Wednesday at the General Assembly, Greensboro News and Record (06.15.2011)
Lawmakers Wednesday worked on hundreds of bills as they worked to adjourn at the end of this week. Among the highlights:
VOTER ID: Republicans are intent on passing restrictions on voters who come to polls to prove whom they say are, despite a potential veto by Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue. The Senate approved legislation mandating people offer one of eight forms of photo ID before their votes can count. Otherwise, a person must cast a provisional ballot and prove identity later. The bill now returns to the House, which passed the bill last week on party lines but fell short of overcoming any potential veto. Sen. Debbie Clary, R-Cleveland, said it’s not too much to ask someone prove their identity before voting. Democrats say the bill is all about Republicans suppressing votes to help the GOP’s political fortunes.
EDUCATION ACTION: Lawmakers added momentum to bills that would let community colleges refuse to offer low-interest federal student loans and allow parents to protect their children from corporal punishment at school, as the Legislature continued to winnow through changes to multiple education policies. The House voted 107-9 to allow parents to tell school administrators not to paddle their child if they attend one of the 17 school districts in the state’s southeast and west, where corporal punishment is practiced. The state has 115 public school districts. North Carolina is one of 19 states that allow corporal punishment. “I think this is a good issue to put in the hand of parents,” said Rep. Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus. The measure returns to the Senate after a House change. It passed the Senate unanimously last month.
REDISTRICTING: The public will soon get a look at what boundaries for some General Assembly districts could look like for the next decade. House and Senate redistricting committee leaders said they will release a draft of House and Senate districts that must meet the restrictions of federal voting rights law. These districts historically have been designed to allow minority voters the chance to elect the candidate of their choice. A public hearing is expected to be held on those districts next week. Complete proposed maps for legislative and congressional districts will be made public July 1, followed by more public hearings and redistricting committee meetings until mid-July. The Legislature is expected to reconvene July 17 and vote on the plans.
STATE SPORT: Legislation declaring stock car racing as the state sport has only Gov. Beverly Perdue to pass before taking the checkered flag. The state House and Senate gave final approval granting racing the official designation. The hoots from college hoops fans disappeared weeks ago in the bill’s three-month journey inspired by a fifth-grade class at Lake Norman Elementary School in Mooresville. Children noticed North Carolina lacked a state sport despite other official designations including the sweet potato as the state vegetable, and milk as the state beverage. North Carolina is home to more than 90 percent of NASCAR Sprint Cup teams, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Official sports in other states include dog mushing in Alaska, basketball in Massachusetts and hockey in Minnesota.
SCORECARD:
In the House:
– S726, allow parents to choose whether their twins or triplets are assigned together in the same classroom, a decision that had previously been left to school principals. The siblings can be separated if experience shows educators that keeping the children together proves disruptive. Passed the House. Next: Returns to the Senate for concurrence.
– S466, to change laws governing how and why teachers can be fired, including specifying that inadequate performance means “performing in a manner that is below standard.” Passed House 115-0. Next: Returns to the Senate for concurrence.
– S394, would make it a firing offense for a school principal to not inform law officers if he or she knows or has been told by other school workers that a crime may have occurred on school property. Principals are required to report to police news of major crimes like assault, rape, or kidnapping, as well as weapons or drug possession. Passed the House. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue.
In the Senate:
– H845, to make changes to the rules governing involuntary annexation by towns and cities that give more power to landowners in blocking future incorporations or more potential benefits if an involuntary annexation occurs. Final Senate approval 37-11. Next: Return to the House for concurrence motion.
– H60, to allow residents in several areas where forced annexations have been contested to use the petition process described in H845 to stop the actions if 60 percent of landowners agree. Tentatively approved 33-17. Next: Final Senate approval.
– H271, to make clear the prohibition against carrying a concealed weapon doesn’t apply to off-duty state probation and parole certified officers. Approved 45-3. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk.
– H588, to direct local school board to require a one-semester class that high school students must pass to graduation that teachers the the “founding philosophy” of the United States government and the rule of law and its “founding principles” of federalism, the Bill of Rights, private property rights and the criminal justice system. Final Senate approval 50-0. Next: Return to the House for concurrence motion.