Here is a look at some of the activity from local legislators in Raleigh this week.

Senate:

SB665: Omnibus Rural Investment Act — Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene) is a primary sponsor for this bill filed in the Senate this week. The bill covers various aspects of investment in rural communities, including appropriation of funds for mobile DMV offices in counties without a fixed DMV location. The bill also calls for the development of a plan to ensure that all citizens of N.C. will gain access to broadband internet infrastructure. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S665v0.pdf

SB412: Modify School Qual./Student Success Indicator — Davis also sponsored this bill filed late last week to modify the school quality and student success indicator used for the purpose of compliance with federal law for high schools in NC to include student performance on workplace readiness tests in addition to performance on college readiness tests. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S412v0.pdf

SB601: School-Based Mental Health — Davis was also a primary sponsor of this legislation filed this week that would require N.C. public schools to develop and implement mental health plans that include training for staff and a suicide risk referral protocol. All employees would be required to undergo an initial six hour training program and at least two hours of training annually. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S601v0.pdf

SB637: 48-Hour Hold for Certain Criminal Detainees — Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) is a primary sponsor for this legislation that would require state and local law enforcement to inquire as to the immigration status of anyone charged with a felony or an impaired driving offense. The legislation would also require local law enforcement to comply with any Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests, and hold anyone subject to an ICE detainer for at least 48 hours. Failure to do so would constitute a misdemeanor under this legislation. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S637v0.pdf

SB570: Dental Services/Medicaid Transformation — Perry also sponsored this legislation that would require the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to contract for prepaid dental services for N.C. Medicaid recipients, as part of the overall transformation of Medicaid. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S570v0.pdf

House:

HB569: One NC Funding for Small Business — Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir) signed on to co-sponsor this legislation that appropriates funds for to create a Community Innovation Fund that would “award competitive grants to assist rural, small-, and medium-sized communities in the State in transitioning to a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.” Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H569v1.pdf

Votes:

SB220: Removal of Political Signs by Citizens — This bill, which Davis sponsored, would allow any citizen to remove and dispose of political campaign signs that remain in the public right of way 30 days after election day. The bill came up for a vote in the Senate on Tuesday, and passed unanimously. Sens. Davis, Harry Brown (R-Onslow) and Perry all voted in favor. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

SB230: Excused Absences for Military Children — Davis was also a primary sponsor for this bill that passed the Senate Monday. The bill would allow children of active duty military members to receive excused absences from public schools when their parents are being deployed, are on leave or are returning from deployment. This legislation also passed the Senate unanimously, with all area senators voting in favor. It also goes to the House for consideration.

HB370: Require Sheriff Cooperation with ICE — This bill would require local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE immigration detainers, and also create the ability for citizens to take action if they feel local law enforcement is not complying with ICE, passed the House Wednesday on a straight party line vote, 63-51. Reps. Humphrey, John Bell (R-Wayne) and Pat McElcraft (R-Carteret) all voted Aye. The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration. Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H370v2.pdf

HB377: Reduce Testing — Bell was a primary sponsor for this bill that passed the House Wednesday. The bill would reduce the amount of testing for N.C. public school students. It now goes to the Senate for consideration. You can read the text of the bill here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H377v3.pdf

Check back with Neuse News for more legislative updates next week.