SB 115 – Students, Parents, Community Rights Act
SB 115 – Students, Parents, Community Rights Act
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union); Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell, Yadkin); Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Anson, Moore, Richmond, Scotland)
Summary
Requires all public and nonpublic high schools in Anson County, Iredell County, Moore County, Richmond County, Scotland County, Union County, and Yadkin County, to limit the number of spectators who are permitted to attend an outdoor sporting event as follows:
- For outdoor facilities, no more than 50% of facility’s approved occupancy capacity under the fire code, or no more than seven persons for every 1,000 square feet if the facility does not have an occupancy capacity, for outdoor facilities.
- Schools must comply with both the requirements of the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit and the Interim Guidance for Administrators and Participants of Youth and Amateur Sports Programs when allowing access to outdoor facilities.
Movement
Filed – 2/18/2021
HB 118 – Students, Parents, Community Rights Act
HB 118 – Students, Parents, Community Rights Act
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. David Willis (R-Union); Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union); Rep. Mark Brody (R-Anson, Union)
Summary
Requires all public and nonpublic high schools in Union County to limit the number of spectators who are permitted to attend an outdoor sporting event as follows:
- For outdoor facilities, no more than 50% of facility’s approved occupancy capacity under the fire code, or no more than seven persons for every 1,000 square feet if the facility does not have an occupancy capacity, for outdoor facilities.
- Schools must comply with both the requirements of the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit and the Interim Guidance for Administrators and Participants of Youth and Amateur Sports Programs when allowing access to outdoor facilities.
Movement
Filed – 2/17/2021
HB 116 – School Calendar Flex./Certain School Systems
HB 116 – School Calendar Flex./Certain School Systems
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Allen McNeill (R-Moore, Randolph); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph)
Summary
This bill allows Randolph County and Asheboro City Schools to open as early as August 1, excluding year-round schools.
This bill also authorizes a local board of education to schedule opening and closing dates for any school in the unit to coincide with opening and closes dates of a community college servicing the city or county in which the unit is located.
Movement
Filed – 2/17/2021
HB 114 – Surry Medical Ministries Foundation/Funds
HB 114 – Surry Medical Ministries Foundation/Funds
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes); Rep. Kyle Hall (R-Rockingham, Stokes, Surry)
Summary
This bill appropriates $250K in nonrecurring funds for 2021-22 to Surry Medical Ministries Foundation, Inc, to be used to support the organization’s mission of providing free medical care to uninsured individuals.
Movement
Filed – 2/17/2021
SB 78/HB 112 – A Safe Return for In-Person Learning
SB 78/HB 112 – A Safe Return for In-Person Learning
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene, Pitt); Sen. Dan Blue (D-Wake)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Rosa Gill (D-Wake); Rep. Brian Farkas (D-Pitt); Rep. Raymond Smith, Jr. (D-Sampson, Wayne)
Summary
This bill would require all public schools to provide an in-person instruction option to K-12 students for the remainder of the scheduled school year.
This bill would require public schools to comply with the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit for implementation of Plan A (minimal social distancing) and Plan B (moderate social distancing) as appropriate for reopening. Elementary school students grade K-5 would receive instruction under Plan A or Plan B as determined by the governing board, and middle/high school students grade 6-12 would receive instruction under Plan A, Plan B or both Plans as determined by the governing board.
This bill also requires a remote instruction option remain available for the duration of the current school year if desired by a student’s parent or guardian.
Movement
SB 78
Filed – 2/10/2021
Referred to the following Senate committees:
-Rules and Operations of the Senate
HB 112
Filed – 2/17/2021
SB 103/HB 91 – Reduce Reg. To Help Children with Autism
SB 103/HB 91 – Reduce Reg. To Help Children with Autism
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne); Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover); Sen. Lisa Barnes (R-Johnston, Nash)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. John Bell, IV (R-Greene, Johnston, Wayne); Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Kristin Baker (R-Cabarrus); Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln)
Summary
This bill provides several new provisions related to the regulation of behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts, including the following:
- Defines “behavior analysis” as “[t]he design, implementation, and evaluation of systematic instructional and environmental modifications to produce significant personal or interpersonal improvements in human behavior.”
