Disciplinary action or encumbrance imposed on a License 5
by a State Licensing Authority. 6
(3) Alternative Program . – A nondisciplinary, prosecutorial diversion, 7
monitoring, or practice remediation process entered into in lieu of an Adverse 8
Action which is applicable to a School Psychologist and approved by the State 9
Licensing Authority of a Member State in which the participating School 10
Psychologist is licensed. This includes, but is not limited to, programs t o 11
which Licensees with substance abuse or addiction issues may be referred in 12
lieu of an Adverse Action. 13
(4) Commissioner. – The individual appointed by a Member State to serve as the 14
representative to the Commission for that Member State. 15
(5) Compact. – This School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact. 16
(6) Continuing Professional Education. – A requirement, imposed by a Member 17
State as a condition of License renewal to provide evidence of successful 18
participation in professional educational activities relevant to the provision of 19
School Psychological Services. 20
(7) Criminal Background Check . – The submission of fingerprints or other 21
biometric information for a License applicant for the purpose of obtaining that 22
applicant's criminal history record inform ation, as defined in 28 C.F.R. § 23
20.3(d), and the state 's criminal history record repository , as defined in 28 24
C.F.R. § 20.3(f). 25
(8) Doctoral Level Degree. – A graduate degree program that consists of at least 26
90 graduate semester hours in the field of Sch ool Psychology, including a 27
supervised internship. 28
(9) Encumbered License. – A License that a State Licensing Authority has limited 29
in any way other than through an Alternative Program, including temporary 30
or provisional licenses. 31
(10) Executive Committee. – The Commission's Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and 32
Treasurer and any other Commissioners as may be determined by 33
Commission Rule or bylaw. 34
(11) Equivalent License . – A License to practice School Psychology which a 35
Member State has identified as a License which may be provided to School 36
Psychologists from other Member States pursuant to this Compact. 37
(12) Home State. – The Member State that issued the Home State License to the 38
Licensee and is the Licensee's primary state of practice. 39
(13) Home State License. – The License that is not an Encumbered License issued 40
by the Home State to provide School Psychological Services. 41
(14) License. – A current license, certification, or other authorization granted by a 42
Member State 's Licensing Authority that permit s an individual to provide 43
School Psychological Services. 44
(15) Licensee. – An individual who holds a License from a Member State to 45
provide School Psychological Services. 46
(16) Member State. – A state that has enacted the Compact and been admitted to 47
the Commission in accordance with the provisions herein and Commission 48
Rules. 49
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Senate Bill 259-First Edition Page 5
(17) Model Compact. – The model language for the School Psychologist Interstate 1
Licensure Compact on file with the Council of State Governments or other 2
entity as designated by the Commission. 3
(18) Practice of School Psychology . – The delivery of School Psychological 4
Services. 5
(19) Qualifying National Exam . – A national licensing examination endorsed by 6
the National Association of School Psychologists and any other exam as 7
approved by the Rules of the Commission. 8
(20) Qualifying School Psychologist Education Program. – An education program 9
which awards a Specialist-Level or Doctoral-Level degree or equivalent upon 10
completion and is approved by the Rules of the Commission as meeting the 11
necessary minimum educational standards to ensure that its graduates are 12
ready, qualified, and able to engage in the Practice of School Psychology. 13
(21) Remote State. – A Member State other than the Home State where a Licensee 14
holds a License through the Compact. 15
(22) Rule. – A regulation promulgated by an entity, including , but not limited to , 16
the Commission and the State Licensing Authority of each Member State, that 17
has the force of law. 18
(23) School Psychological Services . – Academic, mental , and behavioral health 19
services, including assessment, prevention, consultation and collaboration, 20
intervention, and evaluation provided by a School Psychologist in a school, as 21
outlined in applicable professional standards as determined by Commission 22
Rule. 23
(24) School Psychologist. – An individual who has met the requirements to obtain 24
a Home State License that legally conveys the professional title of School 25
Psychologist, or its equivalent, as determined by the Rules of the Commission. 26
(25) School Psychol ogist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission 27
(Commission). – The joint government agency established by this Compact 28
whose membership consists of representatives from each Member State that 29
has enacted the Compact, and as further described in G.S. 115C-270.46. 30
(26) Scope of Practice . – The procedures, actions, and processes a School 31
Psychologist licensed in a state is permitted to undertake in that state and the 32
circumstances under which that Licensee is permitted to undertake those 33
procedures, actions, and processes. Such procedures, actions, and processes, 34
and the circumstances under which they may be undertaken, may be 35
established through means, including, but not limited to, statute, regulations, 36
case law, and other processes available to the State Licensing Authority or 37
other government agency. 38
(27) Specialist-Level Degree. – A degree program that requires at least 60 graduate 39
semester hours or equivalent in the field of School Psychology , including a 40
supervised internship. 41
(28) State. – Any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of 42
