North Carolina General Assembly Report for CTTA

February 15, 2011


(BAD BILL) (senate bill filed S11)

HOUSE BILL 35* Short Title: NC Military Business Center Funds. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Glazier, Lucas, Parfitt, and Brisson (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, see Bill Information on the NCGA Web Site.

H35-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY BUSINESS CENTER.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:


SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000) for the 2011-2012 fiscal year to support the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC). These funds shall be used to sustain business and development and assistance services from 12 offices across the State to connect North Carolina companies with federal contracts worldwide; to support four State community colleges in their efforts to continue statewide business development originating from the five military bases in the State; to strategically position North Carolina businesses to win major service contracts and subcontracts in future military construction at North Carolina bases; to leverage BRAC-related business development and recruitment opportunities; and to continue two existing full-time and one part-time staff positions at the NCMBC and one part-time position at Fayetteville Technical Community College.


SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2011. 17


Referred to: Appropriations. February 7, 2011

Summary: (In my opinion)

Though this bill sounds nice, this is not the job of our General Assembly. The focus of our General Assembly should be in the limiting of unnecessary appropriations, not the extension of such practices. The state of North Carolina ranks the highest in the South East for tax burden. The general assembly should be spending its time on cost cutting measures, that make all our businesses more competitive rather than, less competitive measures that favor a few.

(GOOD BILL) (senate bill filed S47)

HOUSE BILL 64* Short Title: Restore Partisan Judicial Elections. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Sager, Dixon, Cleveland, and Jones (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, see Bill Information on the NCGA Web Site. Referred to: Elections. February 10, 2011

H64-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1

AN ACT TO RESTORE JUDICIAL ELECTIONS TO A PARTISAN BASIS.
02/10/2011 Referred To House Committee On Elections

Summary: (In my opinion)

This is a good bill. This bill allows for the public to be better informed about the overall sentiment of the individual they are electing. Since many voters, are uninformed concerning judicial candidates, this would at least allow the voter to know which party the judicial candidate is affiliated with.

( GOOD BILL) (no senate bill as of yet) Sponsored by Rep. Sanderson

HOUSE BILL 65 Short Title: North Carolina Farmers Freedom Protection Act. (Public) Sponsors: Representative Bradley (Primary Sponsor). For a complete list of Sponsors, see Bill Information on the NCGA Web Site. Referred to: Agriculture. February 10, 2011

*H65-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1

AN ACT PROTECTING THE FREEDOM OF NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:


SECTION 1. Title. – This act may be cited as the "North Carolina Farmers 4 Freedom Protection Act."


SECTION 2. Findings. – Regulation of intrastate commerce does not fall within the powers of Congress. Under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the power to regulate intrastate commerce is a power reserved to the states, as it is not enumerated as a power of the United States.


SECTION 3. Reserved Powers. – All foodstuffs, or products produced for the purpose of consumption as nutrition, food (fruit, vegetables, meat, and spices), vitamins, or supplements, that are produced in and remain within the borders of the State of North Carolina, to include the producers, the means of production, and the produce, shall fall solely under regulatory authority of the State of North Carolina and are not subject to federal regulation.


SECTION 4. Labeling. – In order to fall under the provisions of this act, the packaging of all foods and produce that are produced in and remain within the borders of the State of North Carolina shall be printed, stamped, or otherwise labeled "Made in North Carolina" or "Made in N.C."


SECTION 5. Enforcement Prohibited. – Public employees employed at the federal, State, or local levels, including, but not limited to, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Food and Drug Administration, State Bureau of Investigation, Highway Patrol, sheriff's departments, and municipal and county police departments may not within North Carolina enforce the provisions of the federal statutes upon foodstuffs and produce in intrastate commerce. Violation of this section is a Class 1A misdemeanor.


SECTION 6. The Governor and Attorney General each may enforce the provisions of this act in court by seeking injunctive and other relief.


SECTION 7. This act is effective when it becomes law.