- Defines the “practice of behavior analysis” as inclusive of the empirical identification of functional relations between behavior and environmental factors known as functional assessment and analysis. The definition specifically excludes psychological testing, cognitive therapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, and long-term counseling as treatment modalities.
- Establishes the North Carolina Behavior Analysis Board and provides the Board certain powers and duties, including the ability to establish and determine qualification and fitness of applicants for licensure and to discipline licensed behavior analysts.
- Requires the Board to submit an annual report summarizing its activities to the Governor.
- Sets threshold requirements for licensure as a behavior analyst and as an assistant behavior analyst.
- Requires the Board to provide reciprocity to an individual who is actively licensed as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst in another state that currently imposes similar licensure requirements as in this State.
- Provides a list of actions considered to be violations of a Code of Conduct and outlines the Board’s disciplinary process.
- Exempts certain categories of professionals from required licensure.
- Outlines the available protection for behavior analyst-client/behavior analyst-patient communications.
Movement
SB 103
Filed – 2/16/2021
HB 91
Filed – 2/16/2021
SB 104 – Align PPP Tax Treatment to Federal Treatment
SB 104 – Align PPP Tax Treatment to Federal Treatment
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Buncombe; Henderson; Transylvania); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir; Wayne); Sen. David Craven (R-Guilford, Randolph)
Summary
This bill repeals GS 105-130.5(a)(32) and GS 105-153.5(c2)(20), which require corporate and individual taxpayers to add the amount of any expense deducted under the Internal Revenue Code to the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income if that expense results in forgiveness of a covered loan under the section of the CARES Act governing the Payment Protection Program and the income associated with the forgiveness is excluded from gross income pursuant to section 1106(i) of the CARES Act.
Movement
Filed – 1/16/2021
HB 84 – Sex Offender Premises Restrictions
HB 84 – Sex Offender Premises Restrictions
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan); Rep. Allen McNeill (R-Moore, Randolph); Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance); Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes)
Summary
This bill amends GS 14-208.18 to expand premises restrictions for certain persons required to register under Article 27A, Sex Offender and Public Protection Registration Programs.
Movement
Filed – 2/16/2021
HB 90 – In-Person Learning
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Pat McElraft (R-Carteret, Jones)
Summary
This bill gives local school administrative units the option to provide in-person instruction to students K-12 for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
The bill also requires local boards of education to provide in-person instruction to all students under Plan A (Minimal Social Distancing) and must adhere to the requirements for implementation of Plan A provided in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.
The bill also gives local boards of education the authority to make day-to-day decisions regarding when remote instruction is necessary due to COVID-19 exposures that result in insufficient school personnel or required student quarantines provided decisions are made following consultation with the local health director and local school superintendent.
Movement
Filed 2/16/2021
HB 92 – School Calendar Flexibility/Davie County
HB 92 – School Calendar Flexibility/Davie County
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Julia Howard (R-Davie, Rowan)
Summary
This bill provides flexibility to Davie County Schools in adopting the school calendar by increasing the range of opening dates for students from August 26 to August 10 and by removing the requirement that the State Board of Education find "good cause" to waive a local board's compliance with specified parameters for the opening and closing dates of schools.
Movement
Filed 2/16/2021
HB 82 – Summer Learning Choice for NC Families
HB 82 – Summer Learning Choice for NC Families
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland); Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-Alexander Wilkes) Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston); Rep. Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth)
Summary
This bill requires local school administrative units to provide a six-week school extension learning recovery program following the 2020-21 school year utilizing available funds, including federal Coronavirus relief funds.
Learning recovery programs must prioritize participants based on at-risk identification and must include the following components:
- Minimum of 5 hours of instruction per day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks
- Offer lunch service
- Physical activity period each day
- Grade level course offerings
- Transportation service
- Voluntary participation by at-risk students with participating K student exempt from retention for the 2021-22 school year
- Opportunity for other students to participate if space permits
- Outreach to increase participation
Teachers and school personnel serving in learning recovery programs will be employed by local boards of education as contracted temporary employees for the program’s duration.
This bill also directs the State Board of Education to require local school administrative units to implement new benchmark assessments in certain grades and core subject areas to assist teachers in more frequent student learning measurement.