America. 43
(29) State Licensing Authority . – A Member State's regulatory body responsible 44
for issuing Licenses or otherwise overseeing the Practice of School 45
Psychology. 46
(30) State Specific Requirement . – A requirement for licensure covered in 47
coursework or examination that includes content of unique interest to the state. 48
(31) Unencumbered License. – A License that authorizes a Licensee to engage in 49
the full and unrestricted Practice of School Psychology. 50
"§ 115C-270.42. State participation in the Compact. 51
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(a) To be eligible to join this Compact, and to maintain eligibility as a Member State, a 1
state must do the following: 2
(1) Enact a Compact statute that is not materially different from the Model 3
Compact as defined in the Commission's Rules. 4
(2) Participate in the sharing of information with other Member States as 5
reasonably necessary to accomplish the objectives of this Compact, and as 6
further defined in G.S. 115C-270.47. 7
(3) Identify and maintain with the Commission a list of Equivalent Licenses 8
available to Licensees who hold a Home State License under this Compact. 9
(4) Have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about 10
Licensees. 11
(5) Notify the Commission, in compliance with the terms of the Compact and the 12
Commission's Rules, of any Adverse Action taken against a Licensee, or of 13
the availability of investigative information which relates to a Licensee or 14
applicant for licensure. 15
(6) Require that applicants for a Home State License have done the following: 16
a. Taken and passed a Qualifying National Exam as defined by the Rules 17
of the Commission. 18
b. Completed a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised internship, of 19
which at least 600 must have been completed in a School, prior to 20
being approved for licensure. 21
c. Graduated from a Qualifying School Psychologist Education Program. 22
(7) Comply with the terms of this Compact and the Rules of the Commission. 23
(b) Each Member State shall grant an Equivalent License to practice School Psychology 24
in that state upon application by a Licensee who satisfies the criteria of G.S. 115C-270.43(a). 25
Each Member State shall grant renewal of the Equivalent License to a Licensee who satisfies the 26
criteria of G.S. 115C-270.43(b). 27
(c) Member States may set and collect a fee for granting an Equivalent License. 28
"§ 115C-270.43. School psychologist participation in the Compact. 29
(a) To obtain and maintain an Equivalent License from a Remote State under this 30
Compact, a Licensee must satisfy the following: 31
(1) Hold and maintain an active Home State License. 32
(2) Satisfy any applicable State Specific Requirements established by the 33
Member State after an Equivalent License is granted. 34
(3) Complete any administrative or application requirements which the 35
Commission may establish by Rule and pay any associated fees. 36
(4) Complete any requirements for renewal in the Home State, including 37
applicable Continuing Professional Education requirements. 38
(5) Upon their application to receive a license under this Compact, undergo a 39
criminal backg round check in the Member State in which the Equivalent 40
License is sought in accordance with the laws and regulations of such Member 41
State. 42
(b) To renew an Equivalent License in a Member State other than the Home State, a 43
Licensee must only apply for renew al, complete a background check, and pay renewal fees as 44
determined by the Licensing Authority. 45
"§ 115C-270.44. Active Military Members or their spouses. 46
A Licensee who is an Active Military Member or is the spouse of an Active Military Member 47
shall be deemed to hold a Home State License in any of the following locations: 48
(1) The Licensee's permanent residence. 49
(2) A Member State that is the Licensee's primary state of practice. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 259-First Edition Page 7
(3) A Member State where the Licensee has relocated pursuant to a Permanent 1
Change of Station (PCS). 2
"§ 115C-270.45. Discipline/adverse actions. 3
(a) Nothing in this Compact shall be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a 4
Member State to investigate or impose disciplinary measures on Licensees according to the State 5
Practice Laws thereof. 6
(b) Member States shall be authorized to receive, and shall provide, files and information 7
regarding the investigation and discipline, if any, of Licensees in other Member States upon 8
request. Any Member State receiving such informat ion or files shall protect and maintain the 9
security and confidentiality thereof, in at least the same manner that it maintains its own 10
investigatory or disciplinary files and information. Prior to disclosing any disciplinary or 11
investigatory information r eceived from another Member State, the disclosing state shall 12
communicate its intention and purpose for such disclosure to the Member State which originally 13
provided that information. 14
"§ 115C-270.46. Establishment of the School Psychologist Interstate Lic ensure Compact 15
Commission. 16
(a) The Member States hereby create and establish a joint government agency whose 17
membership consists of all Member States that have enacted the Compact, and this agency shall 18
be known as the School Psychologist Interstate Licens ure Compact Commission. The 19
Commission is an instrumentality of the Member States acting jointly and not an instrumentality 20
of any one state. The Commission shall come into existence on or after the effective date of the 21
Compact as set forth in G.S. 115C-270.50. 22
(b) Membership, Voting, and Meetings. 23
(1) Each Member State shall have and be limited to one delegate selected by that 24
Member State's State Licensing Authority. 25
(2) The delegate shall be the primary administrative officer of the Member State 26
