GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 968
Short Title: Youth CERT Preparedness K-12 Training. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Cervania, Carson Smith, and Miller (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H968 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR EMERGENCY PREPARED NESS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1.(a) Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 4
adding a new Part to read: 5
"Part 7. Instructional Requirements. 6
"§ 115C-76.80. Instructional requirements. 7
Each public school unit shall provide instruction pursuant to the requirements of this Part. 8
"§ 115C-76.85. Emergency preparedness education. 9
(a) Instruction shall be provided in emergency preparedness from kindergarten through 10
high school. The State Board of Education shall adopt standards for instruction in emergency 11
preparedness, differentiated between elementary school, middle school, and high school. 12
(b) Standards for elementary school instruction shall begin not before grade three and 13
include at least the following: 14
(1) Education on man-made and natural disasters. 15
(2) Roles of various parties during disasters, such as (i) students, (ii) teachers, and 16
(iii) first responders. 17
(3) The emergency response plan of the school or local school administrative unit 18
and any supplies that are available in accordance with the emergency response 19
plan. 20
(c) Standards for middle school instruction shall include at least the following: 21
(1) Updated instruction from the elementary school standards to reflect any 22
changes that have occurred or to reflect the student's new school placement. 23
(2) Completion of a project researching a past disaster, whether natural or 24
man-made. 25
(3) Responses to mass casualty events, including the different types of mass 26
casualty events. 27
(4) Education on electrical hazards and how to exert proper care around electrical 28
sources. 29
(d) Standards for high school instruction shall include at least the following: 30
(1) Updated instruction from the elementary school and middle school standards 31
to reflect any changes that have occurred or to reflect the student's new school 32
placement. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 968-First Edition
(2) Introduction to the material in the Community Emergency Response Team 1
(CERT) Basic Training Manual issued by the Federal Emergency 2
Management Agency. 3
(e) Local school administrative units shall determine the appropriate courses during 4
which instruction pursuant to this section shall be provided." 5
SECTION 1.(b) Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 6
amended by adding a new section to read: 7
"§ 115C-81.67. Emergency preparedness. 8
Each local board of education shall develop and implement emergency preparedness 9
instruction consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-76.85." 10
SECTION 1.(c) Article 4 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by 11
adding a new section to read: 12
"§ 116-69.05. Informational literacy. 13
The school shall provide instruction in emergency preparedness consistent with 14
G.S. 115C-76.85." 15
SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 116-235(a1) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 16
"(1a) The Board of Trustees shall ensure that instruction in emergency preparedness 17
consistent with G.S. 115C-76.85 is included in the standard course of study 18
for the School." 19
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 20
the 2025-2026 school year. 21