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News & Press: Legislative Updates

NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Weeks 3 and 4

Monday, February 22, 2021   (0 Comments)
Posted by: Kay Castillo

Legislators continue to move forward with bill filing and holding committee meetings at the North Carolina General Assembly. Aside from vaccine roll out, major discussions have included school reopening and a state budget forecast.

Legislators worked to pass Senate Bill 37 In-Person Learning Choices for Families which requires all local school administrative units to provide the option of in-person instruction to students in grades kindergarten through 12 for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Local boards of education are to create a process for teachers and staff to self-identify as high-risk from COVID-19 and have a plan in place to address requests for alternative work reassignments. Lastly, the bill allows local boards of education to maintain authority and make day to day decisions about shifting to online learning if COVID-19 exposures occur. The Governor has indicated that he may let this bill become law without his signature.

Good news for our state budget, the Office of State Budget and Management predicts tax collections will exceed previous estimates by $4.1 billion. North Carolina currently does not have a state budget and instead has had several mini budgets pass to keep funding going to state Departments. Legislators last tried to pass a budget in 2019 but efforts stalled over Medicaid Expansion.

Bills filed of interest to social workers

  • SB 86 MEDICAID RECS./CWBTC: This legislation would increase awareness of school-based health services that are reimbursable by Medicaid. It also requires the program evaluation division to evaluate the Integrated Care for Kids Medicaid Pilot Program- this was recommended by the Child Well-Being Transformation Council.

  • SB 87 MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT/CHARTER SCHOOLS: This legislation would classify Charter Schools as eligible for Medicaid reimbursement like public schools.

  • SB 89 REGIONAL SUPERVISION/REFORMS/CWBTC RECS: This legislation follows recommendations from the Social Services Regional Supervision and Collaboration Working Group. There will be seven regions under the legislation with physical offices established by March 2023. Full implementation of a regional model, with offices, will be in place by March 1, 2024. The bill provides $914,790 in recurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to support 11 new staff positions to improve regional supervision and support of child welfare services.

  • SB 90 SOCIAL SERVICES REFORM/CWBTC RECS: This legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct various studies to improve social services, foster care, and child welfare services. It also seeks to improve intercounty collaboration between DSS’ and supports the implementation of the Family first Prevention Services Act. Lastly, the bill would require all school social workers to be notified of attendance requirements set forth in law.

  • SB 93 ASSISTING NC FAMILIES IN CRISIS: This legislation allows parents undergoing court-ordered substance misuse or mental health disorder treatment or counseling to retain Medicaid eligibility while their child is temporarily served by the foster care program.

  • SB 100 POLICE FUNDING PROTECTION ACT: This legislation would punish any city or county that reduces police funding by reducing state funds to that city or county. NASW-NC is opposed to this legislation as it goes against our 2021 Legislative Agenda.

  • SB 101 REQUIRE COOPERATION WITH ICE 2.0: This legislation would require local communities to hold individuals who are charged with certain crimes and who are subject to detainer requests to be held for 48 hours and report individuals to Immigration enforcement. NASW-NC is opposed to this legislation as it goes against our 2021 Legislative Agenda.

  • HB 82 SUMMER LEARNING CHOICE FOR NC FAMILIES: This legislation requires each local school administrative unit to offer a six-week school extension learning recovery and enrichment program outside of the instructional school calendar. The purpose of the program will be to provide in-person instruction on specific subjects, as well as offer additional enrichment activities, to students in kindergarten through grade 12 to address learning losses and negative impacts students have experienced due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 school year.

  • HB 91/SB 103 REDUCE REG. TO HELP CHILDREN WITH AUTISM: This legislation removes regulations for behavioral analysts and creates the North Carolina Behavior Analysis Board to oversee licensees. The bill defines qualifications for licensure as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst.

  • HB 93 REQUIRE NALOXONE SCRIPTS WITH OPIOID SCRIPTS: This legislation would require anyone that is prescribed an opioid to also be prescribed naloxone.

North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Week Registration and Helpful Links

NASW-NC is proud to host North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Week, March 1-5, 2021. This virtual event will focus on NASW-NC’s 2021 legislative priorities. There will be daily LIVE virtual events March 1-3 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm to raise awareness of advocacy efforts for the social work profession and social justice issues and hear from legislators and social work advocates. On Thursday and Friday, March 4-5, we encourage you to virtually meet with your legislators to advocate on an issue important to you. Find your North Carolina Senator and Representative and schedule a virtual meeting with them herewww.ncleg.gov.

Register here to receive a link to the March 1, 2, 3 noon webinars. Sessions will be recorded but live participation is encouraged. 1 hour of CE per session will be available for those who attend the full session for NASW-NC members.

Prepare for Advocacy Week

We will keep the North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Week event page updated as we prepare more materials.

NASW-NC Student Policy and Equity Summit

Join NASW-NC student board members and interns for a conversation on policy, equity, and advocacy within schools of social work and the profession from the student perspective!

THIS FRIDAY, February 26, 2021 | 12:00pm - 1:15pm | Zoom

Registration is free and open to all social work students in NC!

Register: bit.ly/naswncstudentsummit


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