H259 - 2023 Appropriations Act. (SL 2023-134)

Overview: Section 19B.2 of S.L. 2023-134 requires the Department of Adult Correction to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety by February 1, 2024, and February 1, 2025, with the following information on nurse staffing at the Department:

• The total number of permanent nursing positions allocated to the Department, the number of filled positions, the number of positions that have been vacant for more than six months, and information regarding the location of both filled and vacant positions.
• The extent to which temporary contract services are being used to staff vacant nursing positions, the method for funding the contract services, and any cost differences between the use of permanent employees versus contract employees.
• A progress report on the implementation of its plan to (i) reduce the use of contract services to provide nursing in State prisons and (ii) attract and retain qualified nurses for employment in permanent positions in State prisons.

This section also authorizes the Department to convert funds appropriated for contractual nursing services to permanent nursing positions when it is determined to promote security, generate cost savings, and improve health care quality, if approved by the Office of State Budget and Management, and reported to the Fiscal Research Division of the North Carolina General Assembly.

This section became effective July 1, 2023.