2023 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 5

NASW-NC continues to be present at the North Carolina Legislature attending committee meetings to advance our 2023 Legislative Agenda.

NASW-NC Executive Director Valerie Arendt also currently serves as the Chair of the North Carolina Coalition on Behavioral Health and seeks to advance The Coalition's 2023 Budget Priorities at the North Carolina Legislature which is in line with the social work profession's legislative asks.

Big Updates from NASW-NC!

• New NASW-NC Director of Advocacy and Policy Lauren Zingraff starts TODAY, Monday, February 13!
• 2023 North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day - I look forward to seeing MANY of you all at Advocacy Day on March 1!
  • Session 2 is full but we have plenty of spaces in session 1 here! 2023 North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day
  • ***NEW*** Free Headshots! We will have a photographer on site during Advocacy Day to take headshots of all those who attend/are registered so be sure to SHOW UP on March 1, 2023! This will be perfect for graduating students to post on their LinkedIn profile! :)
• Wednesday, February 15 at Noon: NASW-NC Advocacy 101/2023 Legislative Agenda - Please register for the NASW-NC Advocacy 101/2023 Legislative Agenda. REGISTRATION CLOSES 2/14. This is relevant information for anyone but will prepare folx who are attending Social Work Advocacy Day on March 1!
• NASW-NC Member Nakeia Alsup speaks at Legislative Press Conference last week!
• Active Action Alert: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/Campaigns/100744/Respond
• Sign up for weekly NASW-NC legislative updates: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/home

Legislative Updates:

Medicaid Expansion Bill Introduced!

Last week, Representatives Donny Lambeth, Donna White, Chris Humphrey and Michael Wray introduced HB76, Access to Healthcare Options. This legislation expands Medicaid, includes a mechanism to draw down the Hospital Assessment and Stabilization Program (HASP) funds and creates workforce development opportunities. Based on the House legislative calendar, HB 76 is expected to be heard in the House Health and Finance Committees on Tuesday with full House consideration on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.

The House bill does not tie expansion to changes in certificate of need regulations, which were a sticking point in Medicaid expansion negotiations last year. The Senate sought to tie expansion to CON reform while the House did not. CON laws require healthcare providers to get approval from the state for new healthcare facilities, medical equipment purchases and more.

HB 76 has provisions for:

• Ending expansion if savings don’t cover the state share or if fed share goes below 90% (although CMS would have to approve I think)
• Creating a consortium to provide job counseling and workforce development for Medicaid recipients
• Lots and lots of formulas for public and private hospitals the assessments and FMAP etc (that was totally over my head)
• No mention of anything other than a straight MedEx plan that builds roads to encourage folks to get jobs. This bill does not have the same kind of work requirements that was seen in previous bills.

Source: https://lrs.sog.unc.edu/bill-summaries-lookup/H/76/2023-2024%20Session/H76 

Parents Bill of Rights (SB 49)

North Carolina Republicans pushed Senate Bill 49, called the Parents’ Bill of Rights, through the Senate along party lines last Tuesday with a supermajority of votes, 29-18. The bill, criticized as targeting LGBTQ people, bans curriculum on gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality in kindergarten through fourth grades and requires teachers to potentially out LGBTQ students if they change their pronouns. The measure also requires schools to make textbooks and other materials available for parental review at the schools and online. Earlier in the day Tuesday, Senate and House Democrats announced an alternative bill, the S74 (H 58) Parents’ and Students’ Bill of Rights. That bill calls for a parent’s right to make health care decisions for their child and to have access to information regarding their child’s schooling. The bill also entitles students to “a learning environment in which discrimination in all forms is not tolerated.”

