North Carolina Legislative Report - May 24, 2013
May 18 - 24, 2013
The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed weekly to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues facing the state while the North Carolina Legislature is in session.
On the Floor
- S 402 Appropriations Act of 2013
Passed third Senate reading, 5/23/13
Committee Meetings
Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate appropriations subcommittees met Monday afternoon to allow budget writers the opportunity to walk through individual budgets and hear from the public. No amendments were allowed during the meetings. The following morning, the full Appropriations committee met to approve the budget on its way to the Senate floor. Budget writers again hit the highlights of individual budgets and addressed amendments offered by committee members. Five amendments were adopted by the committee before sending the spending bill to Finance.
House Education Committee
The House Education committee met Tuesday to take up H 944, Opportunity Scholarship Act. H 944 creates scholarship grants of $4,200 per year for eligible students to attend nonpublic schools. To be eligible for a scholarship for the 2013-2014 school year, students must reside in a household with an income level of 185 percent of the federal poverty level and be a full-time student assigned and attending a North Carolina public school in the 2013 spring semester. Starting in school year 2014-2015, students who live in households with income of 240.6 percent of the federal poverty level and meets one of the following; a full-time North Carolina public school student the previous semester, received a grant the previous school year, entering kindergarten or first grade, is in foster care or was adopted within the year prior to submitting the grant.
Grants will be administered by the State Education Assistance Authority with 10 million dollars appropriated in year one of the program, 40 million in year two and 50 million in each subsequent year. The majority of the time in committee was dedicated to public comment. No vote was taken, but the committee expects to resume debate and vote on the bill next week.
House Finance Committee
The House Finance Committee met on Tuesday, May 21 to hear H 786, RECLAIM NC Act. The bill deals with immigration reform and would do the following: 1) increase penalties for possession, manufacture, or sale of false identification documents, 2) create a rebuttable presumption against the pretrial release of certain undocumented aliens, 3) require undocumented aliens to reimburse the State for the costs of incarceration, 4) authorize immigration status checks for certain persons who are lawfully stopped, detained, or arrested, 5) prohibit the use of certain documents for identification purposes, 6) require government contractors to use the e-Verify system to ensure employees are not undocumented aliens, 7) require undocumented alien drivers to obtain restricted drivers permits, and 8) authorize the impoundment and sale of vehicles for driving while license revoked, driving without a license, and driving while failing to maintain financial responsibility. After a great deal of debate and public comment, the bill passed.
House Commerce Committee
The House Commerce and Jobs Development Committee met on Wednesday, May 22 to hear three bills. S 9, Utilities/Design/Survey Location Services, would require utility companies to identify the location of underground utilities upon the request of a surveyor or designer. The committed substitute was reported without prejudice and re-referred to the Public Utilities Committee. S 71, Amend Irrigation Contractors Licensing Laws, would provide for exemptions from the licensing law, allow the licensing of additional business entities, provide for suspension of a license rather than forfeiture for failure to complete continuing education requirements, authorize fees, and authorize cost assessments for attorney fees and investigatory costs related to licensure violations. The bill was approved by the Committee. Finally, the Committee considered H 661, Rewrite Landscape Contractor Laws, would provide new licensing requirements for landscape contractors. The registration requirements for landscape contractors are currently voluntary. While these provisions would be mandatory, there would be numerous exceptions and licensure would eliminate the necessity of having a general contractor’s license for certain large projects. The Committee ran out of time before finishing debate on the bill and held it over for another meeting.
House Environment Committee
The House Environment Committee passed one bill out of committee this week. S 234, Hunter Education/Apprentice Permit, seeks to clarify the hunter education requirements and establish a hunting heritage apprentice permit.
In the News
- AP: NC Senate budget drawn by GOP target for critics
- AP: NC House panel hosts public debate on voucher bill
- WRAL: McCrory doesn't expect to roll out his own tax reform plan
- CBJ: MetLife on track for 500 jobs in Charlotte this year
- News & Observer: Vast majority oppose food tax hike, skeptical of tax overhaul
- News & Observer: Leading budget writers offer details on $20.6 billion plan
- NC Wildlife Commission: Senate’s Proposed Budget Cut Prompts Wildlife Commission Emergency Meeting
- AP: NC Senate budget plan heavy on Medicaid spending
- News & Observer: NC Senate proposes defunding Rural Economic Development Center
- WRAL: Controversial policy items reappear in Senate budget
- Winston-Salem Journal: Major challenge ahead for Piedmont Triad Partnership with shift in state focus
- News & Observer: Jim Cain also looking at Hagan race
- Observer: Charlotte may give up some ground on airport
Legislative Calendar
Tue, May 28, 2013 | ||
8:30 AM | Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government (House) | 1425 LB |
8:30 AM | Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety (House) | 415 LOB |
8:30 AM | Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (House) | 421 LOB |
8:30 AM | Finance (House) Chiropractic Assistant Certification/Fee.-AB (H371) | 544 LOB |
8:30 AM | Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (House) | 643 LOB |
10:00 AM | Health and Human Services (House) Effective Operation of 1915(b)/(c) Waiver. (S208) | 544 LOB |
10:00 AM | Education (House) Opportunity Scholarship Act. (H944) | 643 LOB |
12:00 PM | Transportation (House) Ferry Tolling Alternatives. (H475) | 643 LOB |
1:00 PM | Session Convenes (House) | House |
1:00 PM | Agriculture (House) Hunting & Fishing/Active Duty Military. (S25) | 643 LOB |
3:00 PM | Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation (House) | 1228/1327 LB |
4:00 PM | Session Convenes (Senate) | Senate |
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8:30 AM | Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government (House) | 1425 LB |
8:30 AM | Appropriations/Base Budget (Senate) Medicaid/2012-2013 Additional Appropriations. (H980) | 643 LOB |
10:00 AM | Judiciary Subcommittee A (House) Amend NC Business Corporation Act. (S239) | 1228/1327 LB |
10:00 AM | Judiciary Subcommittee B (House) Capital Punishment/Amendments. (S306) | 421 LOB |
10:00 AM | Commerce and Job Development (House) | 643 LOB |
12:00 PM | Public Utilities and Energy (House) Utilities Commission Confirmation. (H1006) | 643 LOB |
1:00 PM | Elections (House) Asheboro/Charter Amendments. (S258) | 643 LOB |
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12:00 PM | Banking (House) Confirm Commissioner of Banks. (S431) | 1228/1327 LB |