Movement
Filed – 2/15/2021
HB 71 – Living Donor Protection Act
HB 71 – Living Donor Protection Act
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Phil Shepard (R-Onslow); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph); Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham); Rep. Larry Potts (R-Davidson)
Summary
This bill seeks to provide the following protections for living organ donors:
- Prohibit insurers from refusing to insure/continue to insure, limiting coverage, increase rates, or otherwise discriminate against an individual based solely upon his or her status as a living organ donor.
- Provide a tax credit up to $5K for any taxpayer who incurs live organ donation expenses.
- Provide State employees with up to 30 days of paid leave for the purposes of serving as a living organ donor and up to 7 days for serving as a bone marrow donor.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
Referred to the following House committees:
-Health
-Finance
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
SB 93 – Assisting NC Families in Crisis
SB 93 – Assisting NC Families in Crisis
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus, Robeson); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth)
Summary
This bill seeks to ensure that parents who participate in a court-ordered substance use disorder or other mental health disorder treatment program/counseling and who have children who are temporarily in foster care remain eligible for Medicaid as long as the family continues to meet the income requirements.
Movement
Filed – 2/15/2021
SB 94 – Trampoline Park Regulation/Study/Funds
SB 94 – Trampoline Park Regulation/Study/Funds
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Wiley Nickel (D-Wake)
Summary
This bill seeks to regulate trampoline parks in the same manner as zip lines and challenge courses.
This bill:
- Requires trampoline park owners to carry insurance coverage of at least $1M per occurrence and $2M in the aggregate.
- Requires trampoline park owners to provide proof of insurance coverage upon request by the Commissioner.
- Directs the Department of Labor to study the financial liability of trampoline parks in the State and report its findings/recommendations to the General Assembly.
- Appropriates $50K for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and $50K for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to conduct the study.
Movement
Filed – 2/15/2021
SB 97 – Pitt County/Contracted Ambulance Services
SB 97 – Pitt County/Contracted Ambulance Services
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene, Pitt)
Summary
Amends SL 2014-72 to include Pitt County among the counties that are able to use attachment, garnishment, and lien to collect the amount due for services provided by county-contracted ambulance services that are supplemented by county funds.
Movement
Filed – 2/15/2021
SB 98/HB 80 – Disapprove Various Solid Waste Rule Changes
SB 98/HB 80 – Disapprove Various Solid Waste Rule Changes
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Duplin, Johnston, Sampson)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin, Onslow); Rep. John Bell, IV (R-Greene, Johnston, Wayne)
Summary
This bill seeks to disapprove several administrative rules related to solid waste management facilities recently adopted by the Environmental Management Commission.
Movement
SB 98
Filed 2/15/2021
HB 80
Filed 2/15/2021
HB 81 – In-State Tuition Pilot Program
HB 81 – In-State Tuition Pilot Program
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon)
Summary
This bill requires the State Board of Community Colleges to establish an in-state tuition pilot program for residents of four specified Georgia counties. The bill also specifies that those counties may not displace a North Carolina resident in order to offer in-state tuition to a Georgia resident.
Movement
Filed-2/15/20
SB 59 – Restore Master’s Pay for Certain Educators
SB 59 – Restore Master’s Pay for Certain Educators
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus, Robeson); Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell, Yadkin); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill would provide education-based salary supplements for teachers who spend at least 70% of their work time in classroom instruction related to their graduate academic preparation of subject area and the rest of their professional time either mentoring teachers, performing demonstration lessons for teachers, writing curricula, and/or developing and leading staff development programs for teachers.
The bill also specifies that teachers receiving salary supplementation under this new language will be subject to annual review to determine whether they are still meeting the requirements for the increased salary.
Movement
Filed - 2/4/2021
This bill was referred to the following Senate committees:
-Rules and Operations
SB 88 - NC FAST Child Welfare Case Mgmt./PED Study
SB 88 - NC FAST Child Welfare Case Mgmt./PED Study
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee)
Summary
This bill would require DHHS to contract with a qualified organization to implement a statewide child welfare practice model designed to ensure a more uniform delivery of child welfare services across the State.
