Children's Advocacy Day! Next Tuesday, March 15 March 11, 2011
Greetings!
Budget subcommittees continued to learn about programs and will soon begin making some budget decisions. Some budget cutting options were presented to the Education Committee by fiscal staff.
Take Action: Click here to sign our petition to keep critical children's programs like health insurance, early education and services for at-risk youth off the chopping block! This is a quick and easy way to let your voice be heard for children during the budget debate. When you sign on, an email will be sent automatically to your legislators. New Report from Action for Children: Corporal Punishment in Schools Click here to read Action for Children's newest report on corporal punishment in the public schools. With the ban on corporal punishment passed by the Rocky Mount Board of Education last week, only 18 school districts in the state still allow children to be hit in school. Action for Children is advocating for a ban on corporal punishment this legislative session. Bill Update Tracking lists of bills in each of Action for Children's four areas of interest will be maintained on the website and updated weekly. Please visit our Policy Action page for full lists. Here are highlights of the bills that were introduced or moved this week. Safety HB49: LAURA'S LAW. Calendared in the House for Monday. Would increase penalties for repeat DWI offenders SB7: ADD CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. Passed the House. Would add synthetic marijuana to the list of controlled substances. HB239: GRANDPARENTS' VISITATION RIGHTS. Filed in the House and sent to Judiciary C. Would expand grandparents' rights for visitation. SB77: MDPV/SCHEDULE I CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE Referred to House Judiciary C. Would provide penalties for possession and trafficking in this synthetic drug sold as "bath salts". SB241: INCREASE DWI PENALTY/CHILD IN VEHICLE. Introduced in the Senate and sent to Judiciary II. Education HB48: NO STANDARDIZED TESTING UNLESS REQUIRED BY THE FEDS. Sent to Governor. H247: ENHANCE CHARTER SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY. Introduced and referred to House Education. Would eliminate cap on charter schools but with more accountability measures. HB7/SB74: COMM COLLEGES/OPT OUT OF FED'L LOAN PROGRAM. Passed House, referred to Senate Education/Higher Education Health HB334: REPORT ON FITNESS TESTING IN SCHOOLS. Introduced.
SB325-SB337: Series of bills on mental health. Companions to House bills.
HB2: PROTECT HEALTH CARE FREEDOM. Vetoed by the Governor.
Economic Security HB93/SB117: MODIFY REFUNDABILITY OF EITC/ELIMINATE EITC REFUNDABILITY PROVISION. This bill was heard in House Finance this week and debated. Many questions were brought up and advocates are prepared to testify against it. Strips the state EITC of its refundability, which is a major factor in the credit's ability to help pull families out of poverty. See Action Items, below SB205: NO BENEFITS FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS. Referred to Senate Rules. Would require certain forms of ID be shown to receive federal, state or local benefits.
TAKE ACTION: Come Out for Children's Advocacy Day! Join Action for Children, the Covenant with North Carolina's Children, the NC Pediatric Society, MomsRising, Smart Start, the Childcare Coalition and others for a day of educating the General Assembly on the importance of children's programs and services like health insurance, child care subsidies, juvenile justice funding, raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction and infant mortality prevention funding. We need YOU to come out in support of the programs and services that protect our children's health, safety, education and economic security. Click here for a flyer to share. Click here to sign the petition calling for legislators to remember children in the budget.
- What: Press conference and visits to legislators' offices
- When: Tuesday, March 15.
- Visits to legislators' offices start at 9 am, or whenever you can be there.
- Press conference at 11:30 will feature families who benefit from the programs we are advocating for and a performance on juvenile justice issues by youth from the Spirit House in Durham.
- Where: Legislative Building, 16 W. Jones St. Sign-in/information/snack table will be set up in the 1100 court of the Legislative Building. Press conference will be on the Bicentennial Mall, across the street from the Legislative Building (between the two museums). Please plan to attend the press conference so that we can have a big showing for children's programs!
The day will also include an interactive exhibit (in the 1100 courtyard of the Legislative Building) stressing the importance of early education for our children and our state's future. If you can, make appointments with your legislators ahead of time by calling their offices. This will increase the chance that you'll get to talk with them. TAKE ACTION:
EFFECTIVENESS OF EITC THREATENED!!
Take Action today to protect tax credit for working families.
The state EITC is under attack and we need your help to protect this important policy for North Carolina's working families. The bill was not heard this week in House Finance, but we are expecting it to be heard next Tuesday or Wednesday. Click below to contact House Finance today!
House Bill 93 would eliminate the refundable nature of the state EITC. Refundability is essential to ensuring that the state EITC targets those most in need. It also offsets the greater share of total taxes these families pay as compared to those with higher income. Click here for more information, including county-level data.
Contact members of the House Finance Committee.
Urge them to oppose House Bill 93. - This bill will hurt low-income working families when they are struggling to get by in this tough economy.
- 12 percent of non-elderly households in North Carolina will experience a tax increase as a result.
- This will remove $52 million from local economies at a time when consumer spending is critical to job creation and economic recovery. (Click here for more information and county-specific analysis to include in your email.)
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Take Action Today to protect North Carolina's struggling working families.
Stay Tuned - Upcoming Events - Press Conference with the NC Health Alliance and Rep. Weiss to call for a $1 increase on cigarette taxes - press room at the Legislative Building, 11 am, Tuesday, March 15.
- Children's Advocacy Day: March 15. See ACTION ITEMS above for more information.
Sincerely, Action for Children North Carolina | 