Licensing Authority or their designee who is an employee of the Member 27
State Licensing Authority. 28
(3) The Commission shall by Rule or bylaw establish a term of office for 29
delegates and may by Rule or bylaw establish term limits. 30
(4) The Commission may recommend removal or suspension of any delegate 31
from office. 32
(5) A Member State 's Licensing Authority shall fill any vacancy of its delegate 33
occurring on the Commission within 60 days of the vacancy. 34
(6) Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote on all matters bef ore the 35
Commission requiring a vote by Commission delegates. 36
(7) A delegate shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the 37
bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates to meet by telecommunication, 38
videoconference, or other means of communication. 39
(8) The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. 40
Additional meetings may be held as set forth in the bylaws. The Commission 41
may meet by telecommunication, video conference, or other similar electronic 42
means. 43
(c) The Commission shall have the following powers: 44
(1) Establish the fiscal year of the Commission. 45
(2) Establish code of conduct and conflict of interest policies. 46
(3) Establish and amend Rules and bylaws. 47
(4) Establish the procedure through which a Licensee may change their Home 48
State. 49
(5) Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws. 50
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(6) Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this 1
Compact, the Commission's Rules, and the bylaws. 2
(7) Initiate and conclude legal proceedings or actions in the name of the 3
Commission, provided that the standing of any Member State Licensing 4
Authority to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected. 5
(8) Maintain and certify records and information provided to a Member State as 6
the authenticated business records of the Commission and designate an agent 7
to do so on the Commission's behalf. 8
(9) Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds. 9
(10) Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but not 10
limited to, employees of a Member State. 11
(11) Conduct an annual financial review. 12
(12) Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, 13
grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the 14
Compact, and establish the Commissio n's personnel policies and programs 15
relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related 16
personnel matters. 17
(13) Assess and collect fees. 18
(14) Accept any and all appropriate gifts, donations, grants of money, other sources 19
of revenue, equipment, supplies, materials, and services and receive, utilize, 20
and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid 21
any appearance of impropriety and/or conflict of interest. 22
(15) Lease, purchase, retain, own, hold, im prove, or use any property, real, 23
personal, or mixed, or any undivided interest therein. 24
(16) Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise 25
dispose of any property real, personal, or mixed. 26
(17) Establish a budget and make expenditures. 27
(18) Borrow money. 28
(19) Appoint committees, including standing committees, composed of members, 29
state regulators, state legislators or their representatives, and consumer 30
representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in this 31
Compact and the bylaws. 32
(20) Provide and receive information from, and cooperate with, law enforcement 33
agencies. 34
(21) Establish and elect an Executive Committee, including a Chair and a 35
Vice-Chair. 36
(22) Determine whether a state's adopted language is materially different from the 37
Model Compact language such that the state would not qualify for 38
participation in the Compact. 39
(23) Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve 40
the purposes of this Compact. 41
(d) The Executive Committee. 42
(1) The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the 43
Commission according to the terms of this Compact. The powers, duties, and 44
responsibilities of the Executive Committee shall include the following: 45
a. Oversee the day-to-day activities of the administration of the Compact, 46
including enforcement and compliance with the provisions of the 47
Compact, its Rules and bylaws, and other such duties as deemed 48
necessary. 49
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Senate Bill 259-First Edition Page 9
b. Recommend to the Commission changes to the Rules or bylaws, 1
changes to this Compact legislation, fees charged to Member States, 2
fees charged to Licensees, and other fees. 3
c. Ensure Compact administration services are appropriately provided, 4
including by contract. 5
d. Prepare and recommend the budget. 6
e. Maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission. 7
f. Monitor Compact compliance of Member States and provide 8
compliance reports to the Commission. 9
g. Establish additional committees as necessary. 10
h. Exercise the powers and duties of the Commission during the interim 11
between Commission meetings, except for adopting or amending 12
Rules, adopting or amending bylaws, and exercising any other powers 13
and duties expressly reserved to the Commission by Rule or bylaw. 14
i. Other duties as provided in the Rules or bylaws of the Commission. 15
(2) The Executive Committee shall be composed of up to seven members as 16
follows: 17
a. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission shall be voting members 18
of the Executive Committee. 19
b. The Commission shall elect five voting members from the current 20
membership of the Commission. 21
(3) The Commission may remove any member of the Executive Committee as 22
provided in the Commission's bylaws. 23
(4) The Executive Committee shall meet at least annually as follows: 24
a. Executive Committee meetings shall be open to the public, except that 25
the Executive Committee may meet in a closed, nonpublic meeting as 26
provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of this section. 27
b. The Executive Committee shall give 30 days ' notice of its meetings, 28
posted on its website and as determined to provide notice to persons 29
with an interest in the business of the Commission. 30
c. The Executive Committee may hold a special meeting in accordance 31
with sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this 32
section. 33
(e) The Commission shall adopt and provide to the Member States an annual report. 34
(f) Meetings of the Commission. 35
(1) All meetings shall be open to the public as follows , except that the 36
Commission may meet in a closed, nonpublic meeting as provided in 37
subdivision (2) of this subsection. 38
a. Public notice for all meetings of the full Commission shall be given in 39
the same manner as required under the Rulemaking provisions in 40
G.S. 115C-270.48, except that the Commission may hold a special 41
meeting as provided in sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision. 42
b. The Commission may hold a special meeting when it must meet to 43
conduct emergency business by giving 48 hours ' notice to all 44
commissioners, on the Commission 's website, and other means as 45
provided in the Commission's Rules. The Commission's legal counsel 46
shall certify that the Commission 's need to meet qualifies as an 47
emergency. 48
(2) The Commission or the Executive Committee or other committees of the 49
Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting for the Commission 50
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or Executive Committee or other committees of the Commission to receive 1
legal advice or to discuss the following: 2
a. Noncompliance of a Member State with its obligations under th e 3
Compact. 4
b. The employment, compensation, discipline , or other matters, 5
practices, or procedures related to specific employees. 6
c. Current or threatened discipline of a Licensee by the Commission or 7
by a Member State's Licensing Authority. 8
d. Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation. 9
e. Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, or sale of goods, 10
services, or real estate. 11
f. Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person. 12
g. Trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged 13
or confidential. 14
h. Information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a 15
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. 16
i. Investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes. 17
j. Information rela ted to any investigative reports prepared by or on 18
behalf of or for use of the Commission or other committee charged 19
with responsibility of investigation or determination of compliance 20
issues pursuant to the Compact. 21
k. Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or Member 22
State law. 23
l. Other matters as promulgated by the Commission by Rule. 24
(3) If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed, the presiding officer shall state 25
that the meeting will be closed and reference each relevant exempting 26
provision, and such reference shall be recorded in the minutes. 27
(4) The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe all matters 28
discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of 29
actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views 30
expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be 31
identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting 32
shall remain under seal, subject to release only by a maj ority vote of the 33
Commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 34
(g) Financing of the Commission. 35
(1) The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable 36
expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities. 37
(2) The Commission may accept any and all appropriate revenue sources as 38
provided in subdivision (13) of subsection (c) of this section. 39
(3) The Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each 40
Member State and impose fees on Licensees practicing in the Member States 41
under an Equivalent License to cover the cost of the operations and activities 42
of the Commission and its staff, which must be in a total amount sufficient to 43
cover its annual budget as approved each year for which revenue is not 44
provided by other sources. The aggregate annual assessment amount for 45
Member States shall be allocated based upon a formula that the Commission 46
shall promulgate by Rule. 47
(4) The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the 48
funds adequate to meet the same, nor shall the Commission pledge the credit 49
of any of the Member States, except by and with the authority of the Member 50
State. 51
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(5) The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and 1
disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be 2
subject to the financial review and accounting procedures established under 3
its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the 4
Commission shall be subject to an annual financial review by a certified or 5
licensed public accountant, and the report of the financial review shall be 6
included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission. 7
(h) Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification. 8
(1) The members, officers, executive director, employees, and representatives of 9
the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, both personally and 10
in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or 11
personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or 12
alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom 13
the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the 14
scope of Commission employment, duties , or responsibilities; provided that 15
nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to protect any such person from 16
suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the 17
intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person. The procurement 18
of insurance of any type by the Commission shall not in any way compromise 19
or limit the immunity granted hereunder. 20
(2) The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, 21
employee, and representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking 22
to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission 23
that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or 24
responsibilities, or as determined by the Commission that the person against 25
whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within 26
the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided 27
that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining 28
their own counsel at their own expense; and provided further, that the actual 29
or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that person 's intentional 30
or willful or wanton misconduct. 31
(3) The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, 32
executive director, employee, and representative of the Commission for the 33
amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out 34
of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope 35
of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person 36
had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission 37
employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, 38
error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton 39
misconduct of that person. 40
(4) Nothing herei n shall be construed as a limitation on the liability of any 41
licensee for professional malpractice or misconduct, which shall be governed 42
solely by any other applicable state laws. 43
(5) Nothing in this Compact shall be interpreted to waive or otherwise abrogate a 44
Member State's state action immunity or state action affirmative defense with 45
respect to antitrust claims under the Sherman Act, Clayton Act, or any other 46
state or federal antitrust or anticompetitive law or regulation. 47
(6) Nothing in this Compact s hall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign 48
immunity by the Member States or by the Commission. 49
"§ 115C-270.47. Facilitating information exchange. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(a) The Commission shall provide for facilitating the exchange of information to 1
administer and implement the provisions of this Compact in accordance with the Rules of the 2
Commission, consistent with generally accepted data protection principles. 3
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law to the contrary, a Member State shall 4
agree to provide for the facilitation of the following Licensee information as required by the 5
Rules of the Commission, including: 6
(1) Identifying information. 7
(2) Licensure data. 8
(3) Adverse Actions against a Licensee and information related thereto. 9
(4) Nonconfidential information related to Alternative Program participation, the 10
beginning and ending dates of such participation, and other information 11
related to such participation not made confidential under Member State law. 12
(5) Any denial of application for licensure, and the reason(s) for such denial. 13
(6) The presence of investigative information. 14
(7) Other information that may facilitate the administration of this Compact or the 15
protection of the public, as determined by the Rules of the Commission. 16
(c) Nothing in this Compact shall be deemed or construed to alter, limit, or inhibit the 17
power of a Member State to control and maintain ownership of its Licensee information or alter, 18
limit, or inhibit the laws or regulations governing Licensee information in the Member State. 19
"§ 115C-270.48. Rulemaking. 20
(a) The Commission shall exercise its Rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set 21
forth in this interstate compact and the Rules adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall 22
become binding as of the date specified in each Rule or amendment. 23
(b) The Commission shall promulgate reasonable Rules to achieve the intent and purpose 24
of this interstate compact. In the event the Comm ission exercises its Rulemaking authority in a 25
manner that is beyond the purpose and intent of this interstate compact, or the powers granted 26
hereunder, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect 27
of law in the Member States. 28
(c) If a majority of the legislatures of the Member States reject a Rule, by enactment of a 29
statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the Compact within four years of the date 30
of adoption of the Rule, then such Rule shall have no fur ther force and effect in any Member 31
State. 32
(d) Rules or amendments to the Rules shall be adopted or ratified at a regular or special 33
meeting of the Commission in accordance with Commission Rules and bylaws. 34
(e) Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final Rule or Rules by the Commission, and 35
at least 30 days in advance of the meeting at which the Rule will be considered and voted upon, 36
the Commission shall file a notice of proposed Rulemaking: 37
(1) On the website of the Commission or other publicly accessible platform; and 38
(2) On the website of each Member State Licensing Authority or other publicly 39
accessible platform or the publication in which each state would otherwise 40
publish proposed Rules. 41
(f) Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may consider and 42
adopt an emergency Rule with 48 hours' notice, with opportunity to comment, provided that the 43
usual Rulemaking procedures shall be retroactively applied to the Rule as soon as reasonably 44
possible, in no event later than 90 days after the effective date of the Rule. For the purposes of 45
this provision, an emergency Rule is one that must be adopted immediately in order to accomplish 46
the following: 47
