Nancy Ann DeParle-White House Forum

Nancy Ann DeParle has been tapped by President Obama to navigate his health care plan. "It is clear that we can not wait for health care reform. Across the country families are being forced to make difficult choices between rent or the health care they need. The cost of health care is a threat to our economic reform."

Cost of Health Care:

Second part of the forum will be with the cost of health care and how we afford health care.

Third is wellness, the new paradigm of health care. The blueprint to move away from "sick care" to "well care".  

Last part will be Governor Perdue talking about North Carolina community care. They help navigate the consumer through the system. "Right place, right care, right time, right cost" says Governor Bev Perdue.

Governor Perdue has taken the stage to start the event

Governor Perdue is welcoming all of the audience members and thanking us for coming to this event. Format for the day s starting out thinking of health care in general. The rising cost of health care, the difficulty of getting health care, the financial burden of health care for states and small business.  President Obama's administration gets the fact that the financing of health care is a federal responsibility.

States need to focus on the delivery system.

Health Care Forum is Underway

Here we go. Opening statements from taped address by President Obama "Health care reform can not wait another year"

White House Health Forum:About To Start

The forum will begin shortly. The doors have closed and everyone is seated. This event is being broadcast live and will be available on the Governor's website today.

Live Blog! White House Health Forum with Governor Bev Perdue

The Arc of North Carolina is on the road again today! We are live blogging from the White House Health Forum in Greensboro North Carolina!  Governor Perdue will be hosting this event today.

Friday Wrap Up: Bills, Committee Reports, and Other legislative Stuff.

This was a very busy week at the General Assembly. First there was a Senate bill filing deadline and then there was Governor Bev Perdue's release of her first budget.  Here are the details of the week:

Committee Meetings:

Joint HHS Appropriations:
This weeks joint HHS appropriations began on Tuesday with a staff review of CCNC. Following the release of Governor Perdue’s budget this committees focused to a two day presentation by the Governor’s staff on the budget reductions and expansions.

House Health Committee:
HB 353: People First-Earle

The House Health committee had a hearing today on the People First Language bill. The bill was not voted on. The questions presented by committee members were the same that we have seen in other states where this legislation has been introduced. The main concern is protecting critical state and federal definitions on developmental disabilities. Even with all the questions there is political support for this legislation in our General Assembly.
Language for this bill will continue to be worked on by advocates and we will update you when the bill is up for a committee vote again.

Bills filed:
HB 600: Mental Health Services for Children/Kids’ Care
An act to ensure that all children in North Carolina who are eligible for health services under the NC Health Choice or NC Kids’ Care receive Mental Health Services, as recommended by the legislative study commission on children and youth.

HB 656: Mental Health Proceedings/No Restraint-Earle
An act to prohibit restraint of individuals who are minors being transported to or during hearing pursuant to involuntary commitment proceedings, except under certain circumstances.

HB 672: Accountability for State Funding/MHDDSA-Earle
An act to direct Local Management Entities to take certain steps before reducing or moving state funds for developmental disability services.

HB 673: Support for Developmental Disability Services-Earle
An act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, to take certain actions to improve supports for persons with developmental disabilities.

SB 602: Medicaid False Claims/Qui Tam Actions-Kinnaird
This legislation would strengthen the prosecution of Medicaid fraud by increasing existing criminal penalties for provider fraud and creating criminal penalties for obstruction and making false entries. This bill would establish a private civil action for provider false claims, authorizing a subpoena for documents in cases of provider fraud and abuse. Included in this bill is an appropriation from the General Fund to the Department of Justice for the implementation of this act.

SB 721: Allow Electronic Suprvsn./MH/DD Facilities-Hoyle
This bill would require the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to adopt rules establishing an acceptable electronic supervision standard and alternate staffing requirements at facilities for children and adolescents with mental illness or developmental disabilities during client sleep hours.

