NC Child Legislative Update: May 4-8
Legislative Update–5/8/15
While the flow of legislation has slowed following the crossover deadline, the budget process appears to be gaining steam. We also received the surpising news that the state has a budget surplus for the current fiscal year.
Really? A Surplus?
A budget surplus for 2015? Despite earlier projections that we’d end the fiscal year over $271M in the red, the updated consensus budget forecast indicates that the state will end the year with a $400 million surplus.
In a press release on Wednesday, Gov. McCrory indicated that he would recommend additional investments to the legislature “that would provide services to the people of North Carolina,” including the reinstatement of the medical tax deduction for seniors and targeted pay raises for state employees. Speaker Moore echoed those priorities in his comments to the press. According to state law, about one quarter of the surplus must be put into reserves and the fund that is used to repair state buildings.
Inevitably, the surplus has resulted in a renewed debate about the impact of the 2013 tax reform package. To be clear, tax cuts have still resulted in a revenue loss for this year, just not as much as expected (hence the surplus). This will be an interesting story to follow over the coming days and weeks.
Budget Bill Update
Speaker Tim Moore announced on Tuesday that he expects the budget bill to be rolled out on Monday, 5/18 with votes in the full House on 5/20 and 5/21. That’s a very quick turnaround–we hope that there will be ample time for feedback on any proposals before a vote.
Bills on the Move
HB358, School Performance Grade Scale — The newly-implemented school grading scale was scheduled to adopt more stringent performance measures starting this school year. This bill maintains the current, slightly more lenient grading scale for the next two years. This is largely in response to the low grades many schools, particularly those in low-income areas, received last year. This bill previously passed the House and was passed by the Senate this week.
HB879, Juvenile Code Reform — This bill includes a variety of code revisions with the purpose of improving due process, confinement, and reentry of juveniles. The bill is on NC Child’s legislative agenda. This bill previously passed the House and was passed by the Senate Judiciary II Committee yesterday.
HB562, Amend Firearm Laws — This sweeping gun bill allows gun owners to bring firearms on school grounds (if the gun is locked in a vehicle), prohibits doctors from disclosing a patient’s gun ownership to law enforcement, and weakens limitations on concealed carry permits. This bill was scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee this week, but was pulled twice due to mounting concerns.
Passed House Previously
HB539, School Playgrounds Available to Public
HB158, Jim Fulghum Teen Skin Cancer Prevention Act
HB380, School Safety Management
HB647, Epi Pens in All Child Serving Businesses
HB134, Soliciting Prostitution/Immunity for Minors
HB82, Execution/Nonsecure Custody Order/Child Abuse
HB13, Amend School Health Assessment Requirement
HB237, Repeal Personal Ed Plan/Modify Trans Plans
HB847, Amend Laws Re: Medical Treatment for Minors
HB803, School Performance Scores
HB669, Juvenile Law Changes/Abuse/Neglect/Dependency
HB816, Labor/Provide Relief for Caregivers
Passed Senate Previously
SB198, Persons under 18 in Confinement Facilities
SB286, Regulate the Sale of E-Liquid Containers
SB298, School Bus Cameras/Civil Penalities (HB536)
SB114, Custodial Parent/Party Cooperate w/ Child Suppport
SB578, Transfer Certain Abuse Investigations/DCDEE
SB238, Stalking by GPS/Criminal Offense
SB676, Autism Health Insurance Coverage
SB423, Foster Care Family Act (HB407)
SB343, Student Assault on Teacher/Felony Offense
SB652, Prohibit Rehoming of an Adopted Minor Child
SB456, Charter School Modifications
Other Bills
*See special note on crossover deadline at the top of the email
SB272, Eliminate Personal Ed. Plans
HB187, Stalking by GPS/Criminal Offense (The Senate version of this bill did pass.)
HB250, Healthy Food Small Retailer/Corner Store Act (includes an appropriation–will be decided in the final state budget)
SB 297, Prenatal Narcotic Drug Use/Criminal Offense
SB331, Juvenile Code Reform (similar bill passed House (H879) and will likely be considered in the Senate)
SB526, Job Creation and Tax Relief Act of 2015 (Impacts finance and appropriations–will remain eligible)
SB624, Private Schools/Firearms Amendments
HB399, the Young Offender’s Rehabilitation Act (This bill will have an appropriation and will remain eligible.)
HB580, Ban Smoking in Foster Care Settings/Infants
HB646, Insurance Coverage for Autism Treatment (The Senate Autism Insurance bill will likely be the vehicle for this policy area.)
HB818, Enact ELECT Act/Caregiver Relief (This bill was rolled into HB816 as a study.)
HB648, Prohibit Toxic Flame Retardants in Bedding
HB424 / SB424, Fostering Success (These bills include an appropriation and will remain eligible.)
HB832, Revise Certain Policies/Child Care Subsidy (This bill will likely be dealth with in the budget bill.)