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SB 1011

Allergy Safe Schools Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Sophia Chitlik

Requires a full-time nurse in every public school, plus trained staff, medical plans, emergency epinephrine access, and non-food celebrations to protect students with allergies.

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Bill Summary · SB 1011

Summary of SB 1011 (Allergy Safe Schools Act) — North Carolina, 2025 Session

Purpose and intent

SB 1011 seeks to increase food allergy safety in public schools by:
- Ensuring at least one full-time, permanent school nurse in every school
- Requiring state-developed training for school staff on recognizing and treating anaphylaxis
- Establishing medical condition action plans and medical emergency response rules for students at risk
- Prohibiting food in school celebrations to reduce exposure risks

The bill designates funding to support these provisions and establishes timelines for implementation.

Key provisions

Part I — Nurse in every school

  • Replaces or adds to existing staffing requirements with a mandate: each school must have at least one full-time, permanent school nurse.
  • Applies across multiple school types:
    • Traditional public schools (G.S. 115C-47, 115C-150.12C)
    • Charter schools (G.S. 115C-218.75)
    • Regional schools (G.S. 115C-238.66)
    • Laboratory schools (G.S. 116-239.8(b)
  • Funding: Appropriates $92 million in recurring General Fund money starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to expand the School Health Personnel Allotment for nurse staffing.
  • Administration: Funds are supplemental to existing nurse funding (not to supplant other sources).
  • Effective date: July 1, 2026, with applicability beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Part II — School staff training on recognizing and treating anaphylaxis

  • DHHS, with DPI and allergy experts, must develop and publish a uniform statewide training program and standardized guidelines for school personnel.
  • Training components include:
    • Evidence-based modules on recognizing and responding to allergies and anaphylaxis
    • Standardized management guidelines for life-threatening allergies in schools
    • Model plans for districts to ensure compliance with best practices
  • Biennial updates to reflect current research.
  • Funding: $300,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2026-2027 to develop the program and guidelines.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.

Part III — Medical condition action plans and medical emergency response

  • Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules for:
    • A Medical Condition Action Plan (for each student at risk, as diagnosed by a doctor)
    • A Medical Emergency Plan (response for emergencies not covered by the action plan)
  • Public school units must implement these plans and provide model forms and procedures, including field trips and off-campus activities.
  • Teachers and other school personnel may administer medications or provide emergency care when authorized, with civil liability protections barring gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
  • Annual or ongoing determination of participants in the medical care program at the start of each school year.
  • Epinephrine provisions: Requires a supply of emergency epinephrine delivery systems in each school, with trained personnel authorized to administer. Training and emergency action plans for storage, use, and follow-up are included.
  • Effective date: Applies to the 2026-2027 school year.

Part IV — Prohibit food at school celebrations

  • New policy: Local boards must adopt non-food celebration policies for elementary and middle schools, with guidelines and an exception process for curriculum-tied food activities.
  • High schools: Prohibit soft drinks at celebrations and encourage non-food options.
  • Applicability across school types (traditional, charter, regional, laboratory).
  • Effective date: Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

Part V — General effective date

  • The act becomes law upon passage unless otherwise indicated.

Affected entities

  • Students with food allergies (and their families)
  • School nurses and school health personnel
  • Teachers, substitutes, and other school staff
  • Local boards of education and public school units (including charter, regional, and laboratory schools)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

Potential impact

  • Improves on-site management of allergic reactions and medical emergencies.
  • Increases nursing staffing in schools, potentially improving overall health services.
  • Standardizes staff training to ensure prompt recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis.
  • Reduces exposure risk for students with food allergies via non-food celebration policies.
  • Introduces liability protections for trained school personnel acting within the scope of approved plans.
  • Requires ongoing state guidance and biennial updates to reflect medical advances.

Note: The summary reflects the bill as introduced and amended; actual final language may differ after legislative process.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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