2023 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 16
North Carolina Supreme Court clears way for partisan gerrymandering
The North Carolina Supreme Court has overturned its own past ruling that said partisan gerrymandering is illegal, clearing the way for Republicans there to redraw the state’s congressional lines in a way that heavily favors the GOP.
The ruling clears the way for North Carolina legislators to aggressively gerrymander the congressional map, which is currently represented by seven Democrats and seven Republicans. Now Republicans in Raleigh could re-create the map they initially passed last cycle which a Democratic-controlled state Supreme Court struck down, netting as many as four seats.
The court issued a 5-2 decision, with the court’s Republican justices voting to overturn the past ruling and the two Democratic justices dissenting. The court flipped from 4-3 Democratic control to 5-2 Republican control during elections last November.
Source: Politico
N.C. Supreme Court reverses voter ID ruling
The North Carolina Supreme Court reversed its decision on voter identification, finding the law requiring people show ID at the polls is not discriminatory.
The state Supreme Court had already ruled on the voter ID case, with the majority-Democrat court calling the law discriminatory. A new Republican majority on the court reopened the case this year.
"Plaintiffs here have failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that S.B. 824 was enacted with discriminatory intent or that the law actually produces a meaningful disparate impact along racial lines," Berger wrote in the opinion.
In a dissenting opinion, the two Democrats on the court criticized the ruling for discounting evidence that requiring ID makes it harder for minorities to vote. They also argued the case never should have reopened in the first place.
Source: Spectrum News
NC Supreme Court takes back right to vote from certain individuals with a felony
In a series of three separate rulings Friday that effectively were wins for the GOP, the Republican majority of the state’s high court also reinstated the state’s voter ID law and ended voting rights for some felons.
Another decision from the court would end voting rights for felons who are out of prison but still serving probation or parole.
A trial court had ruled that the state’s 2018 voter ID law was unconstitutional, tainted by racial bias and designed to help Republicans keep hold of power at the General Assembly.
The high court sided with that ruling in December — when Democrats held a 4-3 majority — but agreed last month to take another look at it.
At the heart of the issue regarding voting rights for felons is a 1973 state law that delays the restoration of those rights for some offenders whose punishments do not include prison — which affects roughly 56,000 people.
A panel of state judges ruled last year that the law was unconstitutional and discriminates against Black residents. Defenders of the law say it treats all felony offenders the same and sets a bright line for voting once all punishments are completed.
Source: CBS17
Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Update
***NASW-NC will be working to ensure SB 718 makes it out of the rules committee and onto the Senate calendar for a vote by the Bill Crossover Deadline on Thursday, May 4th!!!***
The NC Senate introduced and filed SB 718 - Social Work Licensure Compact on Thursday 4/6 at 3PM, one hour before the bill deadline for the 2023 session at 4pm on 4/6/23! NASW-NC has been advocating for SB 718 as a top 20223 legislative agenda item. You can read more about what the compact does to protect and strengthen the social work profession by clicking here.
Crossover Week
State legislators are bracing for a busy week as the crossover deadline looms.
In the House — where bill filing lasted almost three weeks longer than in the Senate — lawmakers are hastening to finalize legislation and send it to their sister chamber by Thursday, May 4.
“Next week is crossover week,” Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said during Thursday’s floor session. “There will be recorded votes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week.”
“We very well may have a period of time, members, where we have recorded votes in the morning, where there’s a recess, and we come back and we have recorded votes in the afternoon as well,” Moore said. “So, members should plan to be here all full days — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — and should expect to plan for the possibility of recorded votes at any time those three days.”
Source: NCInsider
Advocacy Events and Alerts:
Join justice advocates on Tuesday, May 2nd for the Second Chance Lobby Day. Second Chance Lobby Day is a time for all who believe in second chances to come together to speak to our NC lawmakers about the criminal justice and reentry issues that are impacting our communities. Register here!
NC Budget & Tax Center Advocacy Day; Tuesday, May 2, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Rising Together: 2023 Asian American Advocacy Day: Tuesday, May 2, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
When Representative Dan Bishop read a declaration of support for action against hate crimes involving AAPI communities, he rejected it while asking what the acronym AAPI even meant. “I don't know what that is,” he said – despite over 17,000 people in his district identifying as Asian, and almost 100 as Pacific Islanders.
Our legislators need to know that we are here. That's why for our 2023 Asian American Advocacy Day, we're Rising Together and making our voices heard at the N.C. General Assembly!
Social Workers support unrestricted access to Abortion/Reproductive Health
North Carolina Repro Recap Virtual Zoom Call: Thursday, May 11th from 6-7:30pm
Join supporters across NC virtually as we give you a Repro Recap! Find out why this legislative session is so important for abortion rights and reproductive freedom in NC, how to talk about abortion with your friends and family, and what taking action in this work looks like. There will also be a Q&A portion where we'll take your questions, so come curious!
HB 740: Unfair/Deceptive Healthcare Advertising; This bill would hold anti-abortion centers accountable for saying they provide abortions or emergency contraception, or that they provide referrals for abortion or EC, when they do neither of those things. NASW-NC SUPPORTS
Medical care can be denied on religious and moral grounds, NC House committee agrees
Those who provide or fund health care would be allowed to deny or refuse to pay for medical care they deem to be in violation of their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs or principles, under a proposal moving forward in the North Carolina House.