02/10/2011 Referred To Committe On Agriculture

(HB 65 Continued)

Summary: In my opinion

This is a good bill. This bill clearly states both the limitation of federal and state powers in interstate commerce, on food products. This will help our farmers, by not be forced to take part in less profitable practices that do not include other states. Therefore, this will allow farmers to market products grown here to those who live here, at a better price.

Example of fed abuse: Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111 (1942), was a U.S. Supreme Court decision that dramatically increased the power of the federal government to regulate economic activity. A farmer, Roscoe Filburn, was growing wheat to feed his chickens. The U.S. government had imposed limits on wheat production based on acreage owned by a farmer, in order to drive up wheat prices during the Great Depression, and Filburn was growing more than the limits permitted. Filburn was ordered to destroy his crops and pay a fine, even though he was producing the excess wheat for his own use and had no intention of selling it.

(BAD BILL) (no senate bill as of yet) Sponsored by Rep. Wainwright

House Bill 71

HOUSE DRH50026-SHz-5 (01/13) Short Title: Housing Funds for Indiv. With Disabilities. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Weiss, Farmer-Butterfield, Earle, and Pierce (Primary Sponsors). Referred to:

DRH50026-SHz-5*

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING OPTIONS FOR NORTH CAROLINIANS WITH DISABILITIES, BASED ON RECOMMENDATION 3.2 FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE TASK FORCE ON THE CO-LOCATION OF DIFFERENT POPULATIONS IN ADULT CARE HOMES, AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA STUDY COMMISSION ON AGING.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:


SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency for the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 2011-2012 fiscal year and for the 2012-2013 fiscal year to finance additional housing options for individuals with disabilities.


SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2011. 13

02/10/2011 House Filed

Summary: In my opinion

Not the responsibility of our state government. This also allows for more costly duplication within government. Bill would cost $10 Million per fiscal year.  (Give aways--how Wainwright keeps getting elected, Lynn C)

BAD BILL ( no senate bill as of yet) Sponsored by Rep. Wainwright

HOUSE BILL 51 Short Title: PTA Parental Involvement/Dropout Prev. Funds. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Lucas and Glazier (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, see Bill Information on the NCGA Web Site. Referred to: Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. February 9, 2011

*H51-v-1*

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED


AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA PTA PARENT INVOLVEMENT/DROPOUT PREVENTION INITIATIVE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2011-2012 fiscal year to continue the North Carolina PTA Parent Involvement/Dropout Prevention Initiative.


SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2011.

02/10/2011 House Re-ref Com On Appropriations

Summary: In my opinion

Though this may be a worthwhile cause, it is not the responsibility of the General Assembly to force taxpayers to give to charity. This bill also does not include the percentage of appropriated funds going to the consumer of the non-profit’s services. Bill would cost $500 thousand per fiscal year.

It is important that a bill you like or dislike, gain momentum or be defeated from the time it goes into committee. Bills with a similar House/Senate resolution, are usually the quickest to pass. This is because committees in both chambers have “studied” the proposed legislation.


It is important that everyone be involved in watching for wasteful, over-reaching legislation. The North Carolina General Assembly has a great website that easily allows those concerned, to follow what is being filed and considered in committees.


How to be notified when committees are meeting.


1. Go to the NC General Assembly web site (http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/) or just Google NCGA.


2. On middle of the navigation bar, Click on Committees


3. At the bottom of the page click on “Committee Meeting Notices Via E-Mail”


4. There, you can choose from many different committees to follow or choose them all. You must do this for each chamber of the General Assembly, if that is your intent.


5. After clicking on the chamber and the committee you would like to be notified, type in your email address, confirm and subscribe.


If there is a specific bill you are following, this is the best way to follow and either help it get passed of see that it fails. It is almost too late when a Bad bill has made its way out of the committees and almost too late when a Good bill is stuck in a committee and “crossover”* is soon approaching.


*Crossover (non-revenue, non-appropriating bills, must be read before the house / senate by May 12 to be considered in the respective chamber)


Submitted by Mark Griffin