Student Health and Responsibility Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 323

Short Title: Student Health and Responsibility Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Applewhite and Robinson (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 19, 2025
*S323-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO APPROPRIAT E FUNDS TO ESTABLISH THE SAFER SEX SUPPL IES 2
GRANT PROGRAM. 3
Whereas, North Carolina experiences significant costs related to treating sexually 4
transmitted infections (STIs), which impact the public health system and the economy of the 5
State; and 6
Whereas, investing in preventive health measures is proven to reduce taxpayer 7
burdens by lowering emergency medical costs and Medicaid expenses and by avoiding lost 8
productivity due to illness; and 9
Whereas, ensuring students remain in school and complete their education contributes 10
to North Carolina's workforce development, economic growth, and global competitiveness; and 11
Whereas, businesses benefit from a healthier, more -educated workforce, and 12
economic studies indicate that states with strong public health initiatives see increased workforce 13
participation; and 14
Whereas, programs that promote personal responsibility and preventive care align 15
with fiscally responsible governance by mitigating future public health care expenditures; and 16
Whereas, empowering students with the knowledge and resources to make informed 17
health decisions ensures their ability to protect their futures and pursue academic and professional 18
success without unnecessary health-related setbacks; and 19
Whereas, targeted data collection and analysis will ensure that (i) rural, suburban, and 20
urban communities receive equitable access to resources and (ii) program implementation is 21
based on effectiveness and efficiency; Now, therefore, 22
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 23
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PART I. TITLE 25
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Student Health and 26
Responsibility Act." 27
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PART II. SAFER SEX SUPPLIES GRANT PROGRAM 29
SECTION 2.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions shall apply in this section: 30
(1) Applicable administering entity. – As follows: 31
a. For constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, the 32
Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina. 33
b. For community colleges, the State Board of Community Colleges. 34
c. For public school units, the Department of Public Instruction. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 323-First Edition
(2) Eligible entity. – Constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, 1
community colleges, and public school units. 2
(3) Safer sex supplies. – Supplies that help promote safe sexual encounters, 3
including condoms and lubricants. 4
SECTION 2.(b) Program Established. – There is established the Safer Sex Supplies 5
Grant Program (Program) for the 2025 -2026, 2026 -2027, and 202 7-2028 fiscal years. The 6
Program shall expire June 30, 2028. The Program shall be administered separately by the Board 7
of Governors of The University of North Carolina for constituent institutions of The University 8
of North Carolina, the State Board of Com munity Colleges for community colleges, and the 9
Department of Public Instruction for high schools in public school units. The purpose of the 10
Program is to reduce health care costs and support student success by assisting eligible entities 11
that are grant re cipients to provide free access for students to safer sex supplies at constituent 12
institutions of The University of North Carolina, community colleges, and high schools located 13
in public school units. 14
SECTION 2.(c) Grant Applications. – An eligible entity may submit an application 15
to the applicable administering entity for a grant pursuant to this section for each year the 16
Program is in effect. The application shall identify at least the following: 17
(1) Current and ongoing needs for safer sex supplies and estimated costs 18
associated with those needs. 19
(2) A plan to do at least the following: 20
a. Offer free safer sex supplies in designated locations on campus, 21
including student health centers, residence halls, guidance counselor 22
offices, and offices of athletic coaches. 23
b. Replenish supplies as needed based on student usage. 24
c. Maintain student privacy and dignity to foster responsible decision 25
making and self-sufficiency. 26
d. Partner with campus organizations, student health groups, community 27
organizations, heal th care providers, local health departments, 28
nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities to facilitate 29
distribution and awareness campaigns for the Program, including 30
securing in-kind contributions of safer sex supplies. 31
e. Establish at each eligi ble entity receiving funds a Student Health 32
Advisory Committee consisting of student body leaders, health 33
professionals, and faculty advisors. The Committee would oversee 34
implementation of the grant funds, assess student engagement, and 35
recommend improvements. 36
f. Continue to provide safer sex supplies to students without grant funds 37
after the expiration of the Program. 38
SECTION 2.(d) Administration of Grants; Award of Funds. – Each applicable 39
