2023 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 15

For the week of April 17th, the NC General Assembly was very busy upon their return from Spring Break. The final bill crossover is May 4th. If a bill is not voted on by May 4th, it will not be considered for this legislative session.  

Restoring Master's Level Pay for School Social Workers Passes 1st Readings in NCGA

The NC Senate Senate Bill 524 - School Social Workers/Master's Pay passed its first reading in the Senate and is now in the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee. Representative Cotham introduced an identical bill this week in the House HB 762-School Social Workers/Master's Pay. On Wednesday, HB 762 passed its first reading in the house and has been referred to the K-12 Education Committee. 

This is the time to take action as the final bill crossover deadline approaches on May 4th! Please call your legislators in both the House and Senate and ask them to support Master's Level Pay for School Social Workers.  

Find your legislators here: https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators. Be sure to click the option for NC Senate. Talking points here.

Action Alert: Protect Transgender Youth

Over the past few weeks, the North Carolina legislature filed ten bills which brutally target our communities, particularly trans kids. We have four bills which ban gender-affirming care for minors, making it impossible for trans youth to access the life-saving medical care they need. We have three more bills which will prevent many trans and intersex kids from participating in athletics, depriving them of the mental and physical benefits of sports. Equality NC - Protect Trans Youth in North Carolina. Take Action Now!

More Anti-Trans Bills Filled by NCGA

• SB 639 (HB 808) and HB 786, two Youth Health Protection Acts would “protect” minors from the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and other related actions, procedures, and treatments. NASW-NC opposes
• NC House passed HB 574, barring transgender female athletes from playing on girls’ sports teams. HB 574 passed the House and is currently in Senate Rules  The companion bill, SB 631, passed its 3rd reading in the Senate on Thursday and is now headed to the Senate. NASW-NC opposes        

We know that after passage of HB2 restricting transgender students’ access to facilities, calls to the Trans Suicide Prevention Lifeline doubled. This law would be detrimental to the transgender individuals of North Carolina. Email and call your legislators NOW.

Drag Ban Legislation Introduced HB 673

Republicans in the North Carolina House introduced a bill Tuesday that would ban drag performances in public places or in the presence of a minor. House Bill 673 classifies “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest” as adult entertainers in the same legal category as strippers. The bill does not define what constitutes “prurient interest,” nor does it say what constitutes a “male or female impersonator.”Any drag performance done in a public space or at a venue with minors present would result in a misdemeanor on first offense and a felony for subsequent offenses. Several of the bill’s sponsors are members of the far-right Freedom Caucus, but it also lists Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, who championed Medicaid expansion, as a primary sponsor.

Federal Anti-Trans Youth Bill filed by U.S. Rep Foxx of NC

A two-week break from Congress didn’t relieve any tension between political parties as Democrats accused Republicans Monday of bullying transgender youth with a bill expected to pass the House Thursday. The bill championed by U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina aims to prevent transgender women or girls from competing on sports teams matching the gender with which they identify. H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, would apply to schools receiving federal funding. It would block federal funding for institutions that allow males to compete in events for women and girls, with determination of sex “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” 

The American Civil Liberties Union tracks bills the organization considers “anti-LGBTQ” and found 467 pieces of legislation, across nearly every state. Nine are from North Carolina and involve free speech, education, civil rights and health care. 

Source: News & Observer

Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact is Filed in Senate!

***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. 

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!                

Register for Immigrant Day of Action on Tuesday, April 25th! For the third consecutive year, the NC anti-immigrant lawmakers are trying to pass an anti-immigrant bill that would harm our immigrant friends and neighbors. In the past, we’ve been able to defeat their attempts, but this time we really need your help. HB 10 seeks to force sheriff departments to work with ICE to detain and deport immigrant residents of North Carolina.  Can you join us Tuesday, April 25, for a day of action at the General Assembly in Raleigh?

NC Budget & Tax Center Advocacy Day; Tuesday, May 2, 9:00 AM -  2:00 PM 

Register HERE!

Moral Monday Ten-Year Anniversary & Recommitment Rally; Monday, April 24th 5:30PM

Register here!                                

Guardianship Legislative Day on April 25. This event highlights SB 308 Guardianship Rights. 

