Study Committee Proposals Introduced

This week’s deadline for filing of Study Committee proposals prompted introduction of several proposals of interest to county officials. Among study committees bringing forward recommendations were those on Child Abuse and Neglect, Revenue Laws and Military Affairs. Bills of interest to county officials are listed below. Next week will bring deadlines for introduction of local bills, budget bills and retirement or pension bills. These are the last eligibility deadlines provided in last year’s Adjournment Resolution.

Bills of Interest

General Government
Introductions

S1159  “To modify the membership of the Advisory Commission on Military Affairs.”  Sen. Cecil Hargett (Onslow). This bill would add six ex-officio members to the Commission, including the executive directors of the Association of County Commissioners and the League of Municipalities or their designees. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on State, Local Government and Veterans’ Affairs.

Human Resources
Introductions

H1440 “To recommend further consideration and study of issues relating to the provision of Child Protective Services as recommended by the House Interim Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, Foster Care, and Adoption.” Rep. Jennifer Weiss (Wake). This bill would provide for the investigation cited in the title, related to child welfare systems and programs, the training of law enforcement and child protective services personnel concerning their role in child protective services investigations; and restricting the use of the TANF Block grant to the creation of new, direct child protective services. It would also direct the Division of Social Services in the Department of Health and Human Services to review reporting and data collection practices concerning child welfare and to review other states’ reporting practices. The bill also provides for a study of court appointed attorney compensation. The bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

H1467 “To establish the Joint Legislative Study Commission on county Medicaid cost-sharing.” Rep. Edd Nye (Bladen). This bill would establish a 12-member study commission to include four county commissioners. The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.

Personnel
Introductions

H1513 “To increase the maximum death benefit payable from the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System.” Rep. Larry Bell (Sampson). This bill would increase the maximum death benefit to $50,000. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Pensions and Retirement.

Planning, Development and Land Use
Introductions

S1061  “To modify the formula used to determine the Enterprise Tier designation of a county.”

H1417  Sen. Fletcher Hartsell (Cabarrus), Rep. Bill Daughtridge (Nash). Each of these identical bills would change from three years to 12 months the ranking (with respect to unemployment, per capita income and population growth) used to determine a county’s tier designation. S1061 was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. H1417 was referred to the House Rules Committee.

S1158  “To create a Military Base Land Preservation Fund and to appropriate funds to protect lands around military bases.” Sen. Cecil Hargett (Onslow). This bill would appropriate $5 million to the fund to be created in the State Treasurer’s office. A 13-member board would authorize expenditures from the fund and would receive advice from the Advisory Commission on Military Affairs (see S1159 above) as to properties to be acquired to prevent encroachment of development near military installations. The bill was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

S1161  “To require counties and cities near military installations to give notice of land-use planning changes to the military installations.” Sen. Cecil Hargett (Onslow). This bill would require local governments to notify military authorities of changes at least 30 days prior to the required public hearing and to consider comments from military officials before making final decisions. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on State, Local Government and Veterans Affairs.

Public Education
Introductions

S1074  “To appropriate supplemental funding for low-wealth schools.” Sen. Tony Rand (Cumberland). This bill would appropriate $77.8 million to the low-wealth school fund. It was referred to the Senate Appropriation Committee.

H1464 “To reduce the number of non-instructional teacher workdays; to provide that public schools shall open after August 25 and close not after June 10, except in unusual circumstances or in year-round schools; to ensure that teachers may be paid in August if they so desire; and to provide that salaries not decrease as a result of the reduction in teacher workload.” Rep. Connie Wilson (Mecklenburg). This bill would alter the school calendar as described in the title. Boards of Education would be required to adopt a 210-day school calendar, 10 days less than currently. Teacher workdays would be reduced from eight to five. The current provision allowing local determination of opening and closing dates would be repealed. The bill was referred to the House Commerce Committee.

Taxation and Finance
Introductions

H1420 “To extend to local governments acting jointly the same setoff debt collection procedures currently allowed to local governments acting alone.” Rep. Stephen LaRoque (Lenoir). This bill would include a regional joint agency created by interlocal agreement between two or more counties in the definition of local agency eligible for setoff debt collection procedures. The bill has been referred to the House Rules Committee.

H1465 “To allow farmland owned by a family business to keep its present-use value tax status when leased for farm use.” Rep. Harold Brubaker (Randolph). This bill would extend use value status to farms described in the title. It was referred to the House Finance Committee.

Bulletin Schedule

The Legislative Bulletin will be communicated, electronically or in hard copy, to county officials, legislators and other interested recipients on Thursdays each week during the Legislative Session.

You may contact the Legislature directly to obtain information about the status of any bill by calling the Bill Library in the Legislative Building (919) 733-7779, or by visiting the desk, located in the Legislative Library in the Legislative Building.  The General Assembly’s Internet address is www.ncga.state.nc.us.  You may also call the Printed Bills Office directly to obtain a copy of any bill: (919) 733-5648.  Identify the bill being requested by house of origin and number (example SB33).

While the Association does not advocate on behalf of local legislation, we are aware of the importance of these bills and can provide information on the status of local bills on an informal basis.  Do not hesitate to ask our staff to do so.

Note: Legislative bill numbers link to the most recent version of the bill that has action on it on the floor. Subcommittee and other amendments are not included.