The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week

Session Slowing Down While Debates Wind Up

Although there has been no action on the House version of the stopgap budget HB 111: Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Senate stopgap budget HB 961: Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds has been approved by both chambers and sent to the Governor.  This budget bill provides matching state funding for federal block grants.

While few education bills were considered in committee this week, multiple bills were heard on the House and Senate floors.  A total of 173 varying bills have become session law so far this session of which 22 relate to K-12 education. See below for summaries of the K-12 education session laws.

A few K-12 education bills remain to be sent to the Senate for concurrence.  In addition, several bills have been assigned to conference committees in hopes that members from both Chambers will be able to find a compromised solution in the coming weeks. HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act as well as HB 655: NC Health Care for Working Families remain on the House calendar. While House Speaker Tim Moore has said that the House will convene next week, Senate Leader Phil Berger said that the Senate is being sent home with no foreseeable votes until August 6^th.  For more detail on what is scheduled next week, the education-related legislative calendar can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. 

Called Meeting of the State Board of Education 

The State Board of Education held a called board meeting on Wednesday to review and vote on a proposed amendment to the Department of Public Instruction's contract with Public Consulting Group for the Exceptional Children Accountability Tracking System (ECATS). See this link that explains ECATS.   Agenda for the SBE meeting is available here.

Senate Stopgap Budget Approved

HB 961: Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds

Following House and Senate concurrence, HB 961 has been sent to the Governor for his consideration.  This bill provides funding to ensure state spending meets the matching requirements for federal grants that otherwise would not be funded without a new budget for the 2019-2021 biennium. The bill provides approximately $1 billion for Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) federal block grants, $96.6 million for Department of Commerce Community Development block grant funds, and increases funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.

BILL  

Important Budget Resources   HB 961: Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds here. HB 111: Supplemental Appropriations Act here. DPI School Business: Operating after July 1 Without a Budget. K-12 Education Budget Overview here. Governor's Veto Statement here. HB 966: Ratified Conference Report here. Updated "Money" Report (Conference Report) here. Conference Committee Members here. DPI Financial & Business Services: Budget Comparison here.  DPI Financial & Business Services: Summary of Budget here. HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (Senate v6) here.  "Money" Report - 3rd Edition (Senate) here. Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Amendments here. HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (House v4) here.  Committee "Money" Report - 2nd Edition (House) here. Education Items in the Governor's budget here.  Highlights of the NC Public School Budget 2019 here. NC State Board of Education Budget Response here. NC Department of Public Instruction #NC2030 vision here. Public School Capital Outlays Chart here. North Carolina School Finances website here.

