SB 226 – Amend HIE Mandatory Participation & Enforcement
SB 226 – Amend HIE Mandatory Participation & Enforcement
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill extends the deadline for mandatory participation in the HIE Network for most providers of Medicaid and State-funded health care services to begin submitting demographic and clinical data from October 1, 2021 to October 1, 2022.
This bill requires participation by ambulatory surgical centers, licensed dentists, licensed physicians with a primary practice in psychiatry, the State Lab of Public Health, registered pharmacies, and state health care facilities under DHHS’ jurisdiction no later than June 1, 2022.
This bill would permit the Health Information Exchange Authority to assess a civil penalty (no more than $10 per claim that the provider/entity fails to submit through the Network during any period of noncompliance) against any provider/entity that fails to connect to the HIE Network and submit required demographic and clinical data through the Network.
The bill would require providers/entities to do one of the following within 30 days of receiving a notice of a civil penalty: (1) pay the fine; (2) contact the HIE Authority and execute a participation agreement; (3) contact the Department of Information Technology to request an exemption or contact DHHS to request a hardship extension; or (4) file a petition for a contested case with the Office of Administrative Hearings.
This bill also authorizes the HIE Authority to institute an action in the superior court of the county in which the entity or provider has a principal place of business to recover the unpaid penalty if the provider/entity fails to take any action following receipt of a penalty.
Movement
Filed – 3/10/2021
HB 267 – Concealed Handgun Permit/Photo
HB 267 – Concealed Handgun Permit/Photo
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Garland Pierce (D-Hoke, Scotland)
Summary
This bill would require applicants for a concealed handgun permit or a permit renewal to provide a copy of a current and valid photo identification and further requires the inclusion of the photo from the ID on the permit.
Movement
Filed – 3/10/2021
SB 217 – Early Childhood Data Analytics/Pilot/Guilford
SB 217 – Early Childhood Data Analytics/Pilot/Guilford
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford); Sen. Michael Garrett (D-Guilford); Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance, Guilford)
Summary
This bill appropriates $1M in nonrecurring funds beginning with the 2021-2022 fiscal year and ending after the 2026-2027 fiscal year to Guilford County to be used to support the building, testing, and improving of an integrated data system technology for early childhood development programs.
This bill also appropriates $808,000 in nonrecurring funds to Ready for School Ready for Life, a nonprofit organization that provides a system of care for children prenatally to 5 years of age in Guilford County, to be used to establish a 3-year pilot program for improving the quality of care and education for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children in Guilford County.
Movement
Filed – 3/9/2021
SB 208 – Labor Law Changes
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey); Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance, Guilford); Sen. Mike Woodard (D-Durham, Granville, Person)
Summary
This bill makes various modifications to NC labor laws and provides the Director of Occupational Safety and Health with the power and authority to obtain medical records complied and maintained by DHHS by hospitals participating in the statewide trauma system, or by emergency management services providers in connection with the dispatch, response, and treatment, or transport of individual patients relating to investigations and enforcement proceedings under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Movement
Filed – 3/9/2021
HB 254 – Const. Amend./Concealed Carry
HB 254 – Const. Amend./Concealed Carry
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus); Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Craven)
Summary
This bill would revise, subject to voter approval at the general election in 2022, Section 30 of Article I of the NC Constitution to grant the right to carry any legal weapon for self-defense, either openly or concealed, with or without a permit, to any citizen who has not been indicted or convicted of a violent crime or possession or distribution of a controlled substance and who has not been adjudicated mentally incompetent.
Movement
Filed – 3/9/2021
HB 249 – Children with Disabilities Funding Formula
HB 249 – Children with Disabilities Funding Formula
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-Alexander, Wilkes); Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke); Rep. John Bradford, III (R-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to study and propose a change to the formula for State funding for children with disabilities from the current model allocating funding based on required service levels to a model allocating funding based on severity of disability type.
This bill also appropriates $7,725,690 to the Department of Public Instruction for the purpose of allocating funds for children with disabilities to local school administrative units for at least 13% of each local school administrative unit’s 2021-2022 allocated average daily membership.