This bill would also require the contracted organization to conduct culture change readiness training related to the North Carolina Families Accessing Services Through Technology (NC FAST) system.
This bill specifies that a designated staff person must be assigned to the child welfare case management component of the NC FAST project to provide oversight if funds are appropriated for the NC FAST system for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The bill also requires DHHS to prioritize usability with any future vendor contracts regarding the child case management component of the NC FAST system and to require future vendors to provide a free proof of concept demonstrating the vendor’s ability to work with NC FAST.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
SB 89 – Regional Supervision/Reforms/CWBTC Recs.
SB 89 – Regional Supervision/Reforms/CWBTC Recs.
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill seeks to make the following changes related to social services:
- Requires DHHS to establish seven regions for regional supervision of child welfare and social services, provide oversight and support within those regions by March 1,2021, and fully implement the regional model, with physical offices in each region, by March 1, 2024.
- Appropriates $914,790 in recurring funds to support 11 new staff positions to improve regional supervision and support of child welfare services.
- Requires DHHS to collaborate with key stakeholders to create formal education and training for new county boards of social services members and requires new board members to attend these training sessions during their first year of service on the board.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
SB 90 – Social Services Reform/CWBTC Recs.
SB 90 – Social Services Reform/CWBTC Recs.
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill directs DHHS to take the following actions:
- Develop policies and procedures to require coordination between counties for children who reside outside the county that has custody of the child no later than 90 days after the child’s seventeenth birthday and submit a report summarizing the policies and procedures to the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.
- Develop policies and procedures to outline a permanency plan process and to require caseworkers begin permanency plan development no later than 15 days before transitioning out of foster care on a child’s 18th
- Develop and implement a plan to keep foster children in community-cased settings and avoid residential behavioral health placements and report to Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the same.
- Study the statutory requirements of the social services system, juvenile justice system, and the Medicaid and NC Health Choice program applicable to children in foster care and report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice regarding the same.
- Develop standardized assessment tools and require that only trained clinicians concerned appropriate by DHHS assess the use of those tools during treatment. DHHS must report to the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the same.
- Modify the Guardianship Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program to encourage oversight and increased utilization.
- Compile a list of programs that qualify for federal reimbursement through the Family First Prevention Services Act and report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the same.
- Study confidentiality laws that apply to State social services and programs to make recommendations regarding any changes that may be needed to improve intercounty cross-sector collaboration to the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
HB 72 – Audiology Modifications
HB 72 – Audiology Modifications
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Kristin Baker (R-Cabarrus); Rep. Donna White (R-Johnston); Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill seeks to make the following changes regarding the licensure of audiologists:
- Defines “audiologist” as any person who is qualified by education, training, and clinical experience and is appropriately licensed to engage in the practice of audiology
- Adds language describing an audiologist as an “independent hearing health care practitioner providing services in hospitals, clinics, schools, private practices, and other settings in which audiologic services are relevant
- Defines the “practice of audiology” as the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to disorders of the auditory and vestibular systems
- Provides a nonexhaustive list of areas of audiology practice
- Revises the definition of the “practice of speech and language pathology” to include measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, counseling, treating, instruction, habilitation, and/or rehabilitation related to communication/cognitive-communication disorders
- Authorizes licensed audiologists to treat minors with hearing impairment and prohibits unlicensed persons from making an assessment or managing health care services for minors with hearing impairment
- Authorizes audiologists to participate in the development of Individualized Educational Programs/Individual Family Service Plans
- Allows audiologists to administer hearing screening programs in schools.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
Referred to the following House committees:
-Health
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
HB 74 – ApSeed Pilot Project/Funds
HB 74 – ApSeed Pilot Project/Funds
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan); Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke); Rep. Julia Howard (R-Davie, Rowan); Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth)
Summary
This bill would require DHHS to establish a three-year pilot program implementing the “ApSeed” program, which seeks to prepare preschool-aged children for pre-K through a tablet learning device.
The following counties would be required to participate: Forsyth, Hoke, New Hanover, Watauga, and Yadkin.