Additional Legislative News:

The big news this week was the release of Governor Bev Perdue’s first budget. The result for the MH DD SA community was it could have been worse considering the difficult economic situation that our state is currently facing. The following programs were eliminated in the budget recommendations: closure of the Wright and Whittaker schools, closure of two 25 adult bed units at Cherry and Broughton and an elimination at Vocational Rehabilitation of basic support case services.
Governor Perdue’s budget did include an expansion of 111 community beds to
increase crisis services and local inpatient bed capacity. The appropriation for this item is $11,945,326 dollars in fiscal years 2010 and 2011. There is also an allocation of $3 million in fiscal year 2010 to create 36 new beds at Dorethea Dix to continue the downsizing of state psychiatric hospitals. Finally the Governor’s expansion budget includes and appropriation of $325,000 designated for training and workforce development initiatives in both fiscal year 2010 and 2011..

The Arc of North Carolina: Governor Perdue's Budget Fulfills Promise to People and Families with Developmental Disabilities

Governor Perdue’s Budget Fulfills Promise to People and Families with Developmental Disabilities.

Governor Perdue made good on her commitments to individuals and families who rely on the Developmental Disability service system in North Carolina. During the worst budget conditions that our state has seen in half a century, Governor Perdue managed to avoid any cuts to the community Developmental Disability system in her recommended budget that was released on Tuesday.

Governor Bev Perdue’s budget reflects her understanding and commitment to the Community Alternatives Program, which offers families and people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to remain in their communities by providing critical support services.
We encourage the legislature to follow the recommendations that Governor Perdue has laid out to protect people with developmental disabilities in our state.

If the legislature were to adopt the Governor’s 2009-10 budget recommendations community Mental Health, Developmental Disability, and Substance Abuse Services funded by state funds would receive no reductions. Additionally the funding for Tier 1 Community Alternatives Program slots that have been frozen this year would be released. Funding for the START crisis model would be intact for a full year and other community services that were funded on a partial year will receive annualized funding.

During this economic crisis it is critical that we support our community Developmental Disability system and the families and individuals that receive these services. This is the time to provide stability in an uncertain time. Governor Perdue’s budget achieves that important goal.

People First Language Bill Update

The House Health committee had a hearing today on the People First Language bill.  The bill was not voted on.  The questions presented by committee members were the same that we have seen in other states where this legislation has been introduced.  The main concern is protecting critical state and federal definitions on developmental disabilities. Even with all the questions there is political support for this legislation in our General Assembly.

Language for this bill will continue to be worked on by advocates and we will update you when the bill is up for a committee vote again.

People First Language Bill Update

Due to the release of Governor Bev Perdue's budget the House Health committee was cancelled on Tuesday.  The People First Language bill will be rescheduled for this Thursday at 12 noon in room 544 of the Legislative Office Building.

We will update you regarding the results of this committee meeting tomorrow.

People First Language Bill: Health Committee Tomorrow

The People First Language bill will be taken up in the House Health Committee tomorrow at 12:00 noon in room 544 of the Legislative Office Building.  This meeting is open to the public and we encourage you to attend if you are able.  If you are not able to attend please contact your Representative and let them know that you support this important legislation.

Action Alert: People First Bill

Action Alert: Take Action Today.
Call Your North Carolina State Senators and Representatives Today and Tell Them to Vote Yes for the People First Bill.

What the Bill Does:

This bill directs legislative drafting office and state agencies to use certain respectful reference to people with disabilities in the preparation of legislation and rules.

This legislation does not invalidate any state statute, resolution, or rule because it does not comply with this bill.

This legislation does not require the state to change any existing statutes unless they are opened for amendment.

Legislation similar to this bill have been passed in New York, Nevada, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Minnesota. Several additional states have removed the term “mental retardation” from their Department and Division names.

What is People First Language?
The People First Language movement was born out of the Disability Rights Movement.
People with disabilities are the largest minority group in our nation. It encompasses people of all ages, genders, religions, ethnicities and socioeconomic levels.

People First Language puts the person before the disability.  

People First Language describes what a person has, not who a person is.

