NCGA Goes Home for Now
The North Carolina General Assembly wrapped up this year’s chief work session Thursday after overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes, putting a constitutional amendment about citizens and voting on the November ballot and sending to Cooper’s desk many additional bills.
But during its two months of work, the Republican-dominated legislature stumbled by failing to pass a comprehensive budget-adjustment measure for the next 12 months. Attempts at putting additional constitutional referendums before voters fell short. And bills on other contentious topics didn’t get over the finish line.
The two chambers disagreed over how much more to spend for the fiscal year that began July 1. That included whether state employees and teachers should get raises that are higher than what were already planned in the second year of the already enacted two-year state budget.
And while the House and Senate managed to approve $67.5 million to help for six months child care centers at risk of closing after federal grants expire, they couldn’t agree on setting aside close to $500 million for scholarships and other funds for K-12 students to attend private schools or receive services. GOP leaders in the two chambers identified the funding as a leading priority to address a spike in applications — and children on waiting lists — this year after the General Assembly removed income limits to receive Opportunity Scholarships.
The Senate initially sent the House a standalone spending measure for those private-school programs, but House members wanted the private-school money accompanied by public school spending increases within a budget bill, House Speaker Tim Moore said. Now it looks like tens of thousands of families will miss out, at least in the short term.
Lawmakers will still get another crack at these and other matters. The General Assembly formally agreed to reconvene occasional short sessions for the rest of the year, mainly to address veto overrides or emergencies. But they also could deal with larger matters.
The Republican leadership succeeded Thursday by overriding Cooper’s three vetoes so far this year, extending a winning streak dating back to last year, when all 19 of Cooper’s vetoes were overturned. The GOP holds small veto-proof majorities in each chamber. Following votes on Wednesday in the House, the Senate completed the overrides of measures that alter the state’s face masking policy, youth prosecutions and billboard maintenance rules.
The constitutional amendment heading to the ballot seeks to change language in the state constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age and meeting other qualifications shall be entitled to vote in elections. Voting by noncitizens is already illegal, but some supporters of the amendment say the current language in the constitution could be challenged so that other people beside citizens could vote.
Legislators did have bipartisan successes in the final days. They sent to Cooper bills that would create new sex exploitation and extortion crimes and that would help combat human trafficking. And the two chambers backed a compromise measure that will allow the resumption of the automatic removal of criminal charges that are dismissed or that result in “not guilty” verdicts. Such removals had been suspended since August 2022 while problems carrying out the expunctions got resolved.
But negotiators failed to hammer out a final bill that would force sheriffs and jailers to comply with federal immigration requests to hold inmates believed to be in the country illegally. The House and Senate couldn’t resolve what to do about a sheriff who still failed to comply, said Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican and negotiator.
And an effort by the Senate to authorize the legal use of marijuana for medicinal purposes didn’t get traction among enough House Republicans, even when the Senate attached it to another measure that placed tough restrictions on federally legal hemp products.
(Source: AP)
SJR916: Adjournment Resolution. The House and Senate have agreed to go on break starting June 28 and reconvene July 10. Then, the legislators will be in and out of various sessions, based off adjournment stipulations. For all sessions other than the November session, only bills related to vetoes, appointments, litigation, elections, sine die adjournment and various other matters can be taken up.
During the November session, the following topics would be allowed: bills directly and primarily affecting the state budget; constitutional amendments; bills that crossed over; bills and resolutions implementing the recommendations of study commissions; local bills filed by May 7, 2024; appointments and confirmations, and other topics.
House and Senate of the North Carolina General Assembly will reconvene on the following dates:
- Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 12:00.
- Monday, July 29, 2024, at 12:00
- Monday, September 9, 2024, at 12:00.
- Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 12:00.
- Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 12:00.
- Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 12:00.
The 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly will adjourn sine die on Friday, December 13, 2024.
(Source: State Affairs Pro)
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
- House Bill 223: OSHR/Various SHRA Changes.
- House Bill 495: Revise Money Laundering/Retail Crime.
- Senate Bill 790: State Bar Review Committee Recommendations.
- House Bill 912: 2024 UNC Self-Liquidating Capital Projects.
- House Bill 971: Human Trafficking Changes.
Bills to Watch:
SB 718, Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact
NASW-NC holds in-person meetings with NCGA legislators & staff weekly during short session around passage of SB 718!
The Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill has been signed into law in the seven states required for the Compact Commission to be established!
In all, 21 states have passed the compact into law as of July 1, 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, Nebraska, Vermont, Maine, Kansas, Georgia, Iowa, Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee, Minnesota, Colorado, Louisiana, Arizona and Rhode Island. 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 15 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 Senate 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.
H1056, PA Licensure Interstate Compact
Should this bill become law, it would make North Carolina a member of the Physicians Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact, affording PAs in this state the ability to practice in any state within the Compact. This bill passed the House and its first reading in the Senate on June 13.
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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
In 2008, inspired by Bebe Moore Campbell’s charge to end stigma and provide mental health support for minoritized communities, July was designated as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month by the U.S. House of Representatives. Mental health affects us all, and everyone deserves the inherent right to have access to mental health support, resources, and care. Still, not everyone has equal and equitable access to these crucial services because of stigma, shame, or fear of judgment. These factors create significant barriers that prevent individuals from seeking mental health care.
This July, inspired by Bebe Moore Campbell’s unwavering commitment to eradicating stigma in minority communities, NAMI is dedicated to eliminating stigma and shifting mental health culture through the power of conversation. Join us in elevating the voices of those in communities that have been historically neglected and marginalized, ensuring they receive the best support, understanding, and resources they need to thrive, and no one is left behind.
Through education, advocacy, and community support and empowerment, we can create a future where mental health is a priority for all. Together, we can heal communities. It starts with one conversation.
#ShadesofMentalHealth embraces the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and stories of people from minoritized communities. It encourages a more supportive, inclusive, and understanding mental health community that normalizes mental health conversation without shame.
Find more resources & information here: NAMI
Upcoming NASW-NC Opportunities:
NASW-NC 2024 Essentials on Aging Conference
Older & Wiser: Social Work Approaches to the Modern Aging Era
Session Spotlight: Identifying And Addressing Barriers To Equitable Care For Older Adults: Challenges And Opportunities
The population aged 65 and over in North Carolina is expected to grow more than 60% by 2037. Social Workers will be central to the health and well-being of this growing population. COVID-19 shed light on areas that we need to pay particular attention to as we go forward with a commitment to ensuring that North Carolina continues to be a place where older adults can age in place, with grace and fortitude. Social workers have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide the best possible care for all individuals, families, and communities that seek and need our services. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges that many older adults have in accessing services and it illuminated the importance of addressing disparities and creating greater health equity. This presentation takes an evidence-based approach to highlighting the need to emphasize older adults as an essential population for social workers’ attention, identifying health care disparities across groups, discussing a framework for critical assessment of gaps in services for older adults; and making pragmatic recommendations for addressing inequities.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Virtual on Zoom
8:15am - 5:15pm EST
8 Hours of CE
Registration Fees:
NASW Members $125 $75
Not yet a member? $200 $150
NASW members from other states can contact education.naswnc@socialworkers.org for assistance in registering.
Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount! Register before July 12, 2024 and receive $50 off!!!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!!!
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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