This bill would appropriate $2.5M for each year of the 2021-23 biennium to cover the costs of the project.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
HB 77 – School Calendar Flexibility/Moore County
HB 77 – School Calendar Flexibility/Moore County
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. James Boles (R-Moore); Rep. Allen McNeill (R-Moore, Randolph)
Summary
This bill provides flexibility to Moore County Schools in adopting the school calendar by increasing the range of opening dates for students from August 26 to August 10 and by removing the requirement that the State Board of Education find "good cause" to waive a local board's compliance with specified parameters for the opening and closing dates of schools.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
HB 79 – Student Digital Learning Access
HB 79 – Student Digital Learning Access
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Huge Blackwell (R-Burke); Rep. Ashton Clemmons (D-Guilford); Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-Alexander, Wilkes); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph)
Summary
This bill would require the State Board of Education to establish an electronic dashboard to display information for each school unit including:
- Digital devised available to students within the school
- Out-of-school internet connectivity for students
- Digital devices available to student outside of the school
This bill would also require each public school unit to annually update the information included within the dashboard.
Movement
Filed – 2/11/2021
HB 59 – Food Commercialization Funds/SB 67
HB 59 – Food Commercialization Funds/SB 67
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir; Pitt); Rep. Brian Farkas (D-Pitt); Rep. Kandie Smith (D-Pitt); Rep. Kristin Baker (R-Cabarrus)
Primary Senate Sponsor: Sen. Don Davis (R-Greene, Pitt)
Summary
This Bill would provide $1M in nonrecurring funds in the 2021-2022 fiscal year and $1.5M in nonrecurring funds for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to the Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services for local food processing initiatives. These funds would be used to provide a grant to the Eastern North Carolina Food Commercialization Center to provide matching funds for a federal construction grant and to provide working capital and equipment for the Center.
Movement
HB 59
Filed - 2/4/2021
This bill was referred to the following House committees:
-Appropriations
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
SB 67
Filed - 2/8/2021
This bill was referred to Rules and Operations Committee on 2/9/2021 but withdrawn that same day.
This bill was re-referred to the following Senate committees:
-Appropriations/Base Budget
-Rules and Operations
SB 20 – Hands Free NC
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain); Sen. Mike Woodard (D-Durham, Granville, Person)
Summary
This bill would make it unlawful to use a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle on a public street, highway, or public vehicular area. The prohibition would apply to texting, watching a video, movie, or communicating with a device, a person holding the device in his or hand of with the person’s body.
This bill would also prohibit the use of a wireless communication device while driving for all persons under 18 years of age with an exception for the use of an electronic navigation system.
Movement
Filed - 1/27/2021
This bill was referred to the following Senate Committees:
-Rules
-Operations
SB 52 – Sex Offender Residence Restriction/Clarify
SB 52 – Sex Offender Residence Restriction/Clarify
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Sawyer; Sen. Perry; Sen. Johnson
Summary
This bill clarifies the law imposing residential restrictions on sex offenders by specifying that an offender can not reside within 1,000 feet of any point of the property line or lines of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located.
Movement
Filed - 2/3/2021
This bill was referred to the Rules and Operations, then withdrawn on 2/4/2021.
This bill was re-referred to the following Senate committees:
-Judiciary
-Rules and Operations
HB 41/SB 35 – Amend Lawful Age to Marry to 18 Years of Age
HB 41/SB 35 – Amend Lawful Age to Marry to 18 Years of Age
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Saine; Rep. Baker; Rep. Clemmons; Rep. Turner
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell, Yadkin); Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus, Robeson); Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Chatham, Orange)
Summary
This bill seeks to amend the lawful age to enter into marriage to 18 years of age or older. The law currently permits persons over the age of 14 to marry under certain condition.
Movement
SB 35
Filed - 2/1/2021
This bill was referred to the following Senate Committees:
-Rules and Operations
HB 41
Filed - 2/1/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Families, Children, and Aging Policy
-Rules, Calendar, Operations
HB 33 – Broaden Applicability of Domestic Violence Statutes
HB 33 – Broaden Applicability of Domestic Violence Statutes
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan); Rep. Timothy Moffitt (R-Henderson); Rep. Lee Zachary (R-Forsyth, Yadkin)
Summary
This bill alters the definition of “personal relationship” as used in domestic violence statutes to remove the requirement that the relationship involve persons of the opposite sex – the current definition is limited to persons of the opposite sex who are or have been in a dating relationship.