2019 New K-12 Education Laws

1. SL 2019-11: (HB 263) Fill Vacancies/Modify 2018 Appointments
   • Appoints Jeannette Butterworth of Henderson County to the North Carolina Charter Schools Advisory Board for a term expiring on June 30, 2021.
2. SL 2019-22: (HB 646) ID Approval/Flex Muni One-Stop  BILL SUMMARY
   • Requires the head of a university, college, or K-12 school to submit sufficient documentation for voting identification card approval; amends the criteria school entities must meet for approval of ID card use.
3. SL 2019-38: (SB 448) Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military  BILL SUMMARY
   • Removes the requirement that the compact commissioner for the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children be a licensed NC attorney who represents a local board of education; rather the Governor appoints the individual.
4. SL 2019-51: (HB 57) Create Term for Public Schs. & Codify NCVPS  BILL SUMMARY
   • Defines the term "public school unit" and codifies past session laws for the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program in the education chapter of the General Statutes (115C).
5. SL 2019-55: (HB 664) myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal  BILL SUMMARY
   • Establishes a postsecondary educational attainment goal for the State to ensure the State remains economically competitive now and into the future. The State will make significant efforts to increase access to learning so that by 2030, 2,000,000 residents between the ages of 25 and 44 will have completed a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree..
6. SL 2019-60: (SB 227) TP3/Principal Fellows Consolidation  BILL SUMMARY
   • Maintain existing administration of the Transforming Principal Preparation Program (TP3) until it is repealed in 2021; expands the Principal Fellows Consolidation to include the TP3.
7. SL 2019-63: (SB 674) Surry Co./Mt. Airy/Elkin City/Bd. Ed Partisan  BILL SUMMARY
   • Changes the method of election for the local Boards of Education in the above listed localities from nonpartisan to partisan and alters vacancy filing process.
8. SL 2019-71: (SB 219) Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements  BILL SUMMARY
   • Makes various changes to statutes regarding the testing for the initial professional teacher (IPL) licensure; creates one-year extension for IPL for certain teachers; creates a limited teaching license for out-of-state teachers; authorizes local boards of education to determine commensurate pay level; and reduce the lifetime teaching license requirement from 50 to 30 years.
9. SL 2019-76: (SB 556) GSC People First Language 2019  GENERAL COMMENTS
   • Updates General Statues relating to the provision of services with people first language by changing the phrase "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" or "intellectual or other developmental disability".
10. SL 2019-78: (SB 88) Electrician Requirements for Certain Orgs  BILL SUMMARY
    • Local boards of education (LEAs) may employ licensed electrical contractors.
11. SL 2019-81: (HB 656) Medicaid Changes for Transformation  BILL SUMMARY
    • Makes adjustments to the Medicaid and Health Choice appeals statutes, and other laws pertaining to Medicaid and Health Choice, in order to implement Medicaid Transformation and contracts with Prepaid Health Plans.
12. SL 2019-82: (HB 924) Teacher Contract Changes  BILL SUMMARY
    • Clarifies the amount of time a teacher must work for an LEA in order to be eligible for an extended employment contract.  Adds a new course in economics and personal finance as a graduation requirement for students.
13. SL 2019-87: (HB 886) Study Participation of Operators in NC Pre-K  BILL SUMMARY
    • Requires DHHS, Division of Child Development and Early Education to complete a study of four- and five-star centers that are not participating in NC Pre-K in order to identify the challenges associated with becoming an NC Pre-K site.
14. SL 2019-91: (HB 770) Freedom to Work/OLB Reform  BILL SUMMARY
    • Defines a "State agency licensing board."  Clarifies standards for a licensing board's use of an applicant's criminal history in making determinations.
15. SL 2019-110: (SB 399) Rehire High-Need Teachers  BILL SUMMARY
    • Permits retired teachers to return to work in certain high-needs schools without adversely impacting their retirement benefits.
16. SL 2019-120: (SB 500) Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment  BILL SUMMARY
    • Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, makes certain modifications to the implementation of advanced math courses offered when practicable for grades six and higher. Requires an annual report on the number and demographics of students eligible for advanced math courses.
17. SL 2019-122: (SB 686) Appointments Bill 2019 (Specific terms are listed in the session law)
    • Stephen Griffin of Durham County, Thomas Luckadoo of Catawba County, Richard L. Purcell of Mecklenburg County, Craig Hagood of Wake County, and Judith E. Irwin of Johnston County are appointed to the North Carolina Education and Workforce Innovation Commission.
    • W. Lentz Brewer of New Hanover County and Michael "Greg" Patterson of Wake County are appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System.
    • Lawrence H. "Larry" Chewning, III, of Nash County and Lisa Grimes of Wake County are appointed to the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees Board of Trustees.
    • Mariann Tillery of Guilford County and Dr. Jennifer W. Olson of Wake County are appointed to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission.
    • Lauren Genesky of Wake County, Meaghan Loftus of Mecklenburg County, Patrick Miller of Greene County, Hank Weddington of Catawba County, Anthony Graham of Guilford County, Glenda Jones of Mecklenburg County, Dr. Michael Maher of Wake County, and Ellen McIntyre of Mecklenburg County are appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission.
    • If HB 200, becomes law, then Dr. Charles Westley Wood of Wilkes County, Dr. Van O. Dempsey, III, of New Hanover County, Dr. Connie O. Locklear of Robeson County, Samuel H. Houston, Jr., of Wake County, Michael D. Hicks of Union County, Dr. Virginia Ann Bullock of Alamance County, Aaron Fleming of Harnett County, and Joseph W. Childers of Stokes County are appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission for terms expiring on August 31, 2020. are appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission.
18. SL2019-129: (HB 735) Adopt Rules Incorporating 2017 Food Code  BILL SUMMARY
    • Authorizes the Commission for Public Health to adopt rules incorporating all or part of the most recent edition of the United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code.
19. SL 2019-139: (HB 668) Various Higher Education Changes  BILL SUMMARY
    • Graduation from a North Carolina high school is permissible evidence that the student's residence is the parent's residence for establishing residency for in state tuition purposes for North Carolina community colleges and universities. However, this evidence alone does not establish legal residence in the State.
20. SL 2019-142: (HB 411) Modify School Qual./Student Success Indicator
    • Combines the Career and College Readiness indicators used for school performance grades and for the purpose of compliance with federal law for grades nine through twelve, to require the State Board of Education to include additional Career and College Readiness information on annual report cards.
21. SL 2019-149: (HB 107) PED Oversight/EPP Changes
    • Makes changes to the Educator Preparation Program performance standards and data reporting system.
22. SL 2019-154: (HB 362) 15-Point Scale For School Performance Grades  BILL SUMMARY
    • Adopts a fifteen-point scale in the determination of school performance grades, requires SBE to adopt emergency rules in preparation for permanent rule making, and directs SBE to study the reporting methods used for school accountability purposes on the NC annual school report cards.  

• Complete List of Bills that are Session Law here.

• For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.

Relevant Bills with Action

Bills Passed in Both Chambers

Presented to the Governor

1. HB 922: Enhance Insurance Coverage/Educ. Buildings  BILL SUMMARY
2. HB 961: Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds
3. SB 301: Regional School Modifications  BILL SUMMARY
4. SB 366: 9th/10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways  BILL SUMMARY
5. SB 343: Various Education Law Changes  BILL SUMMARY
6. SB 391: Expand Youth Internship Opportunities  BILL SUMMARY
7. SB 392: Various Charter School Changes  BILL SUMMARY
8. SB 478: Modify Appointment Reporting   

• Complete List of Bills Pending the Governor's Signature here.

