Legislative Update from the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

In this update:

I. Budget Update
II. Conferee Recommendations
III. Corporal Punishment
IV. Non-profit funding issue
V. Meeting Reminder

BUDGET UPDATE

House and Senate Budget Conferees are now meeting to work out the differences between their respective budget proposals. Here's the timeline that was passed out at a meeting of HHS Conferees next week:

6/14 - 6/18 - Sub-committee conferees meet and make recommendations

6/21 - 6/25 - Conferee chairs meet to resolve any remaining issues (and make changes to anything that they don't like).

6/29 - House and Senate adopt conference report

At that same meeting of HHS conferees, there was also a list of rules passed out. I've pulled out a couple of the most important:

1. Conferees may include reductions not included in either the House or Senate budget.
2. Conferees may further reduce or eliminate items that are not in controversy.
3. Conferees cannot expand any items beyond the higher amount in either the House or Senate budget.

These rules essentially mean that nothing is safe, even if it is included in both the Senate and House budgets.

CONFEREE RECOMMENDATIONS

We've drafted a memo to legislators that provides guidance on items in controversy between the two chambers. Please follow this link to take a look at our recommendations.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Good news! The House unanimously approved a bill that would allow parents of children with disabilities to opt their children out of corporal punishment. The bill also includes reporting requirements so that we know which children are receiving corporal punishment and why. The bill will now move to the Senate, where we expect a hearing in the Education Committee next week.

IMPORTANT NON-PROFIT FUNDING ISSUE

[FROM NC CENTER FOR NON-PROFITS]

Contact House Speaker Joe Hackney this week to let him know that a coalition of more than 220 nonprofits opposes the provision in H.B. 1852 that would allow state agencies to withhold up to 2% of nonprofits' grants to fund oversight.

It's important for Speaker Hackney to know that the 2% withholding provision is a problem for nonprofits and shouldn't be considered during the legislative short session. You can contact him at 919-733-3451 or Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net.

While other parts of the bill would create reasonable standards for state agency oversight, the 2% withholding provision is a problem. It will cut into the essential services that nonprofits provide. More information and talking points are available here: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103473892235&s=23407&e=001KUfahqKUnh1gJKQULlyU-MLhk6KG6Xr_SMJtSBy13LZ2Kz_PcLWFEDsqNIJ24lsrbJ6stsm6VxuIgJnVf_NADYLuHDFACItSms4rhK-rk57lRF5lcwu2z_vz65jO4oHlwjldFwKdCdUvE-Eb1jAROGeZzW0f3AWZpDiZzqwhnAU=.

MEETING REMINDER

Covenant membership meeting
Monday, 6/21, 12 pm - 2 pm
NCAE
700 S. Salisbury St, Raleigh