Provisions dealing with student driving privileges, CPR and mask policies were added Wednesday to a compromise bill now headed to the desk of Gov. Roy Cooper.
Senate Bill 654 originally focused more on directing how schools can spend federal relief funds and restricting schools' use of remote instruction.
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House Education committee Chairman John Torbett, R-Gaston, said that, during the conference committee process with the Senate, the spending provisions were moved into the budget bill, while new proposed restrictions on remote learning in the 2021-22 school year were rolled back in light of the current pandemic situation.
Seniors in the 2020-21 school year whose diplomas have been in limbo due to CPR requirements will have that requirement waived under the bill, as long as they met all other graduation requirements.
Torbett said the final version of the bill would temporarily waive the requirement that students must be making progress toward graduation to qualify for driving privileges.
"We also restored certain driving permits and provisional licenses revoked due to certificate ineligibility," Torbett said, adding that it won't show up on their driving records, either.
A new section added to the bill requires local school boards to set mask policies for their districts but to hold a vote on the policy monthly.
"We're putting it on them, but they have to review it at least once every month," Torbett said, "so it's not long-standing."
A provision in the original bill that would have delayed the implementation of controversial new social studies standards is no longer in the bill, he said.
The House passed the measure 102-1 Wednesday morning. It passed the Senate unanimously that afternoon, and now goes to Democratic Governor Roy Cooper for his signature.