May 3, 2013
Heart Defect Screening for Newborns Passes; NC Pre-K Changes Bill Passes House
Greetings!
N.C. Pre-K Program Changes Bill Passes House
H.B. 935: NC Pre-Kindergarten Law Changes 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, and it would reduce the number of children eligible for the program by at least a third, or about 9,000 of the children who are currently enrolled in the program. Two amendments were offered on the House floor this week. One would have moved the maximum family income back to 200 percent of the poverty level, with children under 100 percent of the poverty level getting priority admission to the program. The other amendment would have reinstated limited English proficiency as a factor for participation in the program. Both failed. The bill passed second reading in the House and should pass Monday evening. The Senate may take up this issue in their budget, which is due out in a couple weeks.
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. Received in the House and referred to the House Committee on Health & Human Services.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 passed the Senate's version of the bill this week, and it was ratified.
Regulates sale of tobacco products over the internet to minors. Passed the Senate Committee on Health Care and referred to Senate Judiciary I Committee.
Would prohibit physicians from treating minors for STDs, pregnancy, substance abuse or mental health issues without written parental consent. Includes a provision allowing minors to petition the local district court for a waiver of the consent requirement under certain circumstances. Scheduled to be heard in the House Health & Human Services Committee next Tuesday.
Child Safety
Would make it a felony for a parent or other caregiver to knowingly fail to report the disappearance of a child. Passed the Senate and received in the House for concurrence.
HB 217: Criminal Law/Procedure Amendments
Moves discretion for whether certain juveniles are transferred to adult court from the judge, as in current law, to the prosecutor (District Attorney). Establishes that, upon motion by the prosecutor:
- juveniles 13 or older alleged to have committed a Class A felony will be transferred to the superior court for trial, as in the case of adults.
- juveniles age 15 or older alleged to have committed a Class B1 or B2 felony will be transferred to the superior court for trial, as in the case of adults.
As in current law, the judge may still transfer any juvenile age 13 or older alleged to have committed a felony to superior court. Referral to the House Appropriations Committee was stricken and the bill is scheduled for a vote on the House floor on Tuesday.
H.B. 805: Ban Smoking in Foster Care Settings/Infants
Would prohibit foster parents from smoking around infants in their care. Scheduled to be heard in the House Health & Human Services Committee next Tuesday.
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. Passed House Judiciary Subcommittee A and is scheduled for a vote on the House floor on Tuesday.
Would place armed security guards in schools. Was referred to Rules back in February when it was first filed, but was pulled from the Rules Committee this week and re-referred to the Senate Judiciary II Committee.
S.B. 124: Shoot Gun from Inside/To Incite Fear
Makes it a felony to shoot a gun inside a building with the intent of scaring someone. Withdrawn from the House Rules Committee and re-referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee B.
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. Received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Education/Higher Education.
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. Postponed. Now scheduled to be heard on the House floor next Monday.
Education
Requires the State Board of Education to take certain steps to improve education for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Passed the Senate. The House has already passed an identical bill.
Creates a separate governing body for charter schools. The State Board of Education Chairman has said he believes the bill is unconstitutional. Passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor next Tuesday.
Changes the reporting date for a pilot on funding the NC Pre-K program from January 2013 to January 2014. Passed the Senate.
Reduces reporting requirements, including reporting on students with Personal Education Plans. Sections that would have eliminated class size requirements and Personal Education Plans have been removed. Passed the Senate and received in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education.
Would clarify that members of either household of a child in a homeschool have authority to determine the course of the schooling. Received in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education.
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. Received in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education. The House has already passed a similar bill.
Economic Security
Increases the interest rates and fees and size of consumer finance loans in NC. Could put more North Carolinians in insecure financial situations. Passed the Senate Commerce Committee. Six amendments were offered on the Senate floor, and some limitations on max interest amounts were adopted, but the allowable interest amounts are still very high. Passed second reading in the Senate so will likely pass the Senate next week.
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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