Call Your Senator or Representative Today

Tell Them
Vote Yes for the People First Bill
House Bill 353 People First-Bill Sponsor Representative Verla Insko

Senate Bill 208 People First-Bill Sponsor Senator Katie Dorsett

Tell Them Words have power and inaccurate descriptors such as “handicapped” or “mentally retarded” can perpetuate negative stereotypes and create societal and attitudinal barriers.  

Tell Them Using People First Language is the first step toward breaking down the negative stereotypes and social barriers that exist in our nation. This bill is an important first step toward recognizing in our state legislation the inherent worth and contributions of our states 1.8 million North Carolinians with disabilities.

Find Your Senator or Representative:

Monday Quick HIts: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

This week will set the tone for the remainder of the legislative session. On Tuesday, March 17th Governor Bev Perdue will release her budget. As we continue to stare down a $4 billion dollar budget deficit it is clear to everyone that there will be significant cuts.  Unfortunately, there is no way to simply cut our way out of this deficit.  Today in North Carolina we spend less money per person than we did ten years ago. We are in the middle of the most serious recession in years and the need for services will continue to increase.  Simply cutting will not be the answer. Once we see the budget we will report it here.

Bills of Interest:

Two bills will be in committee this week that are on The Arc of NC Legislative Agenda.  The first is the People First Language bill that will direct legislative drafting to use people first language/respectful language where appropriate. The second bill is the Parent & Student Educational Involvement Act. This bill is a notice of rights and process bill for parents and students when a student receives a recommendation for a long term suspension.  We will update you on the outcome of both of these committee hearings. 

This week at the General Assembly:

Monday, March 16, 2009
1:30 PM Perinatal Committee of the Child Fatality Task Force   1027/1128 LB

7:00 PM Session Convenes (House) House Chamber
7:00 PM Session Convenes (Senate) Senate Chamber

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
8:30 AM AND 2:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT (Joint)Agency Overview/Presentations 1425LB

IMMED. AFTER SESSION APPROPRIATIONS (House) 643LOB

10:00 AM JUDICIARY I (House) 1228 LB

Prohibit Smoking in Public & Work Places. (H2) 1228LB

11:00 AM EDUCATION (House) 643 LOB
Science Safety in the Public Schools. (H42)
Study Raising Compulsory Attendance Age. (H188)
Sex Offender Registry/Liberties w/ Student. (H209)

12:00 PM HEALTH (House) 544 LOB
DHHS/Office of Men's Health. (H259)
People First. (H353)
Designate Kidney Month. (H455)
Reduce Infant Mortality and Preterm Births. (H480)

1:00 PM JUVENILE JUSTICE (House) 415 LOB
Parent & Student Educational Involvement Act. (H218)


Wednesday, March 18, 2009
8:30 AM AND 2:00 PM 1425 LB
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT (Joint)
Agency Overview/Presentations

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Joint) 421 LOB
OSBM – Governor’s Education Budget

11:00 AM HEALTH CARE (Senate) 544 LOB
People First (S208)
Social Security Increase/Medicaid Elig. (S354)
Recommendations of MH/DD/SA Oversight Comm. (S409)
Public Health Technical Changes (S345)
Authorize Voluntary Medical Registry Program (S258)


Thu, March 19, 2009

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT (Joint) 1425 LB
Agency Overview/Presentations

Bev Perdue: State of the State Text

This past Monday, Governor Bev Perdue gave her state of the state speech.  Here is the full text of what she had to say:

