The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week

"Mini Budgets" Moving through the Legislature

In light of the on-going budget stalemate, work at the General Assembly this week has been centered around moving mini-budget bills through the legislative process.  Although none of the bills include teacher raises, two of the budget bills impacted K-12 education.  HB 426: Educators' Pay Increases/Retiree Supplements was released by the House Appropriations Committee and while it passed a 2^nd reading in the House, it was re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee without a 3^rd reading being taken.  Unlike other mini-budget bills, this one can be amended; therefore, it is likely that the House is taking steps to ensure the items in this education mini-budget make it through the full GA process.  H226: Pay Increases/State Employees addresses DPI increases and mirrors what was included in the conference budget with the exception of DPI employees paid based on the teacher salary schedule.  Any teacher increases and increases for DPI employees paid based on the teacher salary schedule are pending either the veto of HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act being overridden or a separately enacted piece of legislation. 

Other high profile K-12 education bills moved this week as well.  SB 522: Low-Perf. Schools/Stand. Student Conduct, a bill modifying the Innovative School District legislation, has been assigned to a conference committee.  See below for additional details. SB 621 Testing Reduction Act of 2019 was presented to the Governor on 8/28/2019.  For an overview of this bill, refer to last week’s Legislative Update.

No committees or Session are scheduled for next week in the General Assembly.  Following Labor Day, the House and Senate members will take a weeklong break to return on Tuesday, September 10th.  

The State Board of Education September meeting will be held next Wednesday and Thursday.  A link to the agenda and meeting materials can be found at these links: September 4, 2019; September 5, 2019

Important Budget Resources

• Mini Budgets: 
• HB 74: Taxpayer Refund Act
• HB 126: Pay Increases/State Highway Patrol
• HB 226: Pay Increases/State Employees
• HB 426: Educators' Pay Increases/Retiree Supplements
• HB 609: Salary Increases/Adult Correctional Employees
• HB 777: Pay Increases/SBI & ALE 
• HB 961: Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds   
• HB 111: Supplemental Appropriations Act
• 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
• 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)
• "Money" Report - 3rd Edition (Senate) here.
• Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Amendments here.
• HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (House v4)
• 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

SL 2019-201: (SB 230) NC Military and Veteran Act of 2019: Directs the State Board Of Education to adopt rules providing for excused from school for children of members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Signed by the Governor 8/23/2019

• List of New K-12 Education Laws and Chaptered Resolutions here.
• Complete List of Bills that are Session Law here.

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

Relevant Bills with Action

SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment became Session Law 2019-120 on July 11, 2019.  This legislation further clarifies requirements as put forth in HB 986 in 2018.  A DPI webinar providing an overview and next steps of this legislation is available here.  When you click on the link below, you will be asked to enter your email address.  After doing so, you will be directed to the recording.

HB 226: Pay Increases/State Employees

Provides eligible state-funded employees a 2.5% increase beginning July 1, 2019. Intent is stated for employees to receive the same level of increase beginning July 1, 2020. Part-time employees shall receive the increases authorized on a prorated and equitable basis. Employees of local boards of education and the State Board of Education who are paid based on the Teacher Salary Schedule are not eligible to receive these increases. Grants one-time an additional five days of annual leave credited on July 1, 2019 for eligible employees.

HB 426: Educators' Pay Increases/Retiree Supplements  

Beginning July 1, 2019, state-funded noncertified public school employee salaries increase by 1% for 12-month employees or a prorated and equitable amount for other permanent employees and temporary hourly employees. Intent is stated for employees to receive the same level of increase beginning July 1, 2020. Grants one-time an additional five days of annual leave credited on July 1, 2019 for eligible employees. Requires DPI to study and report on Regional, LEA and school-level employment and salary data, as well as job description/duties information for school psychologist and school counselor positions. Specifies information to be included in the study and report. Report to be sent to local school administrative units no later than October 1, 2019 with responses due by December 31, 2019. The Department shall report to the GA no later than March 1, 2020. Requires State agencies to report to the Office of State Budget Management on the use of lapsed salary. Provides ½ of one percent (.50%) one-time cost of living supplements for retirees of the Teachers’ and State Employees Retirement System.

SB 522: Low-Perf. Schools/Stand. Student Conduct

SB 522: Low-Perf. Schools/Stand. Student Conduct has been assigned to a conference committee. Senate Conference Committee members have been appointed but the House appointments are pending. This bill would modify the existing ISD legislation and would put the “stop light approach” in place. It would require an additional school be added to the ISD for the 2020-2021 school year vs. current legislation requiring an additional 4 schools be added.

Education Bills Vetoed by the Governor This Session

• HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act  VETO Message
• Base budget appropriations for current operations of state agencies, departments, and institutions. Governor Cooper’s veto message states his disappointment in the budget based on differing priorities between the Governor and General Assembly.
• SB 392: Various Charter School Changes  BILL SUMMARY   VETO Message
• Makes various changes to the laws affecting charter schools. Governor Cooper’s veto message states his concern about the lift on enrollment caps for virtual charter schools due to the low performance of schools in this pilot.
• SB 438: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2019  VETO Message
• An act to modify the implementation of the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program in order to attain statewide reading proficiency by the third grade.

Complete List of Bills Vetoed by the Governor here.

K-12 Education Bills - Last Movement This Week 

·       Passed the House - Sent to the Senate  

• SB 458: PTS Day/Cardiac Task Force/Titus's Law/Data (Conference Committee - House adopted Conference Report on 8/29/2019)
•  The House moved many K-12 Education bills to the Senate and to House Committees.

·       Passed the Senate - Sent to the House 

•  The Senate cleared their calendar of K-12 Education bills.

·       Conference Committee

• SB 458: PTS Day/Cardiac Task Force/Titus's Law/Data (Conference Committee - House adopted Conference Report on 8/29/2019)
• SB 522: Low-Perf. Schools/Stand. Student Conduct (Senate Conference Committee Appointed 8/27/2019) 
• SB 553: Regulatory Reform Act of 2019 (Conference Committee - Conference Report Adopted 3rd on 8/29/2019) 
• SB 681: Rur Hlth Care/Loc. Sales Tax Flex/Util. Acct. (Conference Committee Changed on 8/27/2019)

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

• HB 74: Taxpayer Refund Act (Passed the Senate - Sent to the House - Referred to House Finance on 8/27/2019) 
• HB 426: Educators' Pay Increases/Retiree Supplements (Passed the Senate - Sent to the House - Re-referred to House Appropriations on 8/28/2019)
• SB 690: Modifications to 2019 Appointments Bill (Passed Senate - Sent to the House - Referred to House Rules on  8/27/2019)
• HB 852: Historic School Preservation Act (Amended CS in House Finance - Referred to House Rules on 8/28/2019)
• SB 438: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2019  VETO Message (Referred to Senate Rules 8/26/2019) 

·       Presented to the Governor

• HB 226: Pay Increases/State Employees (Conference Report - Presented to Governor 8/28/2019)
• HB 555: Medicaid Transformation Implementation (Presented to Governor 8/29/2019)
• HB 777: Various Retirement Chngs/Wastewater Reform (Conference Report - Presented to Governor 8/28/2019)
• SB 621: Testing Reduction Act of 2019 (Presented to Governor 8/28/2019)  BILL SUMMARY

• 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

September 3 - September 6:  Legislative Meeting Calendar

Monday, September 2, 2019

  Labor Day Holiday

Tuesday, September 3, 2019 - Friday, September 6, 2019

  Labor Day Holiday - Session Break

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.