Bills to Watch:
SB 718, Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact
NASW-NC had in-person meetings with NCGA legislators & staff again this week during short session around working to pass SB 718!
UPDATE: Alabama is now the 13th state to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill into law on May 8, 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 first bill to pass the legislation was Missouri on July 7, 2023. The other bills where it is law are South Dakota, Washington State, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas Nebraska, Vermont, Iowa, Maine, and Georgia. 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.
HB 237, Unmasking Mobs and Criminals. A bill that would prohibit anyone from wearing a mask on public property in NC, even of wearing for their own healthy or safety or the health & safety of others. North Carolina law had banned wearing masks on public property. However during the Covid-19 pandemic in 202, the NCGA amended the law to create an exception for public health purposes. HB 237 removes this public health exception for masks. The Center for Nonprofits warns that if the bill passes, nonprofits that host programs or services in public spaces like schools, government-owned buildings, public parks or sidewalks may want to discourage mask-wearing to ensure compliance with the law. NASW-NC Opposes this bill.
2024 NCGA Budget Update:
North Carolina budget officials on Friday revised down the state's budget surplus numbers, by about $430 million over two years.
Last month, they had estimated the state would have a roughly $1.4 billion surplus for the biennial budget — which combines the current fiscal year, as well as the next fiscal year that begins on July 1.
But that was before tax day in April.
Now that taxes have been collected, budget officials said Friday, the surplus will actually be just under $1 billion. That's still more money than the legislature has voted to spend, even if it's not quite as high as the earlier projections.
Specifically, the Office of State Budget and Management said, North Carolina should have an extra $188 million for this current budget year and an extra $799 million to spend in the 2024-25 budget.
Next year's budget has been tentatively approved with $30.8 billion in spending, so the new surplus could bump that as high as $31.6 billion — if lawmakers choose to spend the entire surplus.
They could also decide to send some into reserves or give it back to taxpayers in the form of rebates. Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters this week rebates are one of many options lawmakers are talking about.
The only issue that seems to have received solid consensus from GOP's super majority in the legislative session is to spend more on private school tuition vouchers, though Gov. Roy Cooper is strongly against the idea.
The Senate voted earlier this month to spend nearly $500 million more on vouchers, and House Speaker Tim Moore has previously expressed support for the idea. (source: WRAL )
Tell the Biden Administration to deliver on broad & generous debt relief!
Long before the issue of student debt dominated national headlines, the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) have been working to address the crushing weight of the student debt crisis. Now, we need your help to tell the Biden Administration that its prospective student debt cancellation plan must be as GENEROUS, BROAD, and AUTOMATIC as possible.
Sarah Butts, Director of Public Policy at the NASW, held a coveted seat at the negotiating table that informed President Biden’s “Plan B” effort to enact debt relief under the Higher Education Act. So far, the Administration has unveiled the details of a first set of proposals that would provide targeted relief to borrowers in certain circumstances, including:
- borrowers struggling with runaway interest,
- borrowers who have been in repayment for more than two decades, and
- borrowers who have missed out on relief they are eligible for due to administrative red tape; and
- borrowers who took on debt to attend low value schools.
Separately, thanks to pushes from us and our partners as well as negotiators to ensure that cancellation is provided to as many borrowers as possible, the Biden Administration announced plans for a bold second proposal focused on helping borrowers experiencing “hardship” that could benefit nearly 30 million student loan borrowers. The Biden Administration plans to release this hardship proposal separately in the coming months.
Now, student loan borrowers have a chance to weigh in and share how this historic relief will impact them through the U.S. Department of Education’s public comment period. We are compiling borrower support and stories through this petition organized by our partners at the Student Debt Crisis Center. This is your chance to tell the Biden Administration that debt relief should be as GENEROUS, BROAD, and AUTOMATIC as possible.
SIGN THE PETITION and SHARE YOUR STORY
From our partners at The North Carolina Justice Center: Advocate for DEI at UNC
The UNC Board of Governors has proposed a policy that would roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the UNC system, and we need your help.
The NC Justice Center urges all UNC system institutions to maintain policies and practices that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Ensuring young people, especially those from marginalized communities—such as Black and Brown students, disabled students, and LGBTQ+ students—have access to safe and supportive educational environments is paramount to building a more just and equitable society. All North Carolina students deserve to walk across the stage at their commencement ceremony, having been equipped with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
The deadline for submitting public comments to the UNC Board of Governors is May 23 at 5PM. We encourage everyone to voice their support for marginalized students by opposing the proposed changes to the current DEI policies.
May is #NationalFosterCareMonth
Many aspects of foster care are challenging for children and their families but as #SocialWorkers we can help families through any difficulty. Learn more from this #NASW Tips and Tools article: https://buff.ly/4bh3h6J
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!
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.
Want this information sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for weekly NASW-NC legislative updates: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/home