Speaker Hackney, President Pro-Tem Basnight, Lt. Gov. Dalton members of the General Assembly and honored guests.
Let me also recognize my sons Garrett and his wife April and Emmett and his fiancée Sarah. And, of course, a very important man in my life. Unlike most of us, he didn't seek his position. But he accepts it, maybe it would be better to say puts up with it -- and that means no home-cooked dinners -- North Carolina's First, First Gentleman, Bob Eaves.
Tonight, I ask you to join me in expressing North Carolina's deepest gratitude to our nation's soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, Coast Guard, the members of the National Guard and Reserves - particularly those who call North Carolina their home. We send a special thank you to your families since military service is a family commitment.
With us tonight is Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey L. Copeland and his wife June. Jeff is Commander of the First - 130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion. He is joined by Staff Sergeant David E. Rhodes, an aircraft mechanic in Delta Company, and his wife Michelle.
After 9-11, this was the nation's first reserve helicopter battalion that was deployed serving 17 months in Afghanistan. In a week, Jeff, David and 480 other members of the unit will start a deployment to Iraq. We thank you, and all those in North Carolina's National Guard, for your service and wish you success and God's Speed in your mission.
It is a privilege and honor to be here with you tonight. I want to thank the citizens of North Carolina for the opportunity to serve this great state as your governor - and might I add, as North Carolina's first female governor.
I remember the first time I sat in this chamber as a freshman member and looked around. Then, there were just 24 women in the General Assembly. Today there are 43 women in this body. The legislative choir has a broader and stronger range of diverse voices. More points of view are being heard in state government. That is good for North Carolina.
North Carolina, like most states, has been thrown into the midst of a global economic crisis. To come through it, and we will, we must make tough decisions -- choices I will make and you will make.
That is our job and our responsibility:
• To confront the difficult circumstances and deal with them;
• To move wisely, prudently and decisively;
• To do what we must do to get through the tough times, as we also position ourselves and North Carolina to seize the opportunities of the future.
That is why, as much as it is my privilege tonight to speak to this distinguished gathering, I also want to speak frankly and directly to the people of North Carolina.
Let me frame the picture for you. Families all around the state are anxious. Many have lost their jobs. Many have lost their homes. As I travel around this state, I see the uncertainty and worry in the eyes of North Carolinians.
When I made one of my surprise site visits to a state employment office, a 70-year-old man told me about how his retirement savings had evaporated. He was looking for a job when he thought he'd be headed to retirement. A woman, with her three children in tow, had lost her job and told the counselors she'd take anything. A Ph.D. who thought he was in a cutting-edge permanent career, found himself, instead, on the unemployment line.
These people are North Carolina. They are America. And as elected officials, it is our moral responsibility to work together and help our citizens restart their lives.
Now I know those of us in this chamber tonight can't fix everything. No one can. But there are things we can do. By making the tough choices, by taking decisive action to meet our challenges, we can, and will, be part of the solutions we need to move North Carolina forward.
I will do whatever it takes to:
• Pay our state's bills.
• Keep all our kids healthy and in school.
• Make sure, that when our seniors need care, they can get it.
• Keep prisoners locked up and our people safe.
• Create jobs and provide ways for those who are out of work to learn new skills.
So, let me be direct with you. This is what we must do now and for the future:
WE START BY REVIVING NORTH CAROLINA'S ECONOMY: We must go after every federal recovery dollar that is available. We need to get that money into North Carolina.
We will put our people back to work by:
• Building bridges.
• Paving roads.
• Expanding and renovating our infrastructure.
It will take engineers, architects, contractors, technology experts and laborers of all types.
It was no joke when I said if South Carolina's governor doesn't want federal recovery funds, I'd drive a truck down to pick up his share. I know how to put those dollars to good use and help people. To those folks in South Carolina, I offer a warm invitation. "Come on up here. Stay a while." See how we in North Carolina can push forward-- in tough times.
But, back to business. We will ensure that the recovery dollars are spent with maximum efficiency, transparency, and accountability. I have put a team together in my Office of Economic Recovery & Investment that will track every dollar.
With the click of a mouse, taxpayers can go to www.NCRecovery.gov and see details of our investments. You'll know where the money went, who got the contract, and when they completed the work. Soon, NC OpenBook will do the same for all state contracts and grants worth more than $10,000. This is taking care of the people's business, North Carolina style.
But we can't rely on the federal government alone. We must do what ever it takes, our own, here in North Carolina, to create jobs, help displaced workers get new jobs, and keep families in their homes. We cannot let our citizens' dreams for a better future die.
We are already transforming our traditional industries into 21st century jobs. N.C. State is leading the nation in developing lightweight textiles that are used in the aerospace industry. This cutting-edge work helped us bring SpiritAero Systems, with 1,000 jobs.
We have broadened our traditional agriculture economy and become a Mecca for biotech, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences by uniquely bringing together government, higher education and private business. This allows ideas to springboard from the lab to the market place. Just look around. There's Quintiles, Merck, Bayer, Biogen, PPD and more.
Even as we work to grow the economy, WE MUST ALSO TRANSFORM THE WAY WE INVEST THE PEOPLE'S MONEY:
Starting today, it is no longer business as usual for North Carolina's budget. I want all our citizens to know it is a new day. Everything is on the table. We don't have time for talk-show political posturing or petty partisan games. Not on my watch.
We are confronted with challenges our state has not seen since the Great Depression. With a $3 billion plus shortfall, we must be upfront and make hard, painful decisions. "Truth in budgeting" time is here. It is what we must do to balance the budget and put North Carolina on strong footing, for now and the future.