Movement
Filed – 3/9/2021
HB 246 – Huntersville Ocular Melanoma Study
HB 246 – Huntersville Ocular Melanoma Study
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. John Bradford, III (R-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill appropriates $150K in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to the Town of Huntersville to be used to study and abate the cause of frequent cases of ocular melanoma in the area.
Movement
Filed – 3/9/2021
HB 243 – UNC Legislative Priorities/COVID-19 Impacts
HB 243 – UNC Legislative Priorities/COVID-19 Impacts
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph); Rep. Ray Pickett (R-Ashe, Watauga); Rep. Evelyn Terry (D-Forsyth)
Summary
This bill:
- Authorizes the UNC President to implement a temporary salary reduction for UNC employees to offset budget and revenue reductions at a constituent institution so long as the reductions are implemented across-the-board to impact an entire constituent institution or its major subdivisions.
- Sets limits for the reductions, including a requirement that salary reductions cannot result in an annual salary of less than $45,000 or an amount to more than 20% of the employee’s annual base salary.
- Requires the UNC President to report quarterly on salary reduction.
- Permits the UNC Board of Governors to authorize the adoption of an early retirement program to provide long-term cost savings and improved operational efficiencies to remain in effect until December 31, 2022.
- Authorizes the UNC President to approve a reduction in force for positions subject to the Human Resources Act provided the reduction is in accordance with the policies of Office of State Human Resources.
- Allows UNC employees subject to the Human Resources Act to use accrued leave for any COVID-19 related absences.
- Permits the UNC Board of Governors to allocate non-State funds to pay for the employee portions of monthly premiums in the State Health Plan that would have been paid if the participating employee is currently on emergency furlough placing the employee below half-time employment for a calendar month.
Movement
Filed – 3/9/2021
SB203/HB 231 – Allow Durham Public Schools to Provide Housing
SB203/HB 231 – Allow Durham Public Schools to Provide Housing
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Mike Woodard (D-Durham, Granville, Person); Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Vernetta Alston (D-Durham); Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham); Rep. Zack Hawkins (D-Durham)
Summary
This bill authorizes the Durham Public Schools Board of Education to contract with any person/business entity to construct/maintain affordable rental housing on property owned by the Board of Education or by Durham County.
This bill also permits the Durham Public Schools Board of Education to enter into residential housing unit lease agreements for housing units owned by the Board as long as the Board rents the units exclusively to Durham Public Schools teachers or employees.
Movement
SB 203
Filed 3/9/2021
HB 231
Filed 3/4/2021
This bill was referred to the following House committees:
-Rules, Calendar, and Operations
-Education – 1-12
-Appropriations
-Local Government
SB 200 – CPS Intake Screening/PED Study
SB 200 – CPS Intake Screening/PED Study
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania); Sen. Carl Ford (R-Rowan, Stanly); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee)
Summary
This bill:
- Prohibits county departments of social services from utilizing child protective services intake screening criteria with county policy more stringent than, or in addition to, state policy.
- Requires DHHS to implement a rapid consultation system no later than June 30, 2022 to provide consultation to counties when making decisions regarding the safety of children.
- Requires DHHS to periodically assess county department of social services workers’ and supervisors’ comprehension and implementation of State policy and their training needs regarding the screening of reports of alleged child maltreatment.
- Requires DHHS to increase the frequency of intake training, develop an intermediate intake screening course, and require county social services workers and supervisors to complete an intake screening training at least every 3 years.
- Requires DHHS to revise the child protective services structured intake form to ensure it continues to meet federal and State requirements and provides consistency for use statewide.
- Requires DHHS to report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on its progress towards improved program monitoring and continuous quality improvement.
Movement
Filed – 3/8/2021
SB 191 – No Patient Left Alone Act
SB 191 – No Patient Left Alone Act
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Avery, Burke, Caldwell); Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Danny Britt, Jr. (R-Columbus, Robeson)
Summary
This bill requires hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care facilities, adult care homes, special care units, and residential treatment facilities to provide the opportunity for at least one visitor to visit a patient admitted to a facility and clarifies that these visitation rights may not be terminated, suspended, or waived by the facility, DHHS, or the Governor in response to declared disasters or emergencies. Visitors may be required to submit to health screenings as needed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and a facility may restrict a visitor who does not pass a health screening requirement or who has tested positive for an infectious disease.