Parents, medical providers and transgender young people spoke to state lawmakers about House Bill 819 on Thursday.
Those in favor of the bill said doctors and other providers should not be forced to go against their beliefs, while those against it said it could lead to the denial of life-saving care, including care for transgender people and those seeking abortions. Republicans filed the bill and several other pieces of legislation related to transgender medical care earlier this month. On Thursday, it became the first of those bills to receive a vote, clearing one committee and moving on to another.
Read more here at News & Observer.
House Bill 819: Medical Ethics Defense (MED) Act -NASW-NC OPPOSES. You can take action & Sign-On Here to send a letter asking your representative to reject HB 819!
Blue Cross NC Bill passes in NC House
A proposal that would cut state regulations on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and allow it to reorganize its operations passed the North Carolina House on Thursday. It would give Blue Cross NC significantly more flexibility in how it uses policyholder money. Currently classified as a nonprofit medical service corporation, the health insurer would be allowed to transfer assets into a holding company which would become the “ultimate controlling company.”
Blue Cross NC says the bill would allow it to compete with other health insurance companies that are not subject to the same state regulations, while critics say it would allow Blue Cross to evade regulations and access billions in policyholders’ money with little supervision.
Republican state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has been especially outspoken in his opposition to the bill, saying it will reduce transparency and could also raise insurance premiums. But representatives backed the bill Thursday by a margin of 86-26, with bipartisan support.
Source: NCInsider
House Bill 346: Reorganization & Economic Development Act (also known as Blue Cross NC bill). NASW-NC OPPOSES. You can read more about the controversy and confusion around HB 346 in NC Health News Article: What is Blue Cross NC up to?
NC Workers Lobby Day includes press conference
The NC Workers Lobby Day was held at NCGA on Wednesday, April 26th. It included supporters of the NC Justice Center, Raising Wages NC and NC Families Care Coalitions. Senator Sydney Batch & Senator Graig Meyer (both social workers) introduced bills for paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, and raising the minimum wage. These bills represent the basic building blocks of what working North Carolinians and their families need to thrive. NASW-NC SUPPORTS
- NC Paid Family Leave Insurance Act (SB 418). This bill establishes a paid family and medical leave insurance program for working North Carolinians. If passed, this policy would allow working North Carolinians to access paid time off to welcome the birth or adoption of a new child, recover from major illness or injury, or care for a seriously ill loved one.
- Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Days Act (HB 817). This bill allows NC workers to accrue paid sick time as they work; up to four days a year for employees of small businesses and up to seven days annually for those working for large companies. Currently, 1.6 million working North Carolinians have no paid sick time.
- Up Minimum Wages/No Subminimum or Exemptions (HB 620/SB 447). This bill phases in a $15/hr minimum wage by 2025, phases out the tipped minimum, and ends exemptions and subminimum wages for historically marginalized workers. This bill would be a huge step towards ensuring that jobs pay enough for working people to afford the basics for themselves and their families—things like buying groceries, paying the rent, putting gas in the car, and sending children to daycare.
Bills of Interest:
Kelly Spangler Study Act HB 623 - would allow the use of Social Worker title for state employees. Kelly Spangler was a dedicated social worker and rock star social justice advocate. HB 623 passed its first reading and has been referred to the House Health Committee. You can read more about Kelly's life & legacy HERE. NASW-NC is a stakeholder of this study bill. NASW-NC SUPPORTS
Improved Data on Involuntary Communities HB 677. A similar bill was filed two years ago - HB 787 Improved Data on Involuntary Commitments: This bipartisan bill establishes involuntary commitment data collection and reporting requirements for area facilities and hospitals where first examinations for involuntary commitments are performed and for LME/MCOs. NASW-NC supports this legislation and worked in Coalition to get this legislation filed.
- HB 607: Prohibit Compelled Speech/Higher Ed: A bill that would prohibit the state’s public universities and community colleges from asking applicants for employment or academic admission about political or social issues.
- HB 644: Social Media Algorithmic Control in IT Act: This bill would combat social media addiction in young people by requiring online platforms to not use a minor's data for advertising or algorithmic recommendations. NASW-NC Supports
- SB 650: Gun Violence Prevention Act: This bill would create a new criminal offense for the possession of a firearm by a felon during the commission of a felony.
- HB 707: Assaults on First Responders & Social Workers: An act to increase the punishment for committing an assault or making a threat against individuals employed or acting on behalf of a county department of social services. NASW-NC Supports
- HB 762 (SB 524): School Social Workers/Restore Master's Pay: There is a version of the bill in both chambers to restore master's level pay for school social workers, which has been excluded from the state budget since 2013. NASW-NC Supports
- HB 837: Make North Carolina More Dementia-Capable: Directs the Division of Aging and Adult Services to address related dementias alongside Alzheimer's disease.
- HB 844: School Meals for All Act: An act to require public schools to offer breakfast and lunch to every student. NASW-NC Supports
Task force being formed for guidelines for social work safety in the workplace
NASW is seeking social workers with a minimum of five years' experience to participate with a task force for the revision of the 2013 Guidelines for Social Work Safety in the Workplace. If you are interested, please go here to find out more details.
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
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