(1) Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare. 48
(2) Prevent a loss of Commission or Member State funds. 49
(3) Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative Rule that is 50
established by federal law or Rule. 51
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Senate Bill 259-First Edition Page 13
(4) Protect public health and safety. 1
"§ 115C-270.49. Oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement. 2
(a) Oversight. 3
(1) The executive and judicial branches of the state government in each Member 4
State shall enforce this Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate 5
to implement the Compact. 6
(2) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against t he Commission shall 7
be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where 8
the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive 9
venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to 10
participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Nothing herein shall 11
affect or limit the selection or propriety of venue in any action against a 12
Licensee for professional malpractice, misconduct, or any such similar matter. 13
(3) The Commission shall be ent itled to receive service of process in any 14
proceeding regarding the enforcement or interpretation of the Compact and 15
shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure 16
to provide the Commission service of process shall render a judgment or order 17
void as to the Commission, this Compact, or promulgated Rules. 18
(b) Default, Technical Assistance, and Termination. 19
(1) If the Commission determines that a Member State has defaulted in the 20
performance of its obligations or responsibiliti es under this Compact or the 21
promulgated Rules, the Commission shall provide written notice to the 22
defaulting state. The notice of default shall describe the default, the proposed 23
means of curing the default, and any other action that the Commission may 24
take and shall offer training and specific technical assistance regarding the 25
default. 26
(2) The Commission shall provide a copy of the notice of default to the other 27
Member States. 28
(c) If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state may be terminated 29
from the Compact upon an affirmative vote of a supermajority of the delegates of the Member 30
States, and all rights, privileges , and benefits conferred on that state by this Compact may be 31
terminated on the effective date of termination. A cur e of the default does not relieve the 32
offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default. 33
(d) Termination of membership in the Compact shall be imposed only after all other 34
means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate 35
shall be given by the Commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the 36
defaulting state's legislature, the defaulting State's Licensing Authority, and each of the Member 37
States' Licensing Authorities. 38
(e) A state that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and 39
liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations that extend 40
beyond the effective date of termination. 41
(f) Upon the termina tion of a state 's membership from this Compact, that state shall 42
immediately provide notice to all Licensees within that state of such termination. The terminated 43
state shall continue to recognize all Licenses granted pursuant to this Compact for a minimum of 44
six months after the date of said notice of termination. 45
(g) The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default 46
or that has been terminated from the Compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the 47
Commission and the defaulting state. 48
(h) The defaulting state may appeal the action of the Commission by petitioning the U.S. 49
District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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principal offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including 1
reasonable attorneys' fees. 2
(i) Dispute Resolution. 3
(1) Upon request by a Member State, the Commission shall attempt to resolve 4
disputes related to the Compact that arise among Member States and between 5
Member and non-Member States. 6
(2) The Commission shall promulgate a Rule providing for both mediation and 7
binding dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate. 8
(j) Enforcement. 9
(1) By majority vote as provided by Rule, the Commission may initiate legal 10
action against a Member State in default in the U .S. District Court for the 11
District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its 12
principal offices to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact 13
and its promulgated Rules. The relief sought may include both injunctive 14
relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the 15
prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including 16
reasonable attorney s' fees. The remedies herein shall not be the exc lusive 17
remedies of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any other 18
remedies available under federal or the defaulting Member State's law. 19
(2) A Member State may initiate legal action against the Commission in the U.S. 20
District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the 21
Commission has its principal offices to enforce compliance with the 22
provisions of the Compact and its promulgated Rules. The relief sought may 23
include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enf orcement 24
is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, 25
including reasonable attorneys' fees. 26
(3) No person other than a Member State shall enforce this Compact against the 27
Commission. 28
"§ 115C-270.50. Effective date, withdrawal, and amendment. 29
(a) The Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact statute is 30
enacted into law in the seventh Member State. 31
(1) On or after the effective date of the Compact indicated above, the Commission 32
