A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to update the laws relating to the attendance ages and eligibility of Students for north carolina schools for the deaf.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143B‑216.41 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑216.41.  Pupils admitted; education.
The Department of Health and Human Services shall, according to  reasonable regulations prescribed by the  Superintendent of the Office of Education Services, on application, receive into the schools for the purposes of education all deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf/blind children who: (i) have been referred by their local education agencies and meet the criteria for admission; (ii) are residents of the State; and (iii) are from age five through age 21 years. Only those who are bona fide citizens or residents of North Carolina shall be eligible to and entitled to receive free tuition and maintenance. The Department may fix charges and the Superintendent of the Office of Education Services may prescribe rules whereby nonresident deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf/blind children may be admitted, but in no event shall the admission of nonresidents in any way prevent the attendance of any eligible deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf/blind child who is a resident of North Carolina. The Department shall provide for the instruction of all pupils in the branches of study now prescribed by law for the public schools of the State and in any other branches as may be of special benefit to the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind.
The Department shall encourage the State to provide the classrooms with modern auditory training equipment, audiovisual media equipment, and any other special equipment to provide the best educational conditions for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind. The Department shall provide a teacher training program in the State. The Department shall provide for a comprehensive vocational and technical training program for students as may be useful to them in making themselves self‑supporting."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.