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.

(a)	The Department of Health and Human Services shall admit all deaf and deaf/multidisabled children into the schools for the deaf who meet the following criteria and in accordance with federal and State law and rules adopted by the Office of Education Services:
(1)	The child has been referred by the child's local education agency and deemed appropriate by the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team.
(2)	The child is a  resident of this State, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(3)	The child is at least five years of age but not older than 21 years of age.
(b)	Nonresident deaf or deaf/multidisabled children may be admitted to the schools for the deaf in accordance with rules adopted by the Office of Education Services if the admission does not prevent the attendance of any deaf or deaf/multidisabled child who is a resident of the State. Only children who are residents of North Carolina are entitled to free tuition and room and board.
(c)	The Department, through the Office of Education Services, shall provide unique instructional programs to meet the needs of all students admitted to the schools for the deaf. The Department shall encourage the State to provide classrooms with modern auditory training equipment, audiovisual media equipment, and any other special equipment to provide the best educational conditions for the deaf and deaf/multidisabled.
(d)	The Department, through the Office of Education Services, shall do the following:
(1)	Maintain a collaborative relationship with institutions of higher education to provide teacher-training opportunities.
(2)	Provide for a comprehensive vocational and technical training program as directed in the transition component of the Individualized Education Programs of students."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.