shall convene and review the enactment of each of the Charter Member States 33
to determine if the statute enacted by each such Charter Member State is 34
materially different than the model Compact statute. 35
a. A Charter Member State whose enactment is found to be materially 36
different from the model Compact statute shall be entitled to the 37
default process set forth in G.S. 115C-270.49. 38
b. If any Member State is later found to be in default, or is terminated or 39
withdraws from the Compact, the Commission shall remain in 40
existence and the Compact shall remain in effect even if the number 41
of Member States should be less than seven. 42
(2) Member States enacting the Compact subsequent to the Charter Member 43
States shall be subject to the process set forth in subdivision (22) of subsection 44
(c) of G.S. 115C-470.46 to determine if their enactments are materially 45
different from the model Compact statute and whether they qualify for 46
participation in the Compact. 47
(3) All actions taken for the benefit of the Commission or in furtherance of the 48
purposes of the administration of the Compact prior to the effective date of 49
the Compact or the Commission coming into existence shall be considered to 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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be actions of the Commission unless specifically repudiated by the 1
Commission. 2
a. Any state that joins the Co mpact subsequent to the Commission 's 3
initial adoption of the Rules and bylaws shall be subject to the Rules 4
and bylaws as they exist on the date on which the Compact becomes 5
law in that state. Any Rule that has been previously adopted by the 6
Commission shall have the full force and effect of law on the day the 7
Compact becomes law in that state. 8
b. Any Member State may withdraw from this Compact by enacting a 9
statute repealing the same. 10
(b) A Member State's withdrawal shall not take effect until 180 days after enactment of 11
the repealing statute. 12
(c) Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the withdrawing State 's 13
Licensing Authority to comply with the investigative and Adverse Action reporting requirements 14
of this Compact prior to the effective date of withdrawal. 15
(d) Upon the enactment of a statute withdrawing from this Compact, a state shall 16
immediately provide notice of such withdrawal to all Licensees within that state. 17
Notwithstanding any subsequent statutory enactment to the contrary, such withdrawing state 18
shall continue to recognize all Licenses granted pursuant to this Compact for a minimum of six 19
months after the date of such notice of withdrawal. 20
(1) Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent 21
any licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a Member 22
State and a non-Member State that does not conflict with the provisions of this 23
Compact. 24
(2) This Compact may be amended by the Member States. No amendment to this 25
Compact shall become effective and binding upon any Member State until it 26
is enacted into the laws of all Member States. 27
"§ 115C-270.51. Construction and severability. 28
(a) This Compact and the Commission 's Rulemaking authority shall be liberally 29
construed so as to effectuate the purposes and the implementation and administration of the 30
Compact. Provisions of the Compact expressly authorizing or requiring the promulgation of 31
Rules shall not be construed to limit the Commission 's Rulemaking authority solely for those 32
purposes. 33
(b) The provisions of this Compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, 34
or provision of this Compact is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to the 35
constitution of any Member State, a state seeking participation in the Compact, or of the United 36
States, or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held to 37
be unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remainder of this 38
Compact and the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person, or circumstance 39
shall not be affected thereby. 40
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the Commission may deny a state 's 41
participation in the Compact or, in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b) of 42
G.S. 115C-270.49, terminate a Member State's participation in the Compact, if it determines that 43
a constitutional requirement of a Member State is a material departure from the Compact. 44
Otherwise, if this Compact shall be held to be contrary to the constitution of any Member State, 45
the Compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining Member States and in full 46
force and effect as to the Member State affected as to all severable matters. 47
"§ 115C-270.52. Consistent effect and conflict with other state laws. 48
(a) Nothing herein shall prevent or inhibit the enforcement of any other law of a Member 49
State that is not inconsistent with the Compact. 50
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(b) Any laws, statutes, regulations, or other legal requirements in a Member State in 1
conflict with the Compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict. All permissible agreements 2
between the Commission and the Member States are binding in accordance with their terms." 3
SECTION 6.(b) G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 4
"(50) Duty to Fulfill Requirements Related to School Psychologist Interstate 5
Licensure Compact. – The State Board of Education shall be the State 6
Licensing Authority or Licensing Authority for purposes of Article 17F of this 7
Chapter and shall fulfill any requirements, duties, or obligations of the State 8
Licensing Authority or Licensing Authority pursuant to that Article." 9
SECTION 6.(c) The section is effective when it becomes law. 10
11
PART VII. EFFECTIVE DATE 12
SECTION 7. Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 13