2023 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 24
This week during Pride Month, NC Republicans continued their legislative attack on the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender youth.
As social workers, it is our ethical responsibility to advocate against all anti-LGBTQ+ bills currently under consideration in the North Carolina legislature. We must stand in solidarity now, when our most marginalized are targeted, and continue to mobilize our community in resistance to all forms of hate, stigma, and discrimination.
Join us in taking action by messaging your lawmakers and urging them to vote NO on every bill.
SB 49: Parents' Bill of Rights -This legislation would target educators, healthcare professionals, and LGBTQ+ youth and families for discrimination and exclusion. A bill very similar to Florida's notorious "Don't Say Gay" bill. This legislation targets educators, healthcare professionals, school social workers and LGBTQ+ youth and families for discrimination and exclusion. It includes:
- A “forced outing” component that requires school staff to report if a child comes out as transgender or gender non-conforming
- A requirement that teachers make curriculum and lesson plans available for review by parents
- A prohibition on discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in school classroom curriculum from grades K-4
Source: EqualityNC
HB 574: Fairness in Women's Sports Act. Passed NC House. NASW-NC Opposed this bill. Transgender girls in North Carolina are no longer allowed to play on the school sports teams that align with their gender identity under a proposal that received final legislative approval on Thursday. The GOP-controlled state House voted 62-43 to send the bill to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has little power to block it now that Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. At least 22 other states have now banned trans athletes from participating in the school sports consistent with their gender identity. North Carolina, like many other Republican-led state legislatures, could soon push several other bills across the finish line that target trans youth, including a gender-affirming care ban for minors and a requirement that teachers alert a child’s parents. Asked repeatedly throughout the legislative process how the gender restrictions would be enforced, bill sponsors did not provide a clear answer.
Source: NCInsider
North Carolina SB 747 - Elections Law Changes. An act to make various changes regarding election laws. Passed NC Senate. NASW-NC Opposes this bill.
The following is a statement from Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina, in response to the passage of Senate Bill 747 and Senate Bill 749: No Partisan Advantage in Elections in the NC Senate:
"Let’s be clear: Senate Bill 747 would hurt voters across the political spectrum, including Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters. The bill would especially harm elderly voters, people with disabilities and rural voters who rely on mail-in absentee voting as a lifeline for casting their ballot. North Carolinians who follow the rules and cast their ballot on or before Election Day shouldn’t have their vote thrown out because of a delay in mail delivery that’s no fault of their own.
Senate Bill 747 would also add unnecessary barriers for North Carolinians who use same-day voter registration, especially hurting people of color and young voters, who use same-day registration at higher rates than other groups.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 749 would strip the governor’s long-held authority to appoint members to the State Board of Elections, handing that power to legislative leaders. "
Read the entire statement HERE.
The North Carolina General Assembly recently voted to override Governor Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 20 - Care for Women, Children and Families Act. This bill bans abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with narrow exceptions and implements harsh new restrictions on abortion even before 12 weeks. The main takeaway is that abortion access is still available and will not be changed in North Carolina until July 1st.
Planned Parenthood sues over new NC abortion law
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic filed a federal lawsuit over the new North Carolina law limiting abortion, saying its provisions are contradictory, add further harm to rape victims, and may violate the First Amendment.
Most of the North Carolina law banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy except in cases of rape, incest, “life-limiting fetal anomalies,” or emergencies goes into effect on July 1. The state now has a 20-week ban on most abortions.
The new law allows abortions up to 20 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape or incest. But abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy must be performed in hospitals rather than clinics.
“This irrational limitation on one of the safest medical procedures will further harm victims of sexual assault without improving safety,” the lawsuit says. The lawsuit seeks to make clear whether abortion pills are legal through 12 weeks of pregnancy. Medication abortions are the most common form of abortion in the state.
Read more here.
