Associated PressHEADLINES:
ó House narrowly gives final OK to expand anti-bullying policies, Perdue expected to sign
ó Anti-bullying bill needs help from Hackney as Democrats voted no or not at all
ó Senate gets specific on sex education bill for teens; legislative approval nears
ó NC Senate rolls out stopgap spending measure for government as fiscal year ends
ó House committee agrees to ban use, sales of hallucinogenic herb growing in popularity
ó House panel rejects measure to give tax credits to parents of special-needs children
ó Senators delay discussion on proposed delay of cement plant at coast
THE BRIEF:
BULLYING BAN: The Legislature narrowly passed legislation requiring public school districts to approve anti-bullying rules that spell out the characteristics of potential targets, including gays and lesbians. The measure cleared the House 58-57 vote and now goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue, whose office said she’s expected to sign it into law. Supporters have said identifying the differences that could lead to bullying will ensure that students are protected by teachers and administrators who may not agree with certain lifestyles or have some prejudices. Social conservatives and Christian groups have opposed the bill because they say it’s the wrong way to deal with bullying.
THREADING THE NEEDLE: House Democrats barely pushed the anti-bullying bill through the chamber one more time despite differences in their caucus. Six Democrats voted with all 51 Republicans present in voting against the bill. Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, proved to break a potential tie by voting for the measure ó speakers rarely vote while directing floor debate except in a close vote on key legislation. Four House members were absent and a fifth ó Rep. Ronnie Sutton, D-Robeson, said he wasn’t on the floor for the vote. Sutton voted against the measure Monday night and said he would have done the same Tuesday had he been at his desk.
SPLIT ON SEX: The Senate narrowly approved changing the public school curriculum to teach adolescents about the use of contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The bill approved 25-21 added details about what seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students should be taught about disease infection rates and the effectiveness of FDA-approved contraceptive methods. The House now must approve or reject Senate changes. The House voted that schools teach two separate tracks, one focused on abstinence and the other comprehensive sex education. The Senate would teach all students about abstinence, then extend the course to cover contraception for students whose parents consent.
BUDGET DELAY?: The Senate has approved a stopgap spending measure for North Carolina state government if budget negotiations with the House don’t wrap up before July 1. The Senate agreed to approve a so-called “continuing resolution” to allow government to keep operating past the end of June without a final budget in place. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. It tells Gov. Beverly Perdue to keep spending levels at no more than 85 percent of what was allocated in the past year’s budget because lawmakers are reducing spending due to declining tax collections.
HALLUCINOGENIC PLANT: A hallucinogenic herb that’s become popular among young people to chew or smoke would be unlawful to possess, grow or sell in a Senate bill approved by a House judiciary committee. The herb is called Salvia divinorum and when used can lead to out-of-body experiences. Violators of the law would face a minimum $25 fine on a first offense and misdemeanor on the third offense in the bill approved Thursday. More than a dozen states have enacted laws placing regulatory controls on the herb or its active ingredient. The bill next goes to the House Appropriations Committee.
PRIVATE NEEDS: A House panel has rejected a bill that would have given a $6,000 annual tax credit to parents who put their special-needs children in private school. The House Education Committee voted 26-21 against approving the measure. Supporters such as Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, said the tax credit would help families when the public schools can’t meet the needs of a child with disabilities. Education groups representing teachers, school administrators and boards opposed the idea, saying it’s better to keep investing in public education to help these children.
CEMENT PLANT: Senators put the brakes on legislative sleight of hand that would effectively stall a cement plant’s opening near Wilmington. The Senate Commerce Committee had planned to take up a bill that would consider allowing people to replace hot water heaters in their homes without first getting a permit. Instead, two coastal legislators stripped out that language and replaced it with conditions that would force the proposed Titan American plant to undergo a potentially extensive environmental review. Gov. Mike Easley’s administration and local officials offered Titan about $4.5 million in incentives to open a cement plant and stone quarry on the Northeast Cape Fear River. The measure would require projects receiving economic incentives to be evaluated under the State Environmental Policy Act for potential environmental impact. The committee’s chairman said senators were blindsided by the change and postponed action.
TUESDAY’S SCORECARD:
In the House:
ó H631, to make clear public safety officers may wear military service medals during the week before and day after Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Concurrence motion approved 113-0. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk.
ó H682, to increase the threshold beyond which laws against small-town officials or employees are barred from benefiting from a public spending. The bill raises the threshold for medically related services from $12,500 to $20,000 within a 12-month period, and from $25,000 to $40,000 for other goods and services. Concurrence motion approved 113-0. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk.
In the Senate:
ó S943, to raise the state income tax break for production companies from 15 percent of qualified spending on a project to 25 percent. Advocates such as Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston, said the industry generates important economic effects as productions buy clothing and tires from North Carolina retailers and hire workers from electricians and caterers to sound specialists. Opponents like Sen. Eddie Goodall, R-Union, said rolling out the red carpet to welcome Hollywood productions was no substitute for a state tax policy that cut out targeted breaks and lowered taxes for everyone. The bill was tentatively approved. A final Senate vote could come Wednesday.
ó H885, to make it a misdemeanor to target an opponent’s home with picketing so aggressive that it would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or their family’s safety, or to undergo substantial emotional distress. Tentatively approved. Next: Final Senate vote.
ó S652, to ban foreign-manufactured novelty cigarette lighters some say are appealing and dangerous to children because they can be shaped like cell phones, cartoon characters and toy rifles. Concurrence motion approved 43-3. Next: To Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk.
In committees:
ó H1330, would stop utilities, electric and telephone membership corporations, and enterprises operated by municipalities from cutting off service to a home if someone delinquent on a utility’s debt moves into the home. Rep. Angela Bryant, D-Nash, said the issue came up because a constituent faced the prospect of having to pay the utility bill owned by a parent, who wanted to move into the constituent’s home after discharge from a hospital. Recommended for approval, Senate Judiciary I Committee. Next: To the full Senate.
ó H1267, to clarify that a commercial social networking site cannot be sued for a sex offender’s use of the site if the company has tried to block access by comparing his Internet identifying address to lists of registered offenders. Recommended for approval, Senate Judiciary I Committee. Next: To the full Senate.
AROUND THE STATEHOUSE:
ó Lobbyists, lawmakers and staff lined up behind the Legislative Building to get cupfuls of homemade ice cream, compliments of Sen. Jim Jacumin, R-Burke. Every year for the past five, Jacumin has brought to Raleigh an old-fashioned ice cream machine comprised of an old John Deere engine and barrel buckets to serve hundreds of workers and legislative visitors.
ON THE AGENDA:
Reformers at the General Assembly will take another stab at changing the state’s involuntary annexation law, which can force landowners into communities and taxes they didn’t want. A House judiciary committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday was postponed until Wednesday. The annexation hearing could take hours as lawmakers consider more than two dozen amendments and try shaping a measure that can pass this summer.
QUOTABLE:
“All of you who voted against the lottery, hold your applause.” ó House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, said when he introduced $88 million Powerball winner Jeffrey Wilson of Kings Mountain and his family members, who were sitting in the House gallery. The legislation creating the state lottery narrowly passed the House in 2005.
óóó
By Gary D. Robertson and Emery P. Dalesio.