This bill also requires DHHS to develop and disseminate free informational materials explaining patient visitation rights to each of these facilities.
Movement
Filed – 3/8/2021
SB 190 – Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place
SB 190 – Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe); Sen. Milton Fitch, Jr. (D-Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson); Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill prohibits individuals from possessing/carrying a dangerous weapon at a location used as a voting place, within 100 feet from the entrance to a location used as a voting place, or while in line to vote.
Movement
Filed 3/4/2021
SB 189/HB 226 – School Calendar Flex/Mecklenburg County
SB 189/HB 226 – School Calendar Flex/Mecklenburg County
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg); Sen. Deandrea Salvador (D-Mecklenburg); Sen. Joyce Waddell (D-Mecklenburg)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Terry Brown, Jr. (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Wesley Harris, PhD (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Carolyn Logan (D-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill allows the local boards of education for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to determine the opening and closing dates for public schools and specifically permits first semester examinations to be given before winter break regardless of a school’s opening date.
Movement
SB 189
Filed – 3/4/2021
HB 226
Filed – 3/4/2021
SB 187 – School Calendar Flexibility/Cleveland County
SB 187 – School Calendar Flexibility/Cleveland County
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Ted Alexander (R-Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln)
Summary
This bill allows a local board of education located in Cleveland County to align a school’s calendar with the calendar of a community college serving the city or county in which the school is located.
Movement
Filed – 3/4/2021
SB 186 – Strengthening DWI Laws
SB 186 – Strengthening DWI Laws
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania); Sen. Norman Sanderson (R-Carteret, Craven, Pamlico); Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain)
Summary
This bill establishes the offense of revoked driving felony death by vehicle and specifies the elements of the offense. This bill also requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to revoke the registration of all motor vehicles registered in the convicted person’s name upon receipt of notice of conviction for the offense of revoked driving felony death by vehicle.
Movement
Filed – 3/4/2021
SB 184 – Prostate Cancer Outreach & Screening/Funds
SB 184 – Prostate Cancer Outreach & Screening/Funds
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Milton Fitch, Jr. (D-Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson)
Summary
This bill allocates $50K in nonrecurring funds to Emmanual Health Education, Inc., a nonprofit corporation to support the provision of prostate cancer educational outreach and screenings to historically underserved and at-risk populations in NC.
Movement
Filed – 3/4/2021
HB 232 – LRC Study – Affordable Housing
HB 232 – LRC Study – Affordable Housing
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Vernetta Alston (D-Durham); Rep. John Autry (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford); Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham)
Summary
This bill would require the Legislative Research Commission to study the availability of affordable housing in the State and report its findings to the 2022 Regular Session of the 2021 General Assembly.
Movement
Filed 3/4/2021
HB 230 – NC Managing Environmental Waste Act of 2021
HB 230 – NC Managing Environmental Waste Act of 2021
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan); Rep. William Richardson (D-Cumberland)
Summary
This bill:
- Requires the Secretary of the NC Department of Revenue to credit or distribute 5% of certain collected taxes to cites and counties in the State that provide plastics recycling services within their jurisdictions.
- Requires these funds to be used by the city or county solely for plastics recycling and food service ware waste reduction programs and services.
- Requires State agencies/entities to report the amounts and types of materials/supplies with recycled content that were purchased during the previous fiscal year to the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service.
- Requires State agencies/entities to report the amounts and types of materials collected for recycling within the agency/entity to the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service.
- Requires the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources to study the issue of food service ware and reports its findings and recommendations to the 2022 Regular Session of the 2021 General Assembly.
- Requires the Legislative Services Officer to evaluate opportunities to reduce the use of food service ware in food establishments operated by the General Assembly.
- Instructs the Division of Services for the Blind to implement a pilot program to eliminate the sale or provision of food or beverages for consumption on or off the premises.