Movement
Filed - 1/28/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Judiciary 3
-Rules, Calendar, Operations
HB 29 – Verification of Immigration Status - SAVE
HB 29 – Verification of Immigration Status - SAVE
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow); Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan); Rep. Larry Yarborough (R-Granville, Person); Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Haywood, Jackson, Swain)
Summary
This bill would require that all state agencies, state agency licensing boards, and occupational licensing boards verify the immigration status of applicants for public benefits and utilize the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program provided by the Department of Homeland Security to verify the immigration status of applicants.
This bill would also permit any person residing in the State with reason to believe a state agency, state agency licensing board, or occupational licensing board is not complying with this requirement to bring an action for declaratory and injunctive relief.
Movement
Filed - 1/28/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Judiciary 3
-State Government
-Rules, Calendar, Operation
HB 26 – Revise Use of Alcohol Concentration Results
HB 26 – Revise Use of Alcohol Concentration Results
Primary House Sponsor: Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Haywood, Jackson, Swain)
Summary
This bill would allow the alcohol concentration results of an alcohol screening test or a driver’s refusal to submit to a test to be used by a law-enforcement officer, be admissible in court, or used by an administrative agency when determining whether probable cause or reasonable grounds exists for believing (1) that the driver committed an implied-consent offense and, (2) that the driver consumed alcohol but not to prove a particular alcohol concentration.
Movement
Filed - 1/28/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Judiciary 2
-Rules, Calendar, Operations
HB 25 – Impaired Driving Law Revisions
HB 25 – Impaired Driving Law Revisions
Primary House Sponsor: Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Haywood, Jackson, Swain)
Summary
This bill seeks to revise the definition of the term “offense involving impaired driving” to include the offense of driving while license revoked for impaired driving.
This bill also makes the following modifications to the grossly aggravating factors (which are used to determine which level of punishment is required by law) listed in the GS 20-179:
- specifies that each revocation in effect at the time of the offense as a separate grossly aggravating factor
- specifies that each person seriously injured by the defendant’s impaired driving is a separate grossly aggravating factor
- specifies that each minor, mentally impaired, or physically disabled person in the vehicle at the time of the offense is a separate grossly aggravating factor
Movement
Filed - 1/28/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Judiciary 2
-Rules, Calendar, Operations
HB 20 – 1998 Clean Water Bond Additional Connections
HB 20 – 1998 Clean Water Bond Additional Connections
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Wayne Sasser (R-Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly); Rep. Ben Moss (R-Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly)
Summary
This bill amends current statute to allow additional connections to a bond-funded waterline within a Water Supply-I area classified as WS-I (WS = water supply) or the critical area of any area designated WS-II, WS-III, or WS-IV in order to provide water to a structure located on a lot zoned for residential or mixed-use development provided the design capacity and size of the existing waterline can accommodate the additional connections.
Movement
Filed - 1/27/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Energy and Public Utilities
-Local Government – Land Use, Planning and Development
-Rules, Calendar, Operations
HB 18 – Local School Administration Unit Case Management
HB 18 – Local School Administration Unit Case Management
Primary House Sponsor: Rep. Ted Davis (R-New Hanover)
Summary
This bill seeks to provide local school administrative units additional flexibility with respect to cash management. Specifically, this Bill would require local school administrative units to comply with the cash management provisions under Article 6A, GS Chapter 147 with respect to all receipts, deposits, and disbursements required by law to be deposited with the State Treasurer. The Bill also adds new cash management guidelines to GS 147-86. 12, including authorizing local school administrative units to draw moneys deposited with the State Treasures for disbursement four business days prior to the final disbursement to the ultimate payee and authorizing a local school administrative unit or school finance officer to deposit moneys drawn on the State Treasurer in an official depository designated by the local board of education.
Movement
Filed - 1/27/2021
This bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee on 1/28/2021 and withdrawn from Committee on 2/1/2021.