Bills in Conference Committee

As session continues to wind down, high profile bills that draw more debate and disagreement remain unsettled. When the House and Senate do not agree on a bill, including all amendments and proposed substitutes, the bill may be sent to a conference committee in hopes of finding a compromised solution. Select members from the House and Senate that have been deemed subject-matter experts or affiliated with the bill in some manner, will be assigned to the committee. In conference, bills can be debated, altered slightly, or completely changed into new bills as long as the conference committee members agree. Conference reports are then presented to both the House and Senate for a vote; however, unlike a traditional bill, there is no opportunity for amendments to be considered.

The following K-12 education bills have been assigned to conference committees:  

• SB 212: NC FAST/Early Child/Transformation/ACH Assess
• SB 354: Sam's Law
• SB 438: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2019
• SB 476: Compt-Based Assess. & Mental Hlth/Teen Violence
• SB 553: Regulatory Reform Act of 2019
• SB 621: Testing Reduction Act of 2019

Uncertainty remains as to whether the Senate will concur with the House versions of SB 5: School Safety Omnibus, SB 123: Portability of Leave/Charter Schools, and SB 522: Low-Performing Schools.  If not, these bills would then also be eligible to be assigned to a conference committee.

Bills that Moved This Week 

• Passed the House - Sent to the Senate

• SB 5: School Safety Omnibus (Passed the House - Sent to the Senate for concurrence)  BILL SUMMARY
• SB 123: Portability of Leave/Charter Schools (Passed the House - Sent back to the Senate for concurrence) BILL SUMMARY
• SB 522: Low-Performing Schools (Amended (CS) in House Rules - Amended on the House Floor (A1, A2, A3) - Passed - Sent back to the Senate for concurrence)

• Passed the Senate - Sent to the House 

•  None

• Conference Committee

• SB 212: NC FAST/Early Child/Transformation/ACH Assess (Conference Committee)
• SB 354: Sam's Law (Conference Committee not appointed yet)
• SB 438: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2019 (Conference Committee) 
• SB 476: Compt-Based Assess. & Mental Hlth/Teen Violence (Conference Committee not appointed yet)
• SB 553: Regulatory Reform Act of 2019 (Conference Committee)  
• SB 621: Testing Reduction Act of 2019  (Conference Committee)

• Passed in a Committee - Referred to another Committee 

• None

• Bills that are filed, referred to a committee or calendared for the House or Senate Floor 

  • HB 231: NCCC Reorg. Authority & Career Coaches (Amended (CS) in House K-12 Ed - referred to the House Floor)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 199: Child Sex Abuse/Strengthen Laws (Amended (CS) in House Rules - referred to the House Floor) 

• For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.

2019 Long Session LINK for bills impacting K-12 education. LINK to K-12 Public Education Bills that made Crossover. NCGA Crossover List - LINK.

Next Week's Education-Related Legislative Calendar

July 29 - August 2:  Legislative Meeting Calendar

Monday, July 29, 2019

  2:00 p.m.: Senate: Session Convenes                                                                  Senate | Audio

  3:00 p.m.: House: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House            1228/1327 LB | Audio

  7:00 p.m.: House: Session Convenes                                                                    House | Audio           

North Carolina General Assembly 

ONLINE RESOURCES:

• Highlights of the NC Public School Budget 2018
• DPI/SBE Reports to the General Assembly
• About the Legislature
• Who Represents Me?
• How a Law is Made
• House Member List
• Senate Member List
• North Carolina Constitution
• House Page Program
• Senate Page Program
• Governor’s Page Program
• Youth Legislative Assembly
• Educational Resources
• An Introduction to the NC General Assembly – Elementary School Ages
• NC Government – Middle School Ages

Legislative Info and Acronyms 

This section includes details pertaining to acronyms and bill information referenced throughout the K-12 Education Legislative Update newsletters.   Biennium- A two-year term of legislative activity Public Bill- Legislation enacted into law that applies to the public at large Local Bill- Legislation put into law that has limited application (How many counties)- Local bills do not have to be signed by the governor Sponsor- The legislator who presents a bill or resolution for consideration Resolution- A document that expresses the sentiment or intent of the legislature or a chamber. Resolutions, when finalized, go to the Secretary of State Glossary of Legislative Terms- LINK   DPI = NC Department of Public Instruction LEA = Local Education Agency NCGA = North Carolina General Assembly LB/LOB = Legislative Building/Legislative Office Building  SBE = North Carolina State Board of Education   HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill JR = Joint Resolution SL = Session Law GS = General Statute  PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute

OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Cecilia Holden  – Director of Government and Community Relations |  919-807-3406
• Anne Murtha  –  Legislative Specialist  |  919-807-3403

OFFICE OF THE NC SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Karson Nelson –  Legislative Assistant 

To view previous 2019 Weekly Legislative Updates click here.

 The NC Department of Public instruction offers a number of topics for subscription.

• To subscribe to the Weekly Legislative Update, click here.
• To subscribe to other NC Department of Public Instruction topics, click here.