2023 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 37 - Budget Passes 84 days late

Budget passes 84 days late 

North Carolina lawmakers gave final approval to the state's $30-billion budget Friday morning. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday that he would allow the budget to become law without his signature.

The 625-page budget bill and its 786-page companion money report were released to the public Wednesday afternoon. The lengthy documents touch on nearly every aspect of life in North Carolina from birth (money for the digitization of birth records) to death (increased fees for autopsies) and everything in between.

NASW-NC is very disappointed to see the final budget after being delayed since July 1st. The budget did not include restoring Master’s Level Pay for School Social Workers, a legislative priority for NASW-NC since 2013. The budget did not include the $1 billion in mental health support Governor Cooper included in his budget to address the mental health crisis in our state, which is especially impacting our children and young adults. The budget includes catastrophic income tax cuts that will not provide fully funded schools, hospitals, parks & programs that all North Carolinians deserve to have in their communities. As social workers, we know the children, families, and seniors we serve throughout NC will be negatively impacted by this budget. 

Here is a look at some of the provisions included in the budget. The spending plan:

Medicaid expansion: Provides federally funded health care coverage to more than 500,000 North Carolinians who work jobs that don't offer health insurance and who also don't make enough money to afford insurance on the private market. It ends a fight that lasted more than a decade since the passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Republicans changed their stance on expansion over the past few years. The expansion bill passed in March , but its implementation was tied to the passage of the budget. The federal expansion bonus is about $1.5 billion split over two years.

Raises for teachers, state workers: Gives most state employees a 4% raise this fiscal year, which began July 1, and a 3% raise next fiscal year. The pay increase will be retroactive. That means an average state worker with a $57,377 annual salary is looking at a raise to just under $60,000 this fiscal year and about $61,400 next year. Beginner teacher pay would jump from $37,000 to $39,000, and again up to $41,000 next year, an increase of 10.8% over both years combined. More experienced teachers would see smaller pay bumps of between $1,000 and $1,800 per year, with the bigger step increases going to younger teachers. It's significantly less than Cooper, Democrats, the State Employees Association of North Carolina and teachers groups asked for. NOTE: RESTORING MASTER'S LEVEL PAY FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. THIS WAS A 2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIOIRTY FOR NASW-NC. 

School vouchers: Qualifies more families for publicly funded private school vouchers under a massive expansion of the state's Opportunity Scholarship. The program currently serves mostly lower-income families, providing applicants with a voucher to help pay for private school tuition for their children. The expansion would make families of all incomes eligible and its cost could grow to more than $500 million per year by 2031. Democrats argue that private schools don't have to accept all students, including students with disabilities, and should not be getting taxpayer money that could be going to public schools. Opponents say the program takes away dollars from public schools.

Tax cuts: Accelerates planned cuts to the state's personal income tax rate. The state's current rate is 4.99% and will decrease to 4.6% in 2024, 4.25% in 2025 and 3.99% in 2026 and beyond. The rate could fall further from that point if the state meets certain general fund revenue targets over the next decade. The rate may go as low as 2.49%.

Public records laws: Allows lawmakers in the future to refuse any records requests they don't want to comply with. State lawmakers have already exempted themselves from some parts of North Carolina's public records laws.

No COVID mandates: Bans schools, colleges, state agencies and local governments from demanding employees get a COVID-19 vaccination, except for hospitals and other facilities that have to require it to qualify for federal funding.

Voter fraud: Bans the State Board of Elections from joining a national program aimed at combating voter fraud, called ERIC, which has been targeted by national conservatives after the 2020 elections.

Guns in courtrooms: Lets state Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges carry concealed weapons in court, a right already afforded to judges sitting in the state’s district and superior courts.

Read Entire Article Here:  Taxes, guns, schools, birth and death: State budget touches on all aspects of North Carolina life

Governor Cooper Statement on Passage of State Budget and Medicaid Expansion

Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement on the passage of the state budget and Medicaid Expansion:

"Health insurance for 600,000 more North Carolinians that brings more mental health and substance use disorder treatment, help for desperate rural hospitals and billions of dollars into our economy is a life-saving, monumental decision for our state.