Movement
Filed 3/24/2021
HB 222 – Establish SUDEP Awareness Week
HB 222 – Establish SUDEP Awareness Week
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance); Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Craven); Rep. Charles Graham (D-Robeson); Rep. Ben Moss, Jr. (R-Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly)
Summary
This bill designates the week beginning on the second Sunday in November each year as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) Awareness Week in NC.
Movement
Filed 3/3/2021
HB 216 – NC A&T State University/Ag Doctoral Funds
HB 216 – NC A&T State University/Ag Doctoral Funds
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Ashton Clemmons (D-Guilford); Rep. John Hardister (R-Guilford); Rep. Amos Quick, III (D-Guilford); Rep. John Faircloth (R-Guilford)
Summary
This bill appropriates $3M in additional recurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to be allocated to NC A&T State University to support its agricultural research and cooperative extension activities by matching federal funds awarded to the University as a land-grant university pursuant to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977.
This bill also appropriates $7.5M in additional recurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to be allocated to NC A&T State University to support new faculty and graduate student services for doctoral programs including computer science, various engineering fields, energy and environmental systems, education, agriculture, and rehabilitation counseling.
Movement
Filed – 3/3/2021
HB 215 – Early Childhood Data Analytics/Pilot/Guilford
HB 215 – Early Childhood Data Analytics/Pilot/Guilford
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Ashton Clemmons (D-Guilford); Rep. John Faircloth (R-Guilford); Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford); Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford)
Summary
This bill appropriates $1M in nonrecurring funds each fiscal year from 2021-2022 through 2026-2027 to Guilford County as grant-in-aid funds to be used to support the building, testing, and improving of an integrated data system technology to be used for providing empirical data for decision-making and to facilitate securing future funding.
This bill also appropriates $808,000 in nonrecurring funds to Ready for School Ready for Life, a nonprofit organization that provides a system of care for children prenatally to 5 years of age in Guilford County, to be used to establish a 3-year pilot program for improving the quality of care and education for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children in Guilford County.
Movement
Filed – 3/3/2021
HB 214 – Grant Prog. To Reduce CV19 Vaccine Hesitancy
HB 214 – Grant Prog. To Reduce CV19 Vaccine Hesitancy
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Amos Quick, III (D-Guilford); Rep. Kandie Smith (D-Pitt); Rep. Carolyn Logan (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Garland Pierce (D-Hoke, Scotland)
Summary
This bill appropriates $2M to DHHS in nonrecurring funds to be used to establish and operate the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Elimination Grant Program, a competitive grant program designed to improve the State’s COVID-19 vaccination rate among historically marginalized populations residing in the State by partnering with minority businesses to conduct or host public communications, health or educational initiatives, community vaccination events, social media initiatives or other activities.
Movement
Filed – 3/3/2021
HB 212 – Social Services Reform
HB 212 – Social Services Reform
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes); Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke); Rep. Donna White (R-Johnston)
Summary
This bill:
- Requires DHHS to establish 7 regions for regional supervision of child welfare and social services and to begin providing oversight and support within those regions no later than March 1, 2022.
- Appropriates $916,171 recurring each year of the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium to support 11 new staff positions to improve regional supervision and support of child welfare services.
- Requires new members to the county board of social services to attend education and training sessions during the first year they serve on the board.
- Requires DHHS to collaborate with key stakeholders to create formal education and training sessions for new county boards of social services members.
- Requires county departments of social services to resolve conflicts of interest arising during the provision of social services consistent with applicable law and any policies and procedures established by DHHS and further requires the Social Services Commission to adopt rules regarding conflicts of interest management.
Movement
Filed – 3/3/2021
HB 211 – Reopen Bars and Restaurants
HB 211 – Reopen Bars and Restaurants
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Timothy Moffitt (R-Henderson); Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba); Rep. Grey Mills (R-Iredell); Rep. Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth)
Summary
This bill allows all establishments that serve food and drink to open and operate food and drink service for on-premises consumption if: (1) the establishment was in existence on March 10, 2020, is properly licensed and holds all necessary State and local permits; (2) the establishment requires all employees to undergo a daily health screening/temperature check and prohibits employees showing signs of illness from entering the establishment to work; (3) the establishment conducts frequent cleanings of high-touch/high-use areas during operational hours and a daily deep cleaning after close of business; (4) the establishment offers disposable gloves and requires masks for guests utilizing buffet-style service or self; and, (5) the establishment limits the number of guests at each table to no more than 10 seated together unless all 10 guests are members of the same household.