"Cutting the fat" is a cliché that does not go far enough.
In the budget I present next week we will reduce and cut state government programs and services that many, including me, know have been effective but which, in these times, we simply cannot afford.
FOR NORTH CAROLINA, EDUCATION IS THE PRIORITY: Even as we search out ways to cope with our deteriorating economic landscape, we must be sure to protect our most precious asset -- our children, our future workers. So we must find ways to be inventive and engaging in the way our schools work and students learn. We must, as the saying goes, "not eat our seed corn," but continue to move forward on education to keep North Carolina competitive in the global market place.
And yes, even in these tough times... we will increase per-pupil spending in our public schools.
And while we will hold schools, teachers and students accountable, we will bring some sanity to North Carolina's own testing mania by eliminating duplicative or unnecessary tests.
I have reorganized our public schools, with Bill Harrison becoming both the CEO of the State Board of Education and of the Department of Public Instruction -- adding accountability and clear direction to a system badly in need of both.
And, as we make sure our schools perform, we must expect no less from all our citizens. No child has permission to drop out of school in North Carolina and no teacher has permission to give up on a student. No parent has a free pass from their responsibility to be fully involved in their child's education.
And no segment of our community, particularly our business community, gets a free pass on education. Our business leaders put a lot of energy into making sure North Carolina's tax rate is competitive. These leaders need to put the same effort into helping North Carolina be the home of the nation's best educated workforce.
And we will begin my College Promise to remove financial barriers for access to higher education. In this global economy, education beyond high school is not a luxury... it's a necessity.
My efforts create a pathway, starting in pre-kindergarten, that offers courses of study that fit students' needs -- all the way through vocational, community college, or college. Seamless learning, pre-K through 20, that's the goal.
And North Carolina will use technology to modernize the classroom and enable teaching to catch up with the way our kids live. Let's face it, today's students show up at school with more technology in their pockets and backpacks than they find in their classrooms. For too many students, they ignore what's on the blackboard while they are busy "tweeting" on Twitter. I see some of you doing that right now.
North Carolina's Virtual Public High School will ensure that any kid in any high school can take any class he or she needs. This levels the education playing field for students and assures educational equity.
AND, AS WE FOCUS ON EDUCATION, WE WILL ALSO WORK TO RESTORE CITIZENS' FAITH IN THEIR GOVERNMENT:
In the 21st century we must conduct the business of government in ways that bring transparency and accountability to the people. We will restore our citizens' confidence that government can help solve problems, and work efficiently without wasting tax dollars.
On my first day in office I ordered reforms to change the face of state government. At the Department of Transportation I insisted on openness and bringing professional decision-making to the process.
And some major policy decisions, like my new "zero tolerance" policy in mental health, the corrections systems and throughout government in general, will sometimes be painful because I am exposing weaknesses and individual actions that are unacceptable and wrong. I believe "zero tolerance" is how we find and correct the weaknesses that put people's lives at risk and undermine faith in government.
I have set high expectations for myself and for everyone who works for North Carolina. We will be open, ethical, and put the public's interest first. Taxpayers deserve no less from every state worker and I expect nothing less from every state employee. And, again my friends, these same taxpayers deserve no less from you.
As the legislature starts work on the budget and the important services that our citizens need, let me be clear about where I stand. Education is the engine that propels North Carolina's future. It cannot -- and will not-- be sacrificed.
This is the time to stand up to the sweet seductions of special interests, the temptations of politically popular pork barrel spending, and end the practice of backroom dealing.
Those days are gone. We cannot afford them in these perilous times. Our first and only duty is to stand by North Carolina families. That is why we are here.
The choices we face are clear. We are each called to service, courage, and sacrifice. We have been given the privilege and the responsibility to govern during a difficult time. We have been called, quite frankly, to the responsibility... of leadership in North Carolina.
This is the time to answer that call. It is a time for the ordinary citizens in this citizen-legislature to be extraordinary leaders. And we need not look far in North Carolina to find living examples of the kind of determination, hard work and sacrifice that make ordinary people extraordinary heroes.
Acting courageously. The words are simple, but today's challenges are not. Three quarters of a century ago, at a time not unlike now, Gov. Max Gardner told the General Assembly: "The whole future of this state will be profoundly affected by your work here and the eventful days that lie just ahead."
So, as Gov. Gardner called on the 1931 legislature to change the way government did business, I call upon you to join me in renewing and reinvigorating our service to North Carolina -- with the spirit of innovation and purpose -- these times demand.
Last November, you, the voters of North Carolina gave us the opportunity to make the tough decisions that the 21st century demands. You put your most sacred trust, your votes, in us. You believed in us. You placed your futures in our hands. We must not -- and we will not -- let you down.
In these tough times, North Carolina must continue pushing ahead. We North Carolinians do not shy away from challenges and we do not quit.
Simply getting our economy back to what it was isn't good enough. We will make our economy stronger.
We all must have high expectations for ourselves and North Carolina's future. We all must exhibit extraordinary leadership, courage, determination, and make the tough, but right decisions.
We will move North Carolina forward even in these challenging times. And, as a new day dawns for North Carolina and America - as we come out of this global recession, North Carolina the Old Tar Heel State, will be poised to take on the world.
Good night, God bless you, and God bless North Carolina.