Make no mistake, overall this is a bad budget that seriously shortchanges our schools, prioritizes power grabs, keeps shady backroom deals secret and blatantly violates the constitution, and many of its provisions will face legal action.

However, we must recognize this irresponsible legislature’s decade of refusal to expand Medicaid, which has caused life and death situations for so many North Carolinians and threatened the very existence of numerous rural hospitals. I will not allow people who are crying for help to wait any longer, so I am directing our Department of Health and Human Services to begin today the process for expanding Medicaid while allowing this budget to become law without my signature."

Source:NCGovernor    

Bills Passed: 

SB 749 - No Partisan Advantage in Elections -SB 749 passed both the NC House and NC Senate.   NASW-NC OPPOSED

• S.B. 749 changes the makeup of the State Board of Elections to a deadlocked eight-member board appointed by lawmakers.
• S.B. 749 changes the makeup of all 100 county boards of elections to a deadlocked four-member board appointed by lawmakers.
• S.B. 749 deadlocks boards would potentially lead to drastic cuts to Early Voting. 
   

On Friday, Sept. 22, North Carolina Republicans sent Senate Bill 749 to Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who recently vowed to veto the bill. The final vote was 26-17, along party lines, and came after a midnight House session that amended the date the legislation would go into effect. The amendment, critically, pushes the date up from July 1, 2024 to January 1, 2024, in time for primaries.

Despite the governor’s promised veto, the state’s Republican legislators recently gained a veto-proof supermajority that will override any veto from Cooper. The bill passed today would dramatically restructure the state and county boards of elections, giving lawmakers more power in the nominating process. 

Read: Ignoring 62% of Voters, North Carolina Republicans Overhaul Elections Board With Senate Bill 749

Take Action: Redistricting Meetings Scheduled Around NC
On April 28, 2023, The North Carolina Supreme Court overturned its own past ruling that said partisan gerrymandering is illegal. The ruling clears the way for NC Republicans to aggressively gerrymander the congressional map, which is currently represented by seven Democrats and seven Republicans. They can re-create the map they initially passed last cycle which a Democratic-controlled NC Supreme Court struck down as unlawful. 

Legislators are taking public comments on redistricting now. Please see below for how to sign up to submit comments.  You can also access this information at  https://www.ncleg.gov/ . 

You are hereby notified that the House Committee on Redistricting will meet JOINTLY as follows:

• Sept. 25| College of the Albemarle, 4:00PM | Performing Arts Center, Elizabeth City, NC
  • Link for public speaker sign-up: https://www.ncleg.gov/requesttospeak/69
  • Hearing starts at 4:00 pm. Doors open and in-person sign up to speak begins at 3:00 pm.
  • Online sign-up will close at 12:00 pm. Committee members are not required to attend.
• Sept. 26| Appalachian State-Hickory Campus, 4:00PM |The Atrium Room, Hickory, NC
  • Link for public speaker sign-up: https://www.ncleg.gov/requesttospeak/70
  • Hearing starts at 4:00 pm. Doors open and in-person sign up to speak begins at 3:00 pm.
  • Online sign-up will close at 12:00 pm. Committee members are not required to attend.
• Sept. 27| NC General Assembly Building | Raleigh, NC
  • Link for public speaker sign-up: https://www.ncleg.gov/requesttospeak/71
  • Hearing starts at 4:00 pm. Doors open and in-person sign up to speak begins at 3:00 pm.
  • Online sign-up will close at 12:00 pm. Committee members are not required to attend.

Make your voice heard on Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
#NASW Coalition Action Alert: The Internal Revenue Service, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Health and Human Services Department proposed rule on Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. #NASW calls on #socialworkers and clients to provide comments to the agencies by the October 2 by 5PM (est) deadline: https://nami.quorum.us/campaign/parity2023/?link

What: The Importance of State Courts: A Discussion with Justice Anita Earls

When: Tuesday, September 26, 6:30 pm

Where: Zoom webinar. Register here: https://prochoicenc.org/FairCourts

On July 1 in North Carolina, new medically unnecessary abortion restrictions went into effect with SB 20, and patients and providers now have to navigate additional burdensome barriers to access abortion care. As advocates, we're planning for the future and what we need to do to restore and expand abortion access in North Carolina. That planning includes thinking about the state of our state courts!
 