What Was Been Introduced in the First Month

• Codify Roe v Wade - Companion bills codifying Roe v. Wade were introduced (HB 19 and SB 19) with all Democrats signing on. NASW-NC Supports. 
• Parents' Bill of Rights - A bill similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law was introduced in the Senate (SB 49) and already will have a vote on the Senate floor less than a week after being introduced. NASW-NC Opposes. 
• Prohibition of Certain Hormone/Surgery/Minors - HB 43 was introduced which would prohibit gender-affirming care such as surgeries for people under 18. NASW-NC Opposes.
• N.C. Compassionate Care Act or the Medical Marijuana - SB 3 has been reintroduced and has strong bi-partisan support. NASW-NC Supports.
• Parents' and Students Bill of Rights – SB74. In response to the harmful SB 19, this bill would articulate students' rights to a safe learning environment free of discrimination. Unfortunately, no Republicans signed on and it was referred straight to Rules, so this bill not come out of committee. NASW-NC Supports. Active Action Alert: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/Campaigns/100744/Respond
• Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder HB 40. The North Carolina House approved legislation last Wednesday that would implement stricter criminal penalties for rioting, sending the controversial bill that critics have called “racist” to the Senate. HB 40 would increase felony penalties for certain existing rioting charges. Critics of the bill have said they are concerned the bill’s enhanced penalties will be disproportionately applied to people of color, and have accused its supporters of wanting to silence protests for racial justice and other causes. 
• Hotel Safety Issues SB 53. SB 53 clarifies that guests at hotels and motels are not tenants and are therefore not covered by tenant protections, such as requiring a court order for evictions. But the bill says tenant protections could go into place after a guest has stayed for at least 90 days, which is the point at which hotels no longer have to pay occupancy tax. NASW-NC Opposes.
• Pistol Purchase Permit Repeal SB 40 and Protect Religious Meeting Places - SB 41. SB 40, named “Pistol Purchase Permit Repeal,” would remove from state law a requirement that anyone buying a handgun in North Carolina first obtain a permit from their local sheriff’s office. The other bill, SB 41, “Protect Religious Meeting Places,” would change current laws that prohibit anyone from carrying a firearm onto school grounds to allow people with a concealed carry permit to carry guns on school property after hours, if the building is being used for religious services. 
  Source: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article271878047.html?ac_cid=DM757272&ac_bid=2021929074
• Repeal Certificate of Need Laws - SB 48
• Medical Billing Transparency - SB 46. An act to prevent North Carolinians from becoming victims of surprise billing by out-of-network healthcare providers that have rendered healthcare services at health service facilities that are in-network with an individual's health benefit plan.

What We Expect to be Introduced this Session

• Further Ban on Abortion - We are confident a bill banning abortion after 13 weeks will be introduced and pass both chambers. It would come down to whether the House could override Governor Cooper's veto. NASW-NC would Oppose.
• Save Women's Sports Act - We are hearing legislation will be similar to 2021’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” will be introduced. NASW-NC would Oppose.
• Mental Health Protection Act/Ban on Conversion Therapy - We expect another bill banning conversion therapy similar to 2021's "Mental Health Protection Act". NASW-NC would Support.
• Loan Forgiveness for Behavioral Health Clinicians - Need I say more? NASW-NC would Support.

Transgender Student Athletes

Transgender students participating in middle school athletics will no longer be able to compete on teams that correspond with their gender identity starting next school year after the New Hanover County Board of Education voted to reverse district policy on the issue. After an exhaustive debate, several failed attempts to table or alter the policy and one extended closed session to discuss the matter, the school board voted 4-3 to amend Policy 3620, which governs extracurricular activities and student organizations. Under the newly approved language, middle school athletes “… may only participate on a team consistent with the gender on the student’s birth certificate unless in violation of North Carolina State law.”

Source: https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/02/08/new-hanover-school-board-changes-policy-on-transgender-athletes/69879906007/

Upcoming Advocacy Days

• “Love Thy Neighbor” Medicaid Expansion Advocacy Day this coming Tuesday, 2/14!   https://ncjustice.salsalabs.org/haplovethyneighborpostcardsignupform/index.html
• Reproductive Freedom Advocacy Day, February 21, sign up here: https://prochoicenc.org/2023/02/08/join-us-for-a-reproductive-freedom-advocacy-day-tuesday-february-21st/
• NAMI NC Advocacy Days:
  • February 23 - Virtual Advocacy Day 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 am: We will offer an introduction to the idea behind meeting at the legislature and have legislators, NAMI staff, and supporters testify to the importance of storytelling in moving the legislative process where we want it to be. Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82951770329
  • March 3 - Virtual Advocacy Day 2 from 10:00 to 11:30 am: We will go through the details of navigating the legislature, where to park, how to speak effectively, and how to schedule meetings with follow-ups. Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85059314751
  • March 9 – In-Person Advocacy Day 3 (starting at 9 am): An in-person event at the General Assembly in Raleigh. We will meet together beforehand at a rally point where refreshments will be served, people will get packets of information to distribute, and everyone will be told where to go if they don't know the legislature already.

ALMOST FULL! North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day!

After two years of an entirely virtual program, the 2023 North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day will be in-person in Raleigh on Wednesday, March 1, 2023! We are so excited to share in-person space with you and collectively advocate for issues that affect social work, our clients and our communities.  

Space is limited so be sure to register TODAY: https://www.naswnc.org/event/2023SocialWorkAdvocacyDay

Attendees are HIGHLY encouraged to attend the Free Webinar: 2023 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda and Advocacy 101: Advocating for Social Work and Social Justice in 2023 on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at noon Eastern. This will be a live webinar open to everyone. This webinar will be recorded for later viewing. 1 hour of CE is available to attendees of the webinar. Registration is separate for this webinar.
 

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