The 1-Year Anniversary of the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade is June 24th. Madame Vice-President Kamala Harris attended a rally in Charlotte, NC to commemorate the day.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Commitment to Defending Reproductive Rights and Actions to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care One Year After Overturning of Roe v. Wade
June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month: Read: Statement from President Joe Biden Marking National Gun Violence Awareness Day: The White House
Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have introduced a Congressional resolution establishing June 3 as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” and designating June as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month." This resolution asks citizens and community leaders to give heightened attention to gun violence during the month of June, as gun violence typically spikes at the start of the summer months, and to work together to make our communities safer long-term. Kelly and Durbin have introduced the resolution each year since 2016.
“It’s clear: gun violence is an epidemic in this country. From horrific mass shootings to the daily toll of gun deaths and injuries, too many families are losing children, parents, siblings, and loved ones to gunfire,” said Durbin. “As we head into the summer season when shootings typically increase, we remember the victims of gun violence like Hadiya Pendleton and recommit ourselves to real solutions to curb this crisis. I urge my Republican colleagues to work alongside Democrats to finally pass federal legislation to expand background checks and adopt other commonsense safety reforms that Americans overwhelmingly support.”
Text of the resolution is here. Read more here.
NCDHHS Addressing Medical Bias and Stigma Toward Transgender and Gender Diverse People: Thursday, June 29, 2023 | 1:00-2:30 p.m.
NCDHHS is focused on Advancing Behavioral Health Equity for members of the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. As part of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services will host a webinar to address medical bias and social stigma towards Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) people. This community is faced with health disparities, discrimination, harassment, and lack of access to quality healthcare. We will explore why gender affirming care is healthcare and can reduce health disparities and save lives.
Click here to register: Thursday, June 29, 2023 | 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Click here to download the flyer.
Bills of Interest:
HB 551 - Landlord-Tenant and HOA Charges. NASW-OPPOSES. HB 551 is an omnibus bill for landlord interests. It includes several sections that housing advocates object to — including a new requirement that could increase business for the pet-vetting company owned by the bill's sponsor. House Bill 551 has four parts, three of which impact landlord-tenant relationships.
- The bill bans cities and counties from enacting source of income non-discrimination policies. That means no local governments could institute protections for those who use Section 8 funding or VASH vouchers, which provide housing for veterans.
- Another element of the bill that impacts the landlord-tenant relationship touches on pet policies. It would require tenants with service of support animals to provide written verification from health professionals on both their disability and then their requirement of a service or support animal.
- The bill also targets tenants in other ways: for example, it specifically allows landlords to seek to recoup legal fees if a tenant appeals an eviction, among other financial damages related to litigation.
Please be on the lookout for action alerts to contact your legislators when HB 551 is moved out of NC Senate Rules for a vote.
HB 762 - School Social Workers/Master's Pay as a stand alone bill was heard in the House Education Committee on May 30th. Master's Level Pay for School Social Workers was included in the Governor's & House versions of the Budget. However, it was cut from the Senate version. NASW-NC and the NC School Social Workers Association (NCSSWA) were present at the NC General Assembly to advocate for this legislation. It passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee and is now in the Appropriations Committee, where we hope it will be included in the final version of the 2023 Budget.
Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Update
SB 718 was not subjected to the final bill crossover deadline of May 4th. This means we still have the rest of the 2023 Legislative Session to get the bill passed in both chambers and signed into law by Governor Cooper. We are optimistic the bill will pass. Since only Republican-sponsored bills have moved this session, we are pitching the Compact as primarily a bill to support military spouses. The Social Work Compact creation was initiated by the Department of Defense to promote licensure portability for military spouses. You can read about that here: Interstate Licensure Compact for Social Work (socialworkers.org) A large number of Republican lawmakers, who have the supermajority in both the House and Senate, are very supportive of bills that support military populations and NASW-NC is working on getting support to advance the bill before session ends. Please be on the lookout for action alerts to contact your legislators to support the Social Work Licensure Compact.
More information about the Social Work Licensure Compact can be found here: https://swcompact.org
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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