Movement
Filed – 3/3/2021
SB 178 – Reenact Child Care Tax Credit
SB 178 – Reenact Child Care Tax Credit
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D-Mecklenburg); Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Chatham, Orange)
Summary
This bill provides a tax credit for child care and other employment-related expenses incurred by a taxpayer with the applicable percentage ranging from 9-13%. This bill also caps the amount of employment-related expenses for which a credit may be claimed at $3K for taxpayers with a household including one qualifying individual and $6k for taxpayers with a household that includes more than one qualifying individual.
Movement
Filed – 3/3/2021
HB 224/SB 173 – Occupational Therapy Interstate Compact
HB 224/SB 173 – Occupational Therapy Interstate Compact
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Larry Potts (R-Davidson); Rep. Kristin Baker, MD (R-Cabarrus); Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir, Pitt); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph)
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Summary
This bill enacts an Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact which permits licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants the privilege to practice in Compact states subject to the requirements and restrictions provided in the Compact. This bill also:
- Requires participating states to have an established mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints about licensees.
- Establishes qualifications licensees must meet to exercise the Compact privilege, including having no encumbrances on any state license.
- Requires occupational therapy assistants practicing in remote states to be supervised by an occupational therapist licensed or holding a Compact privilege in that remote state.
- Outlines process to be followed when imposing an adverse action against an occupational therapist’s or occupational therapy assistant’s license.
- Establishes the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission as a joint public agency created by member states responsible for establishing a code of ethics for the Commission and promulgating uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of the Compact.
- Outlines the rulemaking process to be followed by the Commission.
- States that the Compact will become effective following enactment in at least 10 states.
Movement
HB 224
Filed 3/3/2021
SB 173
Filed – 3/2/2021
This bill was referred to the following Senate committees:
-Rules and Operations
HB 205 – Abuse & Neglect Resources in Public Schools
HB 205 – Abuse & Neglect Resources in Public Schools
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Ted Davis, Jr. (R-New Hanover); Rep. Donna White (R-Johnston); Rep. Kelly Hastings (R-Cleveland, Gaston); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph)
Summary
This bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt a policy to be implemented by the governing body of each public secondary school to provide students in grades 6-12 with information on child abuse and neglect and age-appropriate information on sexual abuse. The information must be included in a document provided to all students and displayed in a visible, high-traffic area throughout the school.
Movement
Filed – 3/2/2021
HB 202 School Calendar Flexibility/Harnett County
HB 202 School Calendar Flexibility/Harnett County
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Howard Penny, Jr. (R-Harnett)
Summary
This bill would allow local boards of education in Harnett County to determine the dates of opening and closing public schools.
Movement
Filed – 3/2/2021
HB 201 Academic Alignment/Certain School Units
HB 201 Academic Alignment/Certain School Units
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union); Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes); Rep. Mark Brody (R-Anson, Union); Rep David Willis (R-Union)
Summary
This bill allows local boards of education in Rockingham County Schools, Stokes County Schools, Surry County Schools, and Union County Schools to align a school’s calendar such that it is no earlier than the opening date of a community college serving the county in which the school is located and also allows local boards to revise the scheduled close date if necessary to comply with the minimum requirements for instructional days/time.
Movement
Filed – 3/2/2021
HB 200 Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permit
HB 200 Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permit
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Jay Adams (R-Catawba); Rep. Dana Bumgardner (R-Gaston); Rep. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico); Rep. David Willis (R-Union)
Summary
This bill removes the requirement to renew concealed handgun permits every 5 years and allows permits to remain valid until revoked or surrendered.
Movement
Filed – 3/2/2021
SB 175 – Amend Scope of Practice/Cosm./Esth.
SB 175 – Amend Scope of Practice/Cosm./Esth.
