Bill Summaries: H482 (2021)

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  • Summary date: Apr 1 2021 - View summary

    Requires the Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council (OHAC), within funds made available in this act, to establish a grant program to create innovative school-based support programs for students that uses animals as an outlet for positive mental health and behavioral learning opportunities. Allows a local school administrative unit to apply for a grant to have one or more of its schools offer a program to students in which animals are used in various ways to enhance school-based services. Requires OHAC to select as grant recipients local school administrative units for programs that serve students in K-8. Requires programs to focus on serving at-risk students or students with disabilities, but allows participation by all students. Allows OHAC to consult with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services when evaluating a grant program for selection. Caps grant award amounts at $3,000.

    Appropriates $300,000 for 2021-22 from the General Fund to the Wildlife Resources Commission to be allocated to OHAC to provide the grants.

    Requires grant recipients to report to OHAC for the year in which grant funds were expended on the implementation of the grant program, including data collection for reporting on student outcomes, including impacts of the program, and use of State funds. Requires OHAC to report annually, beginning in 2022, on the grant program to the specified NCGA committee.

    Effective July 1, 2021.