Immigration Bill Passes
House Bill 10 - Require Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE.
The Senate voted along party lines to pass the measure in a 28-16 vote. Now the legislation returns to the House, where Speaker Tim Moore said Wednesday he supports the measure and that his chamber could vote on the Senate changes as soon as next week.
Sheriffs would be required to temporarily hold inmates in jail that federal immigration agents believe are in the country illegally under a bill passed by the North Carolina Senate on Thursday. But unlike two previous versions of the bill successfully shot down by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto in the last five years, the measure stands a strong chance of becoming law thanks to GOP seat gains.
An affirmative House vote would send the measure to Cooper, who could veto it again. But a GOP supermajority in both chambers since last year means Cooper’s veto could be overridden and the bill enacted if Republicans stay united.
Under the proposed changes, all sheriffs or jailers are required to hold inmates accused of serious crimes for up to 48 hours if a detainer is issued. It also mandates the involvement of judicial officials to order law enforcement to hold the inmate in question, according to the bill.
A Senate amendment to the bill would allow anyone to file a complaint with the state Attorney’s General Office if they believe a jail administrator is not complying with the law. The legislation would go into effect on July 1.
Two previous iterations of the bill failed to become law in 2019 and 2022 when Cooper vetoed them and Democrats held enough seats to block an override veto.
In response to the legislation, the governor’s office said Wednesday that Cooper was concerned if the bill was constitutional and effective in making communities safer. It would take away authority from sheriffs for “purely political purposes,” spokesperson Jordan Monaghan said.
As with previous bill versions, advocates for Latino immigrants spoke against the mandate in Senate committees this week and during a lobbying day on Wednesday. They said the requirement would actually make communities less safe by instilling fear into immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, by discouraging them from reporting crimes or building trust with law enforcement. NASW-NC Opposes this Bill
(source: APNews)
Bills to Watch:
SB 718, Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact
NASW-NC met and had more communication with NCGA staff again this week during short session around working to pass SB 718!
UPDATE: Maine is now the tenth law to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill on April 26, 2024!
The Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill has been signed into law in the nine states required for the Compact Commission to be established!
The ninth state to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Legislation was Vermont on April 23, 2024. The first bill to pass the legislation was Missouri on July 7, 2023. The other bills where it is law are South Dakota, Utah, Washington State, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas Nebraska, and Vermont. Thank you to the NASW chapters who took the lead in each of the states that have both ratified and introduced the compact in each of these states.
Additional states will be able to join the Compact Commission as soon as the legislation is passed in their state. The legislation has been introduced in 19 other states, including here in North Carolina. Senate Bill 718-Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact was introduced during the NC General Assembly Long Session in 2023 and is currently in the Rules Committee. NASW-NC has been working all year to ensure the Social Work Licensure Bill is passed during the short session which begins on April 24, 2024. Please be on the lookout for Advocacy Alerts & updates from us on how you can help us reach out to your legislators at the right time to help get it passed.
You can learn more about the Compact Bill by reading the NASW Press Release.
SB786, Add Psychiatric Hospitals to Medicaid HASP.
If passed into law, S786 would deem psychiatric hospitals eligible for the Health Care Access and Stabilization program, which was granted to North Carolina after it expanded Medicaid. S786 has been referred to Senate Appropriations/Base Budget.
HB823, Eliminate School Choice Program Waitlists : A bill that would eliminate school choice program waitlists.
Our public schools face well-documented historic highs in teacher vacancies, teacher turnover, learning loss stemming from school closures during the pandemic, and shortages of nurses, counselors, and therapists in the face of unprecedented mental health challenges. Legislators should prioritize funding for these critical resources that provide educational opportunities for the overwhelming majority of North Carolina families instead of giving away taxpayer money to the wealthiest North Carolina families, including those who already attended private schools.
From NC Justice Center: Oppose HB823, education bill prioritizing wealthy NC'ians at the expense of public schools: Tell your lawmakers at the North Carolina General Assembly not to prioritize a giveaway of taxpayer funding to wealthy families attending private schools over the needs of the 1.5 million children attending local public and charter schools. NASW-NC Opposes this Bill
Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities:
Community Spotlight Event: ENC’s Advocacy Day 2024
Equality NC is committed to advocating for policy changes, social reforms, and cultural shifts that dismantle systemic barriers and empower LGBTQ+ individuals to live authentically and without fear of discrimination or violence. One important way we do this is through our annual Advocacy Day. Join us in Raleigh on May 30th, 2024, to meet with your representatives and discuss the importance of policies that uplift and protect the LGBTQ+ community. Register by May 16th to ensure we can schedule a meeting with your representative!
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. It is celebrated to commemorate the achievements and contributions of people of Asian and Pacific American descent in the United States. The White House issued a Proclamation to honor AAPI Month, "This month, we celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities, whose ingenuity, grit, and perseverance have pushed our great American experiment forward.
From Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders whose ancestors have called their lands home for hundreds of years to Asian immigrants who have newly arrived and those whose families have been here for generations — AA and NHPI heritage has long been a part of the history of our great country and a defining force in the soul of our Nation. As artists and journalists, doctors and engineers, business and community leaders, and so much more, AA and NHPI peoples have shaped the very fabric of our Nation and opened up new possibilities for all of us. I am proud that they serve at the highest levels of my Administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Ambassador Katherine Tai, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar, who make this country a better place each and every day. This year, we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative and President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, who work across government to advance equity, opportunity, and justice for AA and NHPI communities. "
You can read the entire White House Proclamation here.
The NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Committee is fundraising to continue to support the NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award! We are again using the Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser to continue to support this annual award. It’s 100% contactless, we keep 50% of the profit for the awards and the product ships directly to you! The award fundraiser begins on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 8am and ends on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 8am. Please support social work students from across North Carolina by purchasing popcorn here: https://popup.doublegood.com/s/tv529u7j
YOU CAN ONLY SUPPORT EQUITY & INCLUSION SCHOLARSHIPS MAY 6TH 8AM until MAY 10TH at 8AM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!
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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