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell, Yadkin); Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance, Guilford); Sen. Lisa Barnes (R-Johnston, Nash)
Summary
This bill amends the scope of practice for cosmetologists and estheticians to include dermaplaning and authorizing the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners to adopt temporary rules as necessary to implement the change.
Movement
Filed – 3/2/2021
SB 174/HB 169 – State Health Plan Data Transparency
SB 174/HB 169 – State Health Plan Data Transparency
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Edward Goodwin (R-Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington); Rep. Larry Potts (R-Davidson); Rep. Terence Everitt (D-Wake); Rep. Allison Dahle (D-Wake)
Summary
This bill makes a series of amendments to provisions governing the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees including the following:
- Revises definition of “Claims Payment Data” to include the rate negotiated with or agreed to by the provider.
- Requires the Claims Processor to disclose the Claims Payment Data on a member level for claims paid with State funds.
- Exempts Claims Payment Data from public record.
- Removes language prohibiting the Plan from using Claim Payment Data to negotiate rates, fee schedules, or other master charges with providers.
- Permits the Plan to disclose Claim Payment Data to a third party to use on the Plan’s behalf if the Plan provides notice to the Claims Processor.
Movement
SB 174
Filed 3/2/2021
HB 169
Filed – 2/25/2021
This bill was referred to the following House committees:
-State Government
-Pensions and Retirement
-Rules Calendar and Operations
HB 196 – 2021 COVID-19 Response & Relief
HB 196 – 2021 COVID-19 Response & Relief
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. John Faircloth (R-Guilford); Rep. Dana Bumgardner (R-Gaston); Rep. Kyle Hall (R-Rockingham, Stokes, Surry); Rep. Larry Strickland (R-Harnett, Johnston)
Summary
This bill:
- Appropriates $10M to be allocated to public school units participating in a federal school nutrition program for school nutrition services provided in response to COVID-19.
- Appropriates $335,912,393 from federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds to DHHS for cleaning/sanitation and copayment assistance for families received subsidized childcare and encourages DHHS to use some of the funds to address early childhood education learning loss.
- Appropriates $47,465,800 from federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant funds to DHHS for mental health services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with $2,100,000 of these funds to be allocated for the NC Statewide Telepsychiatry Program.
- Appropriates $11,249,046 from federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds to DHHS to provide services across the State to those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Allocates federal funds to DHHS with $84M to be allocated to local health departments and $15M to be allocated to the NC Policy Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill to meet specific requirements of the Emerging and Infection Disease Program Enhancing Detection Expansion cooperative agreement, and to develop and manage a plan for an initiative to implement alternative COVID-19 surveillance methods throughout the State.
- Directs DHHS to allocate up to $3M to the Department of Information Technology from the COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness grant funds to be used only for integration of the NC COVID Vaccine Management System with the statewide health information exchange network and to add functionality to both system and the network.
- Extends the temporarily increased fee-for-service Medicaid rates expiration to the earlier of (1) the date the declared nationwide public health emergency expires, (2) the date Executive Order No. 116 expires or is rescinded, or (3) June 30, 2021.
- Authorizes an immunizing pharmacist to administer a long-acting injectable medication to adults pursuant to a specific prescription order by a prescriber if the pharmacist maintains specified records of administration in a patient record and notifies the patient primary care provider within 72 hours of administration.
- Revises the definition of “health care provider” as used in the COVID-19 health care provider liability provision to include any individual who volunteers to assist a State agency, department, or approved organization in the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations, including clinical, clinical support, and nonclinical support activities.
- Requires DHHS to give each prepaid health plan access to client-specific immunization information contained within the North Carolina Immunization Registry.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
HB 195 – Criminal Falsification of Medical Records
HB 195 – Criminal Falsification of Medical Records
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood, Madison, Yancey)
Summary
This bill makes it unlawful for a health care provider to knowingly and willfully destroy, alter, or falsify a medical record for any of the following purposes: (1) concealing an error by the health care provider that caused a patient’s injury or death; (2) unlawfully obtaining money or any other thing of value; or, (3) concealing any material fact relating to a potential claim or cause of action.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
HB 194 – Federal Court Official/Concealed Carry
HB 194 – Federal Court Official/Concealed Carry
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston)
Summary
This bill permits certain federal court officials with concealed handgun permits to carry concealed weapons. The bill requires the handgun to be secured in a locked compartment when it is not on the person of the court official.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
HB 193 – 2020-2021 School Transportation Flexibility
HB 193 – 2020-2021 School Transportation Flexibility
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Ray Pickett (R-Ashe, Watauga); Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln)
Summary
This bill permits local boards of education to provide bus transportation for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year as follows:
- Transportation for students receiving Plan A instruction must adhere to the Plan A requirements for transportation established in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.
