Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that repeals the mask mandate for public schools.

Highlights:

• Establishes that for the 2021-2022 school year the governing board of any public school unit or any nonpublic school shall have the exclusive authority to determine the use of face coverings, and any appropriate exceptions to those requirements, during the instructional day on the campus of the public school unit or nonpublic school, subject to the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• By August 1, 2021, a local board of education is to vote on any policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day that will apply in the first instructional month of the 2021-2022 school year; and

• If at any time during the 2021-2022 school year a local board of education adopts a policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day, whether for the first instructional month or later in the school year, the local board will vote at least once a month on whether the policy should be repealed or modified for as long as the policy remains in effect.

• Establishes that for the 2021-2022 school year, the Governor may require by executive order the use of face coverings for an individual public or nonpublic school to reduce the transmission of an airborne communicable disease during a state of emergency (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies the following in regards to an executive order (Sec. 2):

• The executive order is to include reasons specific to that school for requiring the use of face coverings; 

• The executive order may require the use of face coverings for any reason deemed necessary by the Governor; and

• A single executive order will not include a statewide face-covering requirement for public or nonpublic schools.

• Establishes that this act is effective when it becomes law (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Roy Cooper III

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that repeals the mask mandate for public schools.

Highlights:

• Establishes that for the 2021-2022 school year the governing board of any public school unit or any nonpublic school shall have the exclusive authority to determine the use of face coverings, and any appropriate exceptions to those requirements, during the instructional day on the campus of the public school unit or nonpublic school, subject to the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• By August 1, 2021, a local board of education is to vote on any policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day that will apply in the first instructional month of the 2021-2022 school year; and

• If at any time during the 2021-2022 school year a local board of education adopts a policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day, whether for the first instructional month or later in the school year, the local board will vote at least once a month on whether the policy should be repealed or modified for as long as the policy remains in effect.

• Establishes that for the 2021-2022 school year, the Governor may require by executive order the use of face coverings for an individual public or nonpublic school to reduce the transmission of an airborne communicable disease during a state of emergency (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies the following in regards to an executive order (Sec. 2):

• The executive order is to include reasons specific to that school for requiring the use of face coverings; 

• The executive order may require the use of face coverings for any reason deemed necessary by the Governor; and

• A single executive order will not include a statewide face-covering requirement for public or nonpublic schools.

• Establishes that this act is effective when it becomes law (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that repeals the mask mandate for public schools.

Highlights:

• Establishes that for the 2021-2022 school year the governing board of any public school unit or any nonpublic school shall have the exclusive authority to determine the use of face coverings, and any appropriate exceptions to those requirements, during the instructional day on the campus of the public school unit or nonpublic school, subject to the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• By August 1, 2021, a local board of education is to vote on any policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day that will apply in the first instructional month of the 2021-2022 school year; and

• If at any time during the 2021-2022 school year a local board of education adopts a policy requiring mandatory face coverings for employees and students during the instructional day, whether for the first instructional month or later in the school year, the local board will vote at least once a month on whether the policy should be repealed or modified for as long as the policy remains in effect.

• Establishes that for the 2021-2022 school year, the Governor may require by executive order the use of face coverings for an individual public or nonpublic school to reduce the transmission of an airborne communicable disease during a state of emergency (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies the following in regards to an executive order (Sec. 2):

• The executive order is to include reasons specific to that school for requiring the use of face coverings; 

• The executive order may require the use of face coverings for any reason deemed necessary by the Governor; and

• A single executive order will not include a statewide face-covering requirement for public or nonpublic schools.

• Establishes that this act is effective when it becomes law (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text