This bill was re-referred to the following House Committees:
-Education -K-12
-Rules, Calendar, Operations
HB 14 – Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC Funds
HB 14 – Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC Funds
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Ted Davis (R- New Hanover); Rep. Charles Miller (R-Brunswick, New Hanover); Rep. Carson Smith (R-Columbus, Pender); Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus, Robeson)
Summary
This bill seeks to appropriate $750,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Inc., for the construction of a new food bank facility the Wilmington.
Movement
Filed on 1/27/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Appropriations
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
HB 11 – Regulate Alcohol Consumables
HB 11 – Regulate Alcohol Consumables
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. James Boles (R-Moore); Rep. Timothy Moffitt (R-Henderson); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph); Rep. Shelly Willingham (D-Edgecombe, Martin)
Summary
This bill includes alcohol consumables within the statutory definition of alcoholic beverage and defines alcohol consumables as any manufactured and packaged ice cream, ice pop, or gelatin-based food product containing 0.5% alcohol by volume.
Movement
Filed - 1/27/2021
This Bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Alcoholic Beverage Control
-Judiciary 2
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
HB 12 – Address Pandemic Learning Loss/Alamance County
HB 12 – Address Pandemic Learning Loss/Alamance County
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance); Rep. Ricky Hurtado (D-Alamance)
Summary
This bill seeks to provide local boards of education for Alamance-Burlington public schools with temporary flexibility when adopting school calendars versus compulsory adherence to current statutory parameters within which local boards of education must determine the opening and closing dates of public schools.
Movement
Filed - 1/27/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Education
-State Government
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
HB 5 - $15 Per Hour Minimum Pay for Noncertified School Employees
HB 5 - $15 Per Hour Minimum Pay for Noncertified School Employees
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Terence Everitt (D-Wake); Rep. Raymond Smith (D-Sampson, Wayne); Rep. Brandon Lofton (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Wesley Harris (D-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill seeks to increase the hourly rate of minimum salary for all noncertified public school employees to at least $15 per hour, and appropriates $110M in recurring funds for the 2021-22 fiscal year from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to implement the Bill’s provisions.
Movement
Filed - 1/27/2021
This bill was referred to following House committees:
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
HB 42/SB 36 – 2020 COVID Relief Bill Modifications
HB 42/SB 36 – 2020 COVID Relief Bill Modifications
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln); Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union); Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-Alexander, Wilkes)
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Duplin, Johnston, Sampson); Sen. Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston); Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey)
Summary
This bill makes modifications to the State COVID-19 relief legislation consistent with additional federal legislation and guidance. The bill makes numerous changes including several updates to the deadlines by which numerous specific allocations from the CRF must be used including:
- The $237.5M for continuity of government
- The 12.425M for the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
- The 12.425M for the North Carolina Community Health Center Association
- The $6M for the COVID-19 Rural Hospitals Relief Fund
- The $15M for the Teaching Hospitals Relief Fund
- The $15M for the General Hospitals Relief Fund
- The $7M for certain enumerated hospitals to offset COVID-19 related patient care expenses
- The $2.5M for tier 2 counties with hospitals meeting certain requirements to offset COVID-19 related patient care expenses
- The $500k for TROSA for increased operational expenses for COVID-19 related substance use disorder treatments
- The $1M for Nurse Family Partnership for COVID-related service expenses
- The $23M for NC Health Care Facilities Association, NC Senior Living Association, and NC Assisted Living Association
Movement
HB 42
Filed – 2/1/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Appropriations
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
SB36
This bill was filed 2/1/2021, passed in the Senate on 2/3/2021, and was passed to the House on 2/3/2021. This bill passed in the House on 2/4/2021.
This bill was ratified and presented to the Governor on 2/4/2021 and signed by the Governor on 2/10/2021.
HB 39 – Establish Birth Center Licensure Act
HB 39 – Establish Birth Center Licensure Act
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Donna White (R - Johnston) and Rep. Donny Lambeth (R – Forsyth)
Summary
This bill seeks to establish licensing requirements for birth centers that promote public health, safety, and welfare and to provide for development, establishment, and enforcement of basic standards for the care and treatment of mothers and infants in birth centers.