administering entity shall develop appropriate criteria and guide lines for selecting grant 40
recipients and administering the grants pursuant to this section, including at least the following: 41
(1) Prioritizing the selection of grant recipients based on applications that 42
demonstrate economic benefits, collaboration, and cost efficiency. 43
(2) Allocating funds to an eligible entity that receives an award on the basis of 44
enrollment. 45
SECTION 2.(e) Use of Funds. – Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 46
contrary, including G.S. 115C-81.30(e), eligible entities receivin g grant funds pursuant to this 47
section shall do the following: 48
(1) Provide free safer sex supplies to students in accordance with the application 49
submitted by the eligible entity pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 323-First Edition Page 3
(2) Refrain from requiring parent al permission for students to access safer sex 1
supplies, including for students enrolled in high school in a public school unit. 2
SECTION 2.(f) Collaboration. – Each applicable administering entity shall 3
collaborate with the other applicable administering entities and eligible entities receiving grant 4
funds, to the extent possible, to share best practices and coordinate outreach efforts. 5
SECTION 2.(g) Supplement Not Supplant. – Grants provided pursuant to the 6
Program shall be used to supplement and not to supplant State or non -State funds already 7
provided for safer sex supplies. 8
SECTION 2.(h) Administrative Costs. – Of the funds appropriated to each 9
applicable administering entity by this act for the grants provided in this section, the applicable 10
administering entity may retain a total of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in each 11
fiscal year for administrative costs associated with the Program. 12
SECTION 2.(i) Program Report. – No later than April 1 of each fiscal year in which 13
funds are awarded pursuant to this section, each applicable administering entity shall report on 14
the Program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative 15
Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services. The report shall include at least the 16
following information: 17
(1) The identity of each eligible entity that received grant funds through the 18
Program. 19
(2) The amount of funding received by each entity identified pursuant to 20
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 21
(3) The safer sex supplies purchased with grant funds by each entity that received 22
a grant and rates of student usage of those supplies. 23
(4) The overall impact of the Program, including at least the following 24
information: 25
a. Projected health care savings rates. 26
b. Regional effectiveness of the Program. 27
(5) Recommendations to expand or modify the Program, taking into account 28
cost-effectiveness and the impact of the Program on public health. 29
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PART III. APPROPRIATIONS 31
SECTION 3.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund the sum of nine million 32
six hundred thousand dollars ($9,600,000) in nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 33
fiscal biennium to provide grants to public high schools and public institutions of higher 34
education in accordance with the Safer Sex Supplies Grant Program established pursuant to 35
Section 2 of this act and to be allocated in each fiscal year of the 2025 -2027 fiscal biennium as 36
follows: 37
(1) Three million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,750,000) to the Board 38
of Governors of The University of North Carolina. 39
(2) Three million dollars ($3,000,000) to the Community Colleges System Office. 40
(3) Two million eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($2,850,000) to the 41
Department of Public Instruction. 42
SECTION 3.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 43
Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand 44
dollars ($750,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year and the sum of seven 45
hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to 46
do all of the following in relation to the Safer Sex Supplies Grant Program (Program) authorized 47
by Section 2 of this act: 48
(1) Coordinate with app licable administering entities and eligible entities 49
receiving grant funds under the Program to ensure consistent messaging, 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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foster public awareness, and promote informed and responsible decision 1
making by students. 2
(2) Provide technical assistance, data m onitoring, and other related support to 3
eligible entities receiving funds under the Program and to local health 4
departments that collaborate with eligible entities. 5
(3) Collaborate with local health departments and student groups to provide 6
guidance on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, the benefits of 7
preventive care, and related workforce impact analysis. 8
SECTION 3.(c) The funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall not revert at 9
the end of each fiscal year of the 2025 -2027 fiscal biennium but shall instead remain available 10
until June 30, 2028. 11
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PART IV. EFFECTIVE DATE 13
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 14