Friday Wrap Up: Bills, Committee Reports, and Other legislative Stuff.

North Carolina:

Committee Meetings:

House State Government Committee
House Bill 353: People First was heard in the House Committee on StateGovernment today. Representative Verla Inkso presented on the bill. This legislation would direct bill draft to use people first language where appropriate when drafting new legislation and new rules. Karen Stallings, executive director of Self Advocates of North Carolina, spoke to the importance of passing this legislation. Ms. Stallings spoke to the efforts of self advocates across the state who are lobbying to change the way people view the community by shifting focus from the disability to the person.
Words have power and when we use words to limit a group by focusing on a medical diagnosis rather than the inherent worth of the person we do a disservice to our communities.

HB353 People First-Insko
This bill is identical to the Senate bill. It will direct bill drafting to use people first language where appropriate in the writing of new legislation and rules.

House Aging
The House Aging Committee met this week to hear the following bills.
HB 138 Increase Adult Day Care Reimbursement Rates
HB 139: Dentistry Funds for Special Care Populations
HB 141: Senior Center Funds
HB 142: Home and Community Block Grant Funds
All of these bills are recommendations of the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging. There was limited discussion regarding these bills. Committee members did request clarification regarding the purchase of two additional mobile dental units.
All of the bills received favorable reports and were re referred as needed. All have been sent to Appropriations.
HB 138: Increase Adult Day Care Reimursement Rate-Farmer-Butterfield
This bill would appropriate funds to the state adult day care fund and to the home and community care block grant to provide a rate increase for adult day services as recommended by the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging.
The appropriation for this is one million fifty-nine thousand five hundred sixty-one dollars ($1,059,561) for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years.
Of the funds appropriated there will be $561,357 dollars put in the State Adult Day Care Fund and $498,204 dollars in the Home and Community Care Block Grant. The funds will be used to support a not less than 5.00 per day per client rate increase.


