North Carolina Legislative Report - January 25, 2016
January 25, 2016
The General Assembly convened for the 2015 legislative long session on January 14 and adjourned September 30. Lawmakers will return to Raleigh for the short session April 25, 2016. The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed on a bi-weekly basis during the interim to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues facing the state.
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Committees
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services
The Committee met on Tuesday, January 12. DHHS Secretary Rick Brajer gave introductory remarks regarding the Department. Joyce Jones, Research Committee staff person, reviewed the resources materials for members and gave an overview of the committee’s purpose.
Ron Davis, CFO at DHHS, gave a presentation on the implementation of budget items. Courtney Cantrell, Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), gave an update on LME/MCO reduction. John Correllus, GDAC Director, gave an update on the Health Information Exchange. Courtney Cantrell and Dave Richard, Deputy Secretary of the Division of Medicaid Assistance, reviewed the Traumatic Brain Injury and Medicaid waiver report. Mr. Richard then gave a report on the Medicaid waiver for children with serious emotional disturbance.
Dale Armstrong, Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services, gave an update on DHHS capital projects at Cherry and Broughton. Jessica Keith, Special Advisor on ADA, gave the final report on the status of the DOJ settlement agreement.
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice
The Committee met on Tuesday, January 12. Jennifer Hillman, Research Division staff person, reviewed the committee’s charge as well as session law 2015-245, an Act to Transform and Reorganize North Carolina’s Medicaid and Health Choice Programs (H 372). DHHS Secretary Rick Brajer gave some remarks regarding Medicaid reform and Dave Richard, Deputy Secretary of the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA), gave an update on Medicaid and NC Health Choice enrollment. Trey Sutten, Finance Director for DMA gave a presentation on Medicaid and the NC Health Choice budget forecast. Dee Jones, Director of Operations with the Division of Health Benefits, gave a presentation on both the staffing status of the Division of Health Benefits and the work plan for the Division of Health Benefits.
Revenue Laws Study Committee
The Committee met on Tuesday, January 12. As is customary for the first meeting of the Committee, proceedings began with a presentation from legislative staff on all of the revenue laws changes enacted in the preceding session. Committee members then heard from Scott Drenkard with the Tax Foundation on how recent tax reform efforts in North Carolina have affected the state’s rankings in the Tax Foundation’s reports. Next, staff from the Fiscal Research Division gave an overview of issues related to market-based sourcing of sales for corporate tax apportionment purposes. Finally, presentations concluded with an overview of draft legislation with respect to technical corrections. At this time, that draft legislation includes mostly items that passed both chambers in S 605 last session, but that failed to be enacted when that bill did not receive final approval. The Committee also had an opportunity to thank the outgoing Secretary of Revenue, Lyons Gray, and to welcome the income Secretary Jeffrey Epstein. The Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9.
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
The Committee held its first meeting of the interim on Tuesday, January 12. Members heard from the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, Commerce, Environmental Quality, Natural and Cultural Resources and the Wildlife Resource Commission. Each gave an overview of the Departments organizational structure, key priorities and highlighted budget pressures. In addition, Environmental Quality and Cultural Resources updated members on the transfer of the Natural Resource Divisions to Cultural Resources. The Committee will meet again on Tuesday, February 9.
The Environmental Review Commission
The Committee held its first meeting of the interim on Wednesday, January 13. Representative Chuck McGrady (R-Henderson) presided over the meeting and gave introductory comments outlining the priorities and scope of the Committee. Tom Reeder, DEQ’s Assistant Secretary for the Environment gave a report on the status of assessment, corrective action, prioritization and closure for each of the coal ash ponds required under the Coal Ash Management Act. Reeder followed this with an update on DEQ’s activity related to studying and identifying appropriate groundwater standards for hexavalent chromium and vanadium.
John Evans, DEQ Deputy Secretary, reported on activities to implement the audit privilege and limited immunity provisions included in 2015’s regulatory reform bill. Closing out the meeting, Chairman McGrady highlighted the creation of two stakeholder groups. One will study local government authority over solid waste matters and another will look at new technologies and strategies to dewater leachate and other forms of wastewater. The Committee will meet again on Wednesday, February 10.
In The News
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Charlotte Observer: Piedmont Natural Gas shareholders approve acquisition by Duke Energy
Associated Press: Transportation group backs toll lanes on Interstate 77
Associated Press: Medicaid overhaul chief says work on track to meet deadlines
WRAL: Bond opposition getting organized
Raleigh News & Observer: With earlier primary, how much time will presidential candidates spend in NC?