State courts have long flown under the radar of many voters despite the fact that we vote for judges in North Carolina. The courts are one of the three branches of government, the judicial branch, and they are supposed to act as a vital check on the legislative and executive branches. The courts are much too important to be overlooked.
 
We all need to know what's going on in our state court system, and we are honored to host a second discussion with North Carolina State Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls! Justice Earls will talk with us about how and why our state courts impact our rights and lives, share some background on the different levels of judges we vote for, discuss what is happening with reproductive health care in state courts across the country, and more. You won't want to miss this!

North Carolina - did you know that some lawmakers in your state want to ban birth control? We all deserve the right to determine when and how we start our families, and women that need birth control for other reasons should have access to that healthcare too. Join us on Tuesday 9/26 at 10AM with Americans for Contraception outside of the NC General Assembly building in Downtown Raleigh. RSVP here: https://go.redwine.blue/0v9

TREC Bi Partisan Criminal Justice Reform Panel
The TREC Legislative Committee plans to host a bipartisan panel on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 1pm (virtual) and will focus on juvenile life without parole. This discussion will bring together experts from across the political spectrum and the community to discuss this issue and how we can make progress together. 

TOPIC: Juvenile Life Without Parole
MODERATOR: Rep. Marcia Morey

Registration: https://ncdps.webex.com/weblink/register/r87af9ebd790b70c649ba338d38e870dd

Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/@NCPublicSafety/streams

Voting Information

In 2023, there are three municipal election dates in North Carolina:         

• Thursday, Sept. 21 One-stop, in-person early voting begins for October municipal elections
• Saturday, Oct, 7: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for October municipal elections
• Tuesday, Oct. 10 ELECTION DAY (various municipalities)
• Thursday, Oct. 19: One-stop, in-person early voting begins for November municipal elections.
• Saturday, Nov. 4: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for November municipal elections.
• Tuesday, Nov. 7 ELECTION DAY (various municipalities)

Check out our NASW-NC's Election Page HERE. 

Democracy NC

We're partnering with Common Cause and Southern Coalition for Social Justice to bring you an Election Advocacy Training.

We invite you to join us for our Statewide Election Advocacy CBOE Training on Tuesday, September 26, from 6:00PM-7:30PM.

This event will be HYBRID, so you can join us either on Zoom or in person at 3000 Aerial Center Pkwy 160, Morrisville, NC 27560.

The goal of this training is to empower you as an Elections Advocate and provide you with tools for year-round election advocacy. This training will ensure you are confident in different aspects of Election Advocacy, such as canvass monitoring during the municipal elections and advocating for strong early voting plans for 2024.

REGISTER HERE for the Election Advocacy CBOE Training on Sep. 26!

Common Cause NC 
What: Fall Supporter Call 
Who: Common Cause North Carolina members, supporters and allies far and wide 
When: Tuesday, October 3, at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.

During this hour-long call, we'll 1) cover the latest voting rights changes in North Carolina, 2) preview the upcoming redistricting cycle, 3) introduce you to new members of our Common Cause North Carolina team, and 4) share how you can organize with us across the state to help create a democracy for all. 

And we want to welcome everyone who has joined us along our #UniteNC Town Hall Tour throughout North Carolina. 

RSVP For Our Fall Supporter Call 

P.S. Do you have questions about the Fall Supporter Call? Email us at gino@commoncause.org 

What is #UniteNC?
Pro-Choice North Carolina is excited to join with our partners at Common Cause North Carolina and other organizations across the state for a series of #UniteNC town halls! This is a fantastic opportunity to build our shared power and hold lawmakers accountable. Pro-Choice North Carolina will have materials at all town halls and we’ll be in-person at some of them, too. 

If you're concerned about harmful policies in the state legislature like attacks on abortion access, upcoming elections, and redistricting, join us and speak up for people-first policies!

• October 1: Dare County
• October 4: Orange County (Hillsborough)

• October 5: Roberson County 
• October 11: Asheville 

And there are more #UniteNC town halls to come…stay tuned! You can register and learn more by clicking HERE.  

Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

Want this information sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for weekly NASW-NC legislative updates: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/home