HB 139: Dentistry Funds for Special Care Populations-Farmer-Butterfield
This bill will appropriate funds to the Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services, for the purchase of additional mobile dental units, as recommended by the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging. The appropriation for this legislation is two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 2009-1020 fiscal year, and the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 2010-2011 fiscal years.


HB141: Senior Center Funds-Farmer Butterfield
This bill would appropriate $750,000 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and $750,000 2010-2011 fiscal year this is being used for additional funding for certified senior centers.


House Judiciary III-Subcommittee
The three person House Judiciary III Subcommittee met to discuss HB 134: Assault State or Local Officer or Employee. This legislation would have raided the criminal offense of simply assault on an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class I felony. Representative Tillis, Wiley and Mackey reviewed existing state laws that could address the concerns of the bill sponsor Representative Tucker. Staff advised and the members agreed that there are currently multiple statutes that could be used to protect correction officers from assault. The recommendation of the subcommittee is that this bill not be brought back to the full committee.

HB 134: Assault State or Local Officer or Employee-Tucker
An act to raise the criminal offense of simple assault on an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state from a Class A1 misdemeanor to a Class I felony.

Senate Judiciary
This week the Senate Judiciary Committee met to take up SB 241: Alternative Testimony/Children and Adults with Disabilities. This bill would provide for alternative means of testimony for adults and children. This bill is very similar to a bill that passed the House this week that would permit children in a criminal case to use alternative means for testimony. The committee members requested that the two bills be compared and combined if possible. This bill will be reviewed and worked on and then brought back to the committee for vote.
SB 241: Alternative Testimony/Children and Adults with Disabilities-Purcell
This bill will provide and alternative means of testimony for adults and children with disabilities. This bill is a recommendation from the Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Public Safety.


Bills filed:
HB 456: Technical and Organization Changes/Certain DHHS Facilities-Insko.
This legislation makes technical and organizational changes to the law regarding the licensure and inspection of facilities for aged and disabled individuals.

HB 457: Recommended Appropriations MH/DD/SA Oversight Committee-Insko
This legislation comes out of the MH/DD/SA Oversight Committee. It includes all of the proposed appropriation requests.

HB 458: Recommendation of MH/DD/SA Oversight Committee-Insko
This legislation is the recommendations proposed by the MH/DD/SA Oversight Committee.

HB 548: School Violence Prevention Act
This legislation creates a standard policy that will address bullying in our school system.

HB 576: Allow LMEs To Inspect MH/DD/SA Facilities-Braxton
This legislation will empower authorized representatives of Local Management Entities to inspect licensed facilities that provide mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services.

SB 522: Southeastern MH/DD/SA State Health Plan-Boseman
The bill authorizes the Southeastern Center for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to enroll its employees and retirees in the state health plan for teachers and state employees.


Additional Legislative News:
The Arc of North Carolina participated in two news conferences recently. The first was in connection with the NC Paid Sick Days Campaign.
HB 177: Healthy Families and Health Workplaces Act-Adams
This bill is the paid sick leave bill. This bill would allow covered employees to earn a minimum number of paid sick days each year. Covered workers would earn one hour of paid sick time for every thirty hours worked, up to a maximum of seven days per year.


The second was in connection with the NC Prevent School Violence Campaign. Representative Rick Glazier and Senator Julia Boseman introduced the School Violence Prevention Act this week. This legislation would standardize the anti-bullying policy for all of our school districts.

Dispatch from Jones St: People First Language Bill Update

 House Bill 353: People First Language was heard in the House Committee on State Government today. Representative Verla Inkso presented on the bill.  This legislation would direct bill draft to use people first language where appropriate when drafting new legislation and new rules.  Karen Stallings, executive director of Self Advocates of North Carolina, spoke to the importance of passing this legislation. Ms. Stallings spoke to the efforts of self advocates across the state who are lobbying to change the way people view the community by shifting focus from the disability to the person.

