Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Program.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 460

Short Title: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Murdock and Grafstein (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S460-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALT H AND HUMAN SERVICES TO 2
ESTABLISH AND ADMINI STER A STATEWIDE FET AL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM 3
DISORDERS PROGRAM; CREATING A FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS 4
ADVISORY COMMITTEE; AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THESE PURPOSES. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1.(a) Part 2 of Article 5 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is 7
amended by adding the following new sections to read: 8
"§ 130A-127.1. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Program. 9
(a) As used in this section, "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders" or FASD means a range 10
of effects that can occur in an individual who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol. Prenatal 11
alcohol exposure is the leading cause of preventable developmental disabi lities, including over 12
400 co -occurring possible disease conditions, impacting the brain, vision, hearing, heart, 13
circulation, digestion, and musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. FASD includes diagnoses 14
such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, partial Fetal Alc ohol Syndrome, Alcohol -Related 15
Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Static Encephalopathy – Alcohol Exposed, Neurobehavioral 16
Disorders Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, and alcohol-related birth defects. 17
(b) The Department shall establish and administer a statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum 18
Disorders Program to prevent alcohol -exposed pregnancies, to educate all populations about 19
FASD, and to provide evidence -based interventions for individuals diagnosed with FASD. The 20
Department shall designate an FASD Progr am Coordinator with knowledge and experience in 21
the field of prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD. The goals of the Program include, but are not 22
limited to, all of the following: 23
(1) Utilizing and adapting existing federal or State programs to include FASD 24
identification and FASD-informed support. 25
(2) Developing and expanding screening and diagnostic capacity for FASD. 26
(3) Developing, implementing, and evaluating targeted FASD -informed 27
intervention programs for FASD. 28
(4) Increasing awareness of FASD. 29
(5) Providing training with respect to FASD for professionals across relevant 30
sectors. 31
(6) Serving as a centralized resource for issues related to FASD and disseminating 32
information about FASD and support services to affected individuals and their 33
families. 34
"§ 130A-127.2. FASD Advisory Committee; creation and purpose; composition; powers 35
and duties. 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 460-First Edition
(a) Creation and Purpose. – There is established the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder 1
Advisory Committee. The purpose of the FASD Advisory Committee is to provide guidance to 2
the FASD Program established pursuant to G.S. 130A-127.1 in the prevention of FASD and in 3
the delivery of services to identify, treat, and support individuals with FASD and their families. 4
(b) Powers and Duties. – The FASD Advisory Committee has the following powers and 5
duties: 6
(1) To develop a statewide strategic plan to substantially reduce prenatal alcohol 7
exposure and provide for the identification, treatment, and support of 8
individuals with FASD and their families. 9
(2) To provide guidance on the implementation of the strategic plan developed 10
pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection by reviewing and comme nting 11
on grant proposals addressing prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and 12
FASD-informed supports and interventions. 13
(3) To identify existing federal and State agency programs related to prenatal 14
alcohol and substance exposure and FASD, and to make recommendations for 15
the utilization and adaption of such programs to include prenatal alcohol 16
screening and FASD-informed supports and interventions. 17
(4) To review programs of State agencies that relate to prenatal alcohol or 18
substance exposure and FASD, and to coordinate such programs that are 19
interdepartmental in nature pursuant to an interagency agreement, whenever 20
feasible. 21
(c) Composition. – The FASD Advisory Committee shall consist of the following 17 22
members: 23
(1) The Secretary or a designee of the Secretary, who shall be a senior level 24
employee, for each of the following Departments: 25
a. The Department of Health and Human Services. 26
b. The Department of Corrections. 27
c. The Department of Public Instruction. 28
d. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. 29
e. The Department of Commerce. 30
(2) Four public members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall be an 31
individual diagnosed with FASD or a family member of an individual 32
diagnosed with FASD. 33
(3) Four public members appointed by the President P ro Tempore of the Senate 34
and four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 35
each of whom shall be a health, education, or justice professional; a provider 36
of FASD prevention or treatment services; or a member of a tribal population. 37
(d) A vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by the original appointing authority, using 38
the criteria set out in this section for the original appointment. 39
(e) To the extent that funds are made available, members of the Committee shall receive 40
per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5. 41
(f) A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its 42
business. 43
(g) The Committee may use funds allocated to it to employ an administrative staff person 44
to assist the Committee in carrying out its duties. The Secretary shall provide clerical and other 45
support staff services needed by the Committee." 46
SECTION 1.(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro 47
Tempore of the Senate, and the Governor shall make their appointments to the Fetal Alcohol 48
Spectrum Disorders Advisory Committee not later than 90 days after the effective date of this 49
act. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 460-First Edition Page 3
SECTION 1.(c) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund 1
to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in 2
recurring funds for the 2025 -2027 fiscal biennium to (i) establish and administe r the Fetal 3
Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Program authorized by G.S. 130A-127.1, as enacted by subsection 4
(a) of this section, and (ii) pay for the operating expenses of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders 5
Advisory Committee established by G.S. 130A-127.2, a s enacted by subsection (a) of this 6
section. 7
SECTION 2. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 8
law. 9