Legislative roundup for the week of March 25-28
Here is a look at some of the activity by local legislators in Raleigh this week:
Senate
SB411: Require Instruction on Samaritan Laws — N.C. Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene) is a primary sponsor of this piece of legislation filed on Thursday that would require public alcohol and drug use prevention education to also include instruction on North Carolina’s Samaritan Laws. These laws provide limited immunity to overdose victims and those who call for medical assistance for an overdose victim. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S411v0.pdf
SB397: Class Size Waivers/PE K-5 Teacher Funds — N.C. Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) is a primary sponsor of this legislation that adds waivers for local school administrative units in regards to kindergarten through third grade class size caps. Local school boards would be able to apply for waivers due to a shortage of qualified teachers for a certain grade level or for inadequate classrooms and facilities for the required number of classes. The waivers would come with a penalty, in the form of ineligibility for program enhancement (arts, PE, languages) teacher positions funding. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S397v0.pdf
SB375: Death by Distribution — N.C. Sen. Harry Brown (R-Onslow) is a primary sponsor and Perry is a cosponsor of this bill that would create the felony offense of death by distribution in response to the ongoing opioid crisis, and the rising number of deaths by overdose in North Carolina. The bill would allow someone to be charged with death by distribution if they provide a controlled substance to a person who then dies as a result of ingesting that substance. The bill would also create the offense of Aggravated Death by Distribution that would apply if the person charged with the offense has been convicted of a similar crime within the previous seven years. Death by distribution would be a Class C felony, and aggravated death by distribution would be a Class B2 felony. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S375v0.pdf
SB376 (HB475): N.C. Patriot Star Family Scholarship/Funds — This bill was introduced in both the Senate and the House this week. In the Senate, Sens. Brown and Perry are primary sponsors, and Sen. Davis is a cosponsor. In the House, Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) is a primary sponsor and Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir) is a cosponsor. The legislation would establish a scholarship fund, administered by the Patriot Foundation, for the children and spouses of N.C. service members and veterans who were killed or disabled during military service. You can read the text of the bills here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S376v0.pdf , https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H475v0.pdf
House
HB520: Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act — Rep. Bell is a primary sponsor of this bill introduced Thursday that would make it easier for firefighters diagnosed with cancer to receive workers’ compensation. The act establishes the assumption that certain cancers that occur much more frequently among firefighters are caused by the job, removing the burden of proof from the firefighter. Bell said in a press release, “Firefighting is a particularly hazardous occupation where those employed in this industry are drastically more likely to be affected by a wide variety of health issues, both during their career and long after they retire. While I pray the day never comes where a firefighter hears they have cancer, this bill will ensure that they are taken care of and looked after.” Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H520v0.pdf
Votes:
Some noteworthy votes in the General Assembly this week:
HB354 — This bill to change the weighting of school performance grades from 80/20 school achievement/school growth to 50/50 (a change endorsed by the Lenoir County Public Schools) passed the House on Wednesday and went to the Senate. Local representatives Bell, Humphrey, and Pat McElcraft (R-Carteret) all voted in favor. The bill passed on a 108-4 vote.
SB225 — Sen. Perry’s bill to repeal the tuition surcharge at N.C. state universities, included in the Legislative roundup on March 15, passed the Senate Thursday with a vote of 46-0. Sens. Davis and Brown both voted in favor.
Check back with Neuse News next week for more updates on the General Assembly.
