After two weeks of long sessions and committee meetings dealing with bills that have no monetary impact, the House of Representatives has turned its focus to crafting the next budget. The outlook is grim, as I have shared with you a number of times, but we are doing our best to accommodate a 20 percent drop in revenue.
As always, education will remain our top priority and it’s a priority we share with both Gov. Perdue and Senate budget writers. Education cannot be spared from cuts, though, since it comprises nearly 60 percent of our budget. Our aim is to trim judiciously so that we protect the classroom and allow our children to receive the best possible instruction we can provide.
As we approach Memorial Day, it is fitting to acknowledge some measures we have taken this legislative session to improve the lives of veterans and members of the Armed Forces in North Carolina. These measures include everything from making it easier for them to renew their drivers’ licenses and cast timely ballots to protecting our severely injured veterans from being denied unemployment insurance benefits if they lose a job as a result of injuries sustained in war.
Memorial Day was established in 1868 to pay tribute to individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We must never forget the importance of their oaths and their sacrifices.
As always, I welcome any thoughts or ideas you may have to share with me and I hope you will let me know if I can be of any service.
Honor Fallen Soldiers
_On Thursday, members of the House honored the life and memory of the fallen soldiers who served our great nation in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan with a House Joint Resolution (HJR 1652). In the resolution, the General Assembly expressed profound gratitude to the North Carolinians who were killed in the line of duty during these military operations. Each North Carolinian who was killed in the line of duty while carrying out these operations is named in the resolution.
Transportation
_ The Division of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to waive the commercial motor vehicles skills test for qualified military personnel who have operated similar vehicles for at least two years prior to applying for a commercial driver’s license under a bill that has passed the Senate (SB 423 = HB 271). The legislation, which is now in the House Committee on Transportation, would also waive the requirement if the applicant has completed a similar skills test while in the military.
_Two bills would make it easier for members of the military reserves to renew their drivers’ licenses after they receive deployment orders. A bill that has passed the Senate (SB 809) would allow members of the Armed Forces to renew their drivers’ licenses upon receipt of deployment orders and give them a 60-day grace period for an expired license after they are released from military duty outside of the United States. A second bill (HB 98) would have the same provisions as SB 809, except that it would allow only a 30-day grace period.
_The NC Division of Motor Vehicles would be authorized to produce military wartime veteran special plates based on defined periods of war under a bill that has passed the House (HB 1143). The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Finance.
_Legislation meant to ensure that certain special license plates that are available to military veterans are issued to the right people has passed the House (HB 1094). The bill is intended to prevent impostors from purchasing certain military license plates including plates that indicate the recipient of a Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross or Bronze Star. Applicants for these military plates would have to provide proof that they qualify for the plates. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Commerce.
Employment
_State and local governments would be encouraged to use military veteran contractors under a bill that has passed the House (HB 912). State policy already encourages and promotes the use of small contractors, minority contractors, physically handicapped contractors, and female contractors in state purchasing of goods and services. The bill has now been sent to the Senate.
_House lawmakers have passed legislation regarding unemployment insurance compensation for certain severely disabled veterans who have been discharged due to a service-connected disability (HB 1124). If enacted, severely injured veterans could receive unemployment benefits if they lose their job because of a disability incurred or aggravated during active military service or because of the veteran’s absence from work to obtain care and treatment for that disability. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Commerce.
Miscellaneous
_ North Carolina’s absentee voting laws would be improved under a measure that has passed the House (HB 614). The bill is specifically intended to improve the ability of military and overseas voters to cast timely ballots. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Judiciary I.
_Uniformed public safety officers would be authorized to wear military service medals during the business week prior to Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the day of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and the business day immediately following Veterans Day and Memorial Day under a bill that passed the House on Monday (HB 631). Employers would have the right to prohibit the wearing of service medals if it’s determined they pose a safety hazard to the officer or to the public. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on State and Local Government.
Notes
_Members of the General Assembly honored former Insurance Commissioner Jim Long this week for his nearly 30 years of service to the state. Long was Insurance Commissioner from 1985 until his retirement last year. His 24 years on the Council of State was the third-longest tenure of any official. Long was a native of Alamance County who also served two terms in the House of Representatives. He died in February as the result of a stroke. He was 68.
Please remember that you can listen to each day’s session, committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website at www.ncleg.net. Once on the site, select "audio," and then make your selection – House Chamber, Senate Chamber, Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room.
Prepared with the assistance of the Speaker’s Office of Communications
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Regular Reports On What Is Happening In the NC General Assembly of Interest to citizens in District 51 by Representative Jimmy Love
