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April 26, 2013
Revenue Up Slightly; NC on "Steady Growth Track" but Still Lagging
Greetings!
Jobless Rate Falls, but Unemployment Still High
The state's jobless rate fell to its lowest level in more than a year in March, dropping to 9.2 percent, from 9.4 percent in February. The number of people unemployed fell by nearly 12,000 between February and March. However, nearly 11,000 fewer people held jobs than in February and about 22,500 workers were suddenly no longer working or looking for work. North Carolina continued to have the country's fifth-highest unemployment rate in March. Revenue Forecast The Fiscal Research Division announced to the House and Senate Finance Committees this week that through March of this fiscal year, general fund revenue is $110 million above a $14.3 billion revenue target, which is essentially on target. Income tax collections are 1.5 percent ahead of the budget target, while sales tax collections are about $90 million below the $4 billion target. Non-tax revenues, including investment income and judicial fees, are $16.3 million below a $613 million target. The chief economist said that the state economy appears to have stabilized and is on a "steady growth track," but North Carolina is still lagging slightly behind economic growth of the nation as a whole. The state has been adding jobs, but not fast enough to lower the unemployment rate. The Senate will base its budget proposal partially on these numbers. Senate budget writers expect to have their budget out by the second or third week in May.
Boards/Commissions Reorganization Splits House and Senate
S.B. 10: Government Reorganization and Efficiency Act would eliminate some state boards and commissions and reorganize others by firing many of the board members and allowing the Governor and legislative leaders to reappoint new members. The House/Senate conference committee that has been working on a compromise bill for the past few weeks reported out this week. The full Senate passed the conferenced bill yesterday, but the House rejected it, because of some concerns from the Governor. The Legislature could still pass a similar bill.
Voter Identification Bill Introduced
H.B. 589: Voter Identification and Verification Act (VIVA), which would require voters to show photo ID to vote, passed the House this week after hours of debate and many failed amendments that would have eased the bill's restrictions. The legislation would allow voters to use one of nine forms of state-issued identification, including driver's licenses, other state-issued ID cards, student IDs from N.C. public universities and community colleges, government employee IDs and tribal cards, starting in 2016. Student IDs from private colleges and universities would not be acceptable forms of ID. Voters could cast provisional ballots if they don't bring ID to the polls but would have to return later to a board of election with ID for their ballot to be counted. The bill is estimated to cost $3.7 million. Advocates are concerned that the bill would suppress turnout among some categories of voters, including minorities, the elderly, and students. The bill was received by the Senate and referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
TAKE ACTION: Support President Obama's Early Childhood Initiative
(from our friends at the National Women's Law Center)
The President's early education plan does three incredibly important things: It expands voluntary home visiting programs that support and educate parents, increases availability of high-quality child care for infants and toddlers, and gives all children in low- and moderate-income families access to high-quality prekindergarten programs.
To show our thanks for this ambitious initiative, we need to gather as many letters as possible thanking President Obama for pledging to invest in early childhood. Click here to send a letter!If you are a parent or work with children, handwritten thank-you artwork would be a great addition. All notes and artwork must be received by the National Women's Law Center (11 Dupont Circle, NW, #800, Washington, DC 20036) by May 2.
Relevant Bills Acted on This Week
Key bills affecting children that were acted on this week at the General Assembly are listed below.
Health
Would define as fraud in the Medicaid system any attempt by Medicaid providers to waive co-pays for services covered by Medicaid. Passed the Committee on Health Care and the full Senate. S.B. 98: Require Pulse Oximetry Newborn Screening (H.B. 105) Would require that hospitals provide a simple test for newborn heart defects. The House and Senate have each passed their own version of the bill. The House Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to hear the Senate's version of the bill next week.
Child Safety
Would increase the number of School Resource Officers, guidance counselors, school psychologists and social workers, and appropriate funds. Matching funds were removed from the bill before it passed. A provision allowing volunteers to serve as School Resource Officers was added. Requires panic alarm systems in schools, regular lock-down drills, and more. Passed the House Appropriations Committee and the full House.
H.B. 937: Amend Various Firearms Laws
Omnibus gun-rights bill that includes many of the provisions filed in previous bills this session, including, among others, carrying guns in bars and on community college and university campuses. Also increases penalties for some gun-related offenses and limits local governments' ability to prohibit persons with concealed carry permits from carrying weapons. Passed the House Judiciary Subcommittee A and scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday.
Would increase penalties for felony child abuse from a max of 15 years to a max of 33 years. Signed by the Governor in a public ceremony and made law.
Would prohibit employers, educational institutions or government units from requesting information from an applicant for employment or admission regarding an arrest, charge or conviction that has been expunged from the applicant's record. Since the Senate failed to concur with the House version last week, a conference committee was appointed this week.
Would require NC to regularly report on its compliance status with federal law on sexual assaults in prisons, jails and youth facilities. Advocates are particularly concerned about the treatment of children and youth in adult jails and prisons. Scheduled to be heard in House Judiciary Subcommittee A on Wednesday.
Education
Would change the definition of an 'at-risk' child for purposes of the NC Pre-K program, cutting the maximum income level more than in half. Would reduce the number of children eligible for the program by at least a third. Scheduled to be heard in the House Health & Human Services Committee on Tuesday morning.
Would require that the State Board of Education mandate instruction in cursive writing and memorization of multiplication tables as part of the standard course of study. The bill is being pushed by a company that promotes cursive writing and sells handwriting instructional materials. Passed the Senate. A similar bill has already passed the House, so the two bills will have to be conferenced or one house will have to take up the other's version.
Would clarify that members of either household of a child in a homeschool have authority to determine the course of the schooling. SB 189 passed the Education/Higher Education Committee and the full Senate.
Reduces reporting requirements and eliminates Personal Education Plans for students at risk of academic failure. Section that would have eliminated class size requirements was removed. Passed the Senate Committee on Education/Higher Education and scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor on Monday.
Would change the way members are elected to the Wake County school board and redraw districts that were drawn less than two years ago. The bill would move Wake school board elections to even-numbered years, redraw the current board boundaries and create two new regional board seats. An amendment would delay the changes by two years to 2016. Opponents say the bill is gerrymandering and is politically motivated. Proponents say it would give citizens more say by letting them vote for two board members. This bipartisan bill is moderate on teacher tenure by suggesting a probationary/non-probationary system, and it would study teacher pay issues, including merit pay, as a package, before taking action. This bill takes into account student achievement growth, not just test scores. Referred to the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
Economic Security
Would require drug screening for every applicant for Work First benefits. Would be very expensive for counties. S.B. 594 passed the Senate and was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee C.
Friday Conference Calls
Action for Children and the Covenant with North Carolina's Children hold Friday morning conference calls to update you on the week's happenings at the General Assembly. Updates include bills and budget actions. To join:
- Fridays, 11 a.m.
- Dial 1-800-582-3014 and enter passcode 882011141#
Click here to add this call to your calendar.
Calendar and Events
The tour will feature a giant Chutes & Ladders board highlighting the public investments that are essential to ensuring all of NC's children get the strong start they need to succeed. At each stop, there will be a giant game of Chutes & Ladders in a local park or community center. Children from local early learning programs, parents, business and civic leaders will be invited along with lawmakers to come and play the game for themselves. Along with the game, there will be snacks, crafts, and music.
- May 6 - Greenville: Details coming soon!
- May 13 - Charlotte: Details coming soon!
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