The General Assembly reconvened this week, and I am proud to once again be in Raleigh representing your interests. Several committees have already met and we are starting to consider new legislation that will help make our state a better place to live. We also will be looking at some bills from last session that are still eligible for consideration this year. I reintroduced some of them to you last week and this week will summarize some bills that relate to education, crime, and emergency management, among other important areas of interest.
Also this week, I joined with members of the House Democratic Caucus to approve a four-point agenda that focuses on jobs, education, fiscal responsibility and accountability. We already have legislation in the works to address each of these items and will also support them through the state budget.
Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I am always glad to be of service.
Education
_The State Board of Education would be directed to annually review nutrition standards for food and beverages administered by the Department of Public Instruction under a bill that has already passed the House (HB 900). According to the bill, the State Board of Education would examine the standards on an annual basis and make modifications that reflect current products in the marketplace, best practices in the industry, and science-based evidence from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
_Local school administrative units could be required to reorganize all high schools that have a high dropout rate. Under the bill (HB 1176), local boards of education would be required to reorganize all high schools that have a graduation rate less than 60 percent for two consecutive years.
Emergency Management
_The Division of Health Service Regulation, a branch within DHHS, would be directed to review recommendations from the Disability and Elderly Emergency Management Task Force under a bill that has already passed the House (HB 143). The bill would require the division to take appropriate action to strengthen disaster planning and disaster preparedness for long-term care facilities. This legislation is based on the recommendations of the NC Study Commission on Aging and is now in the Senate.
_The Division of Emergency Management would be authorized to establish a registry that counties and municipalities could use to identify functionally and medically fragile people during a disaster under a bill that has already passed the House and is now in the Senate (HB 382). If enacted, the bill would also authorize counties and municipalities to operate similar registries. The intent of this legislation is to improve the safety of medically vulnerable individuals in the event of a disaster.
_The Division of Emergency Management may be allowed to establish a voluntary emergency management certification program under a bill that has passed the Senate (SB 255). The purpose of the program is to strengthen and enhance the professional competencies of emergency management personnel in state and local emergency management agencies.
Crime
_Private personnel services, job listing services, and individuals would be required to provide a notice to potential customers concerning identity theft under a bill that has already passed the House (HB 1265).
_A number of improving changes would be made to the state’s sex offender registry under a House bill that is now in the Senate (HB 1317). Among those changes are: (1) requiring people who must register as sex offenders to report in person to and notify the appropriate sheriff of the addresses of any temporary residences; (2) expanding the list of properties where certain sex offenders are not allowed to be in the premises; and (3) requiring registered sex offenders from other states to stay away from certain properties frequented by minors.
_ Legislation that would prohibit cell phones in prison (HB 8) has already been unanimously approved by the House. The bill would also make it unlawful for a prison guard to provide a phone to an inmate. Some prison officials had reported that more prisoners were smuggling in phones. The bill is now in the Senate.
Miscellaneous
_A bill that would expand the authority of the North Carolina Department of Transportation to locate and acquire right-of-way for the location, above or below ground, of fiber-optic cable has passed the House and is now in the Senate (HB 136).
_A bill that would provide for an alternative credit for qualifying expenses of a production company has passed the House and is now in the Senate (HB 713).
_Legislation that would provide a Survivor’s Alternate Benefit for survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty has already passed the House (HB 766). If enacted, the principal beneficiary of an officer who has completed 15 years of service would be entitled to the survivor’s benefit should that officer be killed in the line of duty. The Senate must now pass the bill before it becomes law.
_State and local governments would be encouraged to use military veteran contractors under a bill (HB 912) that has passed the House and now awaits action in the Senate.
_ Political candidates could be prevented from accepting campaign donations from a company or from the officers of companies with active state contracts. The intent of the legislation (HB 961) is to prevent possible conflicts of interest by candidates and state contractors. The Senate will consider the bill next.
_ All units of local government would be allowed to regulate golf carts under a bill that has already passed the Senate (SB 650).
_Bicycles could be required to have visible lights on the front and rear, or on the person operating the bicycle, between sunset and sunrise if they are being used on a street, highway, or public area for vehicles. The bill (SB 955) has passed the Senate and, if enacted, would also require the report of a crash involving a motor vehicle and a bicycle where the total property damage exceeds $500.
_Leaving a child under the age of 9 unattended in a motor vehicle would be made unlawful under a bill that has already passed the House (HB 827). The bill is now in the Senate.
Notes
_VSA LLC, a recycler of automotive catalytic converters, will locate its production plant in Burke County. The company plans to create 98 jobs and invest $4.5 million during the next two years in Morganton. The project was made possible in part by a $98,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
Please remember that you can listen to 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. A calendar of meetings is also available on the site.
Prepared with the assistance of the Speaker’s Office of Communications
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Regular Reports On What Is Happening In the NC General Assembly of Interest to citizens in District 51 by Representative Jimmy Love