The bill defines birth centers as facilities licensed for the primary purpose of performing normal, uncomplicated deliveries that is not a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility and where births are planned to occur away from the mother’s usual residence following a low-risk pregnancy. Low risk pregnancies are defined as those with a normal, uncomplicated prenatal course as determined by documentation of adequate prenatal care and the anticipation of a normal, uncomplicated labor and birth, as defined by reasonable and generally accepted criteria adopted by professional groups for maternal, fetal, and neonatal health care.
Birth centers would not be permitted to perform abortions, general or conduction anesthesia, or vaginal birth after cesarean or trial of labor after cesarean.
This bill would:
- Establish the North Carolina Birth Center Commission within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Commission would be responsible for adopting rules establishing standards for the licensure, operation, and regulation of birth centers in NC. The Commission would also review and make recommendations to the Department about whether to approve or disapprove license applications.
- Require NC DHHS to perform inspections of birth centers to investigate unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical injury and reportable adverse outcomes as established by the Commission.
- Require all birth centers in the State to obtain a license from the Department. However, birth centers currently operating in the state who remain continually accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers would be permitted to continue operations as the Commission promulgates permanent rules.
- Make the operation of an unlicensed birth center a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Movement
Filed – 2/1/2021
Referred to the following House committees:
-Health
-Finance
-Rules, Calendar, Operations of the House
HB 31 – Detect Heartbeat/Prohibit Abortion
HB 31 – Detect Heartbeat/Prohibit Abortion
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Craven); Rep. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico); Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow); Rep. Carson Smith (R-Columbus, Pender)
Summary
This bill would prohibit an abortion from being lawfully performed following detection of a fetal heartbeat by a physician licensed to practice in North Carolina. The bill defines “detectable human heartbeat” as an embryonic or fetal cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the heart within the gestational sac.
This bill would not prohibit an abortion following detection of a fetal heartbeat if a medical emergency were present.
Movement
Filed - 1/28/2021
This bill was referred to the following House Committees:
-Health
-Judiciary 1
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
HB 6/HB 9/SB 18 – ECU Brody School of Medicine Funds
HB 6/HB 9/SB 18 – ECU Brody School of Medicine Funds
HB 6 Primary House Sponsors: Rep. John Bell (R - Greene, Johnston, Wayne); Rep. Tim Moore (R - Cleveland); Rep. Chris Humphrey (R - Lenoir, Pitt); Rep. Edward Goodwin (R-Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Perquimans, Tyrell, Washington)
HB 9 Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Kandie Smith (D-Pitt); Rep. Brian Farkas (D-Pitt)
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene, Pitt); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill would provide $15,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and $13,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and would also appropriate $15,000,000 from a separate fund in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to provide funds for the planning of a new Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and $13,000,000 dollars in nonrecurring funds for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to provide funds for the construction of a new Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. The total amount authorized by the project is $215,000,000.
Movement
HB 6
Filed – 1/27/21
Referred to the following House committees:
-Appropriations
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
HB 9
Filed – 1/27/2021
Referred to the following House committees:
-Appropriations
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
SB 18
Filed – 1/27/2021
Referred to Rules and Operations on 1/28/2021 but withdrawn on 2/2/2021.
Re-referred to the following Senate committees:
-Appropriations/Base Budget
-Rules and Operations
HB 62 – Government Immigration Compliance/Enjoin Ordinances
HB 62 – Government Immigration Compliance/Enjoin Ordinances
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Georg Cleveland (R-Onslow); Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan); Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Haywood, Jackson, Swain)
Summary
This bill would provide any person the right to pursuing injunctive relief against any cities and/or counties with policies, ordinances, or procedures that limit or resist the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
This bill would also make any such policies, ordinances, or procedures null and void.
Movement
Filed – 2/8/2021
Referred to the following House Committees:
-Judiciary 1
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
SB 61 – Dental Services/Medicaid Transformation
SB 61 – Dental Services/Medicaid Transformation
Primary Senate Sponsor: Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill would require DHHS to enter into capitated contracts with at least two prepaid dental plans for the provision of dental services to Medicare and NC Health Choice recipients no later than 1/1/2022.
The bill would also require DHHS to consult with the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice on the terms and conditions to be included within the RFPs for the statewide contract bid solicitations.
Movement
Filed – 2/8/2021
Referred to the following Senate committees:
-Rules and Operations