- Transportation for students receiving Plan B instruction must adhere to the Plan B requirements for transportation established in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.
- If a single bus provides transportation to students receiving Plan A instruction and Plan B instruction, the requirement of only one passenger per bench seat applies only to those students receiving Plan B instruction.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
HB 192 – COVID Response/Supplemental Spending 2020-21
HB 192 – COVID Response/Supplemental Spending 2020-21
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Robert Reives, II (D-Chatham, Durham); Rep. Gale Adcock (D-Wake); Rep. Wesley Harris, PhD (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Brandon Lofton (D-Mecklenburg)
Summary
This bill:
- Appropriates $30M in nonrecurring funds for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to be allocated to enhance high-speed internet access across the State through a multipronged approach.
- Appropriates $20M in nonrecurring funds for the 2020-2021 fiscal year for the RETOOLNC grant program to provide additional funds to assist State certified minority-owned and women-owned business in their recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Appropriates $50M nonrecurring funds for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to be used to continue communicable disease emergency pay for employees such as correctional officers and law enforcement officers who work in conditions that put them at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19.
- Appropriates $64,500,000 to be used for COVID-19 related expenses incurred by the NC State Health Plan.
- Extends the temporary Medicaid rate increases related to the public health emergency to earlier of (1) the date the declared nationwide public health emergency expires, (2) the date Executive Order No. 116 expires or is rescinded, or (3) June 30, 2021.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
HB 191/SB 133 – UNC Pembroke/Health Science Center Funds
HB 191/SB 133 – UNC Pembroke/Health Science Center Funds
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus, Robeson)
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Danny Britt, Jr. (R-Columbus, Robeson); Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Anson, Moore, Richmond, Scotland)
Summary
This bill would provide $6,500,000 for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and $20,000,000 for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to provide funds for the construction of a Health Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Movement
HB 191
Filed – 3/1/2021
SB 133
Filed – 2/23/2021
This bill was referred to Rules and Operations on 2/24/2021 but withdrawn that same day.
This bill was re-referred to the following Senate committees:
-Appropriations/Base Budget
-Rules and Operations
HB 187 – Funds/Wagram Recreation Center
HB 187 – Funds/Wagram Recreation Center
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Garland Pierce (D-Hoke, Scotland)
Summary
This bill appropriates $50K in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to purchase an air conditioning unit for the Wagram Recreation Center’s gymnasium.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
SB 170 – Students, Parents, Community Rights Act
SB 170 – Students, Parents, Community Rights Act
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain); Sen. Ted Alexander (R-Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln); Sen. Dean Proctor (R-Alexander, Catawba)
Summary
This bill authorizes all public and nonpublic high schools in Alexander County, Catawba County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Cleveland County, Graham County, Haywood County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Macon County, and Swain County to allow spectators to attend outdoor sporting events as long as the number of spectators does not exceed 50% of the outdoor facility’s capacity stated on the facility’s certificate of occupancy, or no more than 7 spectators for every 1,000 square feet if the facility does not have a certificate. Spectators who bring their own seats will not count toward the limit on the number of spectators if they maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and anyone outside of their family unit.
Schools must comply with the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit and the Interim Guidance for Administrators and Participants of Youth Amateur Sports Programs when allowing access for spectators.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
SB 167/HB 188 – Remove Barriers/Gain Access to Abortion Act
SB 167/HB 188 – Remove Barriers/Gain Access to Abortion Act
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg); Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham); Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Rep. Julie von Haefen (D-Wake); Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover); Rep. Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe); Rep. Vernetta Alston (D-Durham)
Summary
This bill seeks to make the following changes:
- Removes the requirement for DHHS to publish the results and findings for annual inspections of clinics where abortions are performed on the website DHHS is required to maintain under the Women’s Right to Know Act.