Words have power and when we use words to limit a group by focusing on a medical diagnosis rather than the inherent worth of the person we do a disservice to our communities. 

This bill received a favorable report and will now be re-referred to the House Health Committee.

Monday Quick HIts: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

There is a lot happening in North Carolina politics this week.  Today Governor Bev Perdue will address the state and the members of the General Assembly. Her address is scheduled to start at 7:00pm this evening and will be covered on all major news networks.  She will address the serious economic condition of our state and will lay out her plans on how to make North Carolina stronger.  

Speaking of economics, appropriation subcommittees are back on the calendar this week.  We will see joint Health and Human Services appropriation meeting and transportation appropriation meetings.  We know that the economic stimulus money has been directed to our state and the cash is in the pipeline, but there are still questions regarding how the money can be used. Some of these appropriation meetings should begin the process of sorting that out.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Joint)
Mental Health  643LOB

9:00 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Joint) 1228LB

10:00 AM  JUDICIARY II (Senate) 1124 LB
Alt. Testimony/Children and Adults with Disab. (S241)
Rewrite Foreign Money Judgments Laws (S285)

11:00 AM COMMERCE (Senate) 1027LB
Amend Cemetery Act (S18)
Exempt Some Church Facility LU/LA Elevators (S114)

11:00 AM EDUCATION (House) 643 LOB
Healthy Youth Act. (H88)
Communities in Schools Funds. (H185)
Study Raising Compulsory Attendance Age. (H188)

12:00 PM HEALTH (House) 544 LOB
Retired Nurses Return to Work. (H329)
Public Health Technical Changes. (H374)
Authorize Voluntary Medical Registry Program. (H382)

1:00 PM SELECT COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYEE HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL BENEFITS (Senate) 421LOB
State Hlth Plan $/Good Health Initiatives (S287)

2:00 PM STATE GOVERNMENT/STATE PERSONNEL (House) 1425 LB
Off-Road Vehicle Trust Fund. (H86)
Medicaid Improper Claims Software/Funds. (H190)
People First. (H353)


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Joint)
643 LOB

Medicaid

11:00 AM HEALTH CARE (Senate) 544LOB
Amend Nursing Practice Act (S356)
Medicaid/Hemophilic Drugs/No Prior Auth. (S324)
Special Care Dentistry Collaboration (S188)
Social Security Increase/Medicaid Elig. (S354)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Joint)

643 LOB
CCNC

Monday Quick HIts: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

This week we will see the continuing discussion over the deficit in both the current budget and the 2009-2010 budget.  Governor Perdue announced last week that she will begin to move money into the General Fund from programs that will be receiving stimulus money in an attempt to lessen the impact of cuts on the current fiscal year.  There are still multiple discussions happening regarding state employee furloughs and shortening of the state work week.  Looking forward to 2009-2010 we are now getting news that the actual deficit may be as high as $4 billion dollars.  With that news here is what is happening this week.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Joint) University of NC/Private Colleges Update 421LOB

9:00 AM  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Joint) 1228LB

11:00 AM EDUCATION (House) 643 LOB
Science Safety in the Public Schools. (H42)
Students Under 16 May Attend Comm. College. (H65)
Encourage Policies to Facilitate Graduation. (H187)

12:00 PM HEALTH (House) 544 LOB
Prohibit Smoking in Public & Work Places. (H2)


Wednesday, March 4, 2009
8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Joint) 421 LOB
Pre-K Programs

9:00 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Joint) 1228LB

11:00 AM HEALTH CARE (Senate) 544 LOB
Special Care Dentistry Collaboration (S188)
Strengthen Disaster Planning/LTC Facilities (S193)
Preparations for Aging Baby Boomers (S195)
Reduce Infant Mortality and Preterm Births (S243)


Thursday, March 5, 2009
8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Joint) 421 LOB
Financial Aid/Escheats Fund