Chavis Housing Health and Wellness Day. Save the Date - April 29th, 10 am - 3 pm
The goal for offering the Mental Health Workshops is to help the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Physical and Mental Health Awareness Committee align with the USA Mental Health crisis and the heightened priority to improve access to Mental Health care trickling down from lawmakers, the greater community, National and Regional Delta Sigma Theta.  These Mental Health professionals are presenting these specialized workshops to help us demonstrate our commitment to mental health in the Black community and to help the organization to be change agents in the elimination of Mental Health STIGMA. Mental Health illness does not discriminate. (shared by NASW-NC Legislative Committee Member Amanda Alexander).

Social Workers support unrestricted access to Abortion/Reproductive Health 

Abortion Pills 
The Supreme Court Has  Paused Restrictions On The Abortion Pill From Taking Effect

Main takeaway:

• Mifepristone is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy, and now this option for abortion care remains available to people across North Carolina.
• Medication abortion remains safe and legal in North Carolina.

The Supreme Court on Friday granted a full stay in a case concerning the Food and Drug Administration's approval of -- and access to -- the widely used abortion pill mifepristone.

The court's decision -- a 7-2 vote with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting -- preserves access to mifepristone as the Biden administration and the pill's manufacturer appeal a lower court ruling that would impose restrictions on the drug.

"As a result of the Supreme Court's stay, mifepristone remains available and approved for safe and effective use while we continue this fight in the courts," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "I continue to stand by FDA's evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my Administration will continue to defend FDA's independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs."

Source: ABC

North Carolina Abortion Landscape

On paper, it might look like Republicans can now pass whatever they want. The reality, though, is more complicated. For one, Cotham’s support isn’t guaranteed. While she has declined to comment on pending abortion legislation, she has a history of defending reproductive rights. On the House floor in 2015, Cotham recalled her own experience terminating a pregnancy while speaking against a proposed waiting period for abortions. And earlier this year, she filed a bill that would have codified abortion protections from Roe v. Wade in state law.

The GOP also can’t propose abortion rules so strict that they repel moderate Republicans — in the legislature or on the campaign trail. North Carolina’s electorate isn’t as red as states that have strict abortion bans. Then there’s the state’s reputation to consider. State leaders on both sides of the aisle campaign on North Carolina’s economic success. And, since the controversial HB2 bathroom law was adopted and later repealed, top legislators have been mindful not to push laws that might hinder North Carolina’s ability to recruit big corporations.

North Carolina lawmakers will need to thread a needle to impose new abortion restrictions. Still, abortion opponents have waited decades for this opportunity, so they’re pressuring the GOP to act. And House Speaker Tim Moore has said his chamber expects to file a proposal in the next few weeks. In the House, legislators are pushing for tighter restrictions. Moore, the House Speaker, has said he supports at the time an ultrasound first detects fetal cardiac activity — typically about six weeks after fertilization. In many cases, that’s before patients even know they are pregnant.

Source: WRAL

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.

Funds for Maternal Health Programs SB469/HB558. These bills (companion bills) would provide funds to various organizations that support maternal health in Black communities. Democratic lawmakers are pushing a series of state bills to address maternal health, especially Black maternal health disparities. Legislators and advocates held a news conference on Wednesday to urge the state Senate to put more funding toward the issue when it crafts its budget in the next few weeks. Legislators, mostly Democrats, filed several bills this session. The key bill is Senate Bill 467/House Bill 552, or the 2023 MOMnibus Act. NASW-NC SUPPORTS 

If passed it would:

• Establish and fund a Maternal Mortality Prevention Grant Program.
• Establish an implicit bias training program for health care professionals who work in perinatal care.
• Outline the rights of perinatal care patients.
• Support and diversify lactation consultant training programs.

Bills Filed This Week:               

• HB 638: Repeal Death Penalty: This bill would repeal the death penalty in NC and all current prisoners sentenced to death would be resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 
• 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 
• HB 670: Preserve Access to Contraceptives; This bill would declare an unlimited right to use contraception, require the campuses that make up the UNC system to provide EC, and give NC DHHS Division of Public Health money to give grants to community orgs to purchase and distribute LARCs
• HB 686: Civil Rights Education : An act to provide comprehensive civil rights education to every student in the state. 
• HB 691: New Resident/Temporary Concealed Carry Permit: A bill allowing a new resident with an out-of-state concealed handgun permit to receive a temporary new resident permit from the sheriff. 
• 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. 
• 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.
• HB 763: Limit School Counselor Ratios: Would require that public schools staff counselors at a ratio of one counselor per 300 students. 
• HB 755: Enhance ACH and Nursing Home Clients' Rights: Adds four new rights to the Adult Care Home Residents’ Bill of Rights and the Nursing Home Patients’ Bill of Rights.

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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. 

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

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