- Revises definition given for “qualified physician” to include any person licensed to practice medicine, physician assistances, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives.
- Defines “medical emergency” as a condition which, in reasonable medical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of the pregnant woman as to necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or for which a delay will create serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including any psychological or emotional conditions, and excluding claims or diagnosis that the women will engage in conduct which would result in her death or in substantial or irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.
- Extends limited immunity designated for a physician treating a minor without parental consent to a person qualified to practice medicine, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives.
- Repeals statutory language prohibiting the use of State funds for the performance of abortions, or to support any governmental health plan or government-offered insurance policy offering abortion, unless the life of the mother would be endangered in the unborn child is carried to term, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
- Removes prohibition preventing counties and cities from providing abortion coverage to their officers and employees that is greater than that provided by the State Health Plan.
Movement
Filed – 3/1/2021
HB 185 – School Calendar Flexibility/Wake County
HB 185 – School Calendar Flexibility/Wake County
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Julie von Haefen (D-Wake); Rep. Erin Paré (R-Wake); Rep. Cynthia Ball (D-Wake); Rep. Rosa Gill (D-Wake)
Summary
This bill would allow local boards of education to determine the dates of opening and closing public schools in Wake County.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
HB 179 – Amend HIE Participation Enforcement Mechanism
HB 179 – Amend HIE Participation Enforcement Mechanism
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Edward Goodwin (R-Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington)
Summary
This bill would permit the Health Information Exchange Authority to assess a civil penalty (no more than $10 per claim that the provider/entity fails to submit through the Network during any period of noncompliance) against any provider/entity that fails to connect to the HIE Network and submit required demographic and clinical data through the Network.
The bill would require providers/entities to do one of the following within 30 days of receiving a notice of a civil penalty: (1) pay the fine; (2) contact the HIE Authority and execute a participation agreement; (3) contact the Department of Information Technology to request an exemption or contact DHHS to request a hardship extension; or (4) file a petition for a contested case with the Office of Administrative Hearings.
This bill also authorizes the HIE Authority to institute an action in the superior court of the county in which the entity or provider has a principal place of business to recover the unpaid penalty if the provider/entity fails to take any action following receipt of a penalty.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
HB 178 – Access to Prescription Drug Cost Information
HB 178 – Access to Prescription Drug Cost Information
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Wayne Sasser (R-Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly); Rep. Gale Adcock (D-Wake); Rep. Larry Potts (R-Davidson); Rep. Kristin Baker, MD (R-Cabarrus)
Summary
This bill enacts of series of requirements related to prescription Drug Benefit Cost information. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires health benefit plans, pharmacy benefits managers, or any entities’ action on behalf of a health benefit plan to electronically provide certain patient-specific prescription drug benefit information to inform patient prescription price transparency.
- Notes that patient prescription price transparency technology must not be prohibited from displaying patient financial and resource assistance when that information is available for the prescribed medication.
- Requires requests for patient-specific drug benefit and cost information to be sent and received in real time.
- Requires electronic health records to display the most up-to-date patient eligibility information in real time.
- Notes that the requirements should not interfere with patient choice or a clinician’s ability to convey the full range of prescription drug cost options to a patient.
- Prohibits any restriction on a health care professional’s ability to communicate prescription cost options to a patient.
- Prohibits payors from blocking the display of patient-specific prescription drug benefit and cost information at the point of prescribing that reflects options available for covering the costs of the prescription other than what might be available under the patient’s health benefit plan.
- Requires health care professionals to communicate to a patient the most therapeutically appropriate treatment for the patient’s diagnosis and prescription drug cost information.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
HB 174 – Funds to Help Those Struggling with Addiction
HB 174 – Funds to Help Those Struggling with Addiction
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes); Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-Alexander, Wilkes)
Summary
This bill appropriates $1M in recurring funds for both fiscal years of the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium to be split into two $500,000 grants, one for the Wilkes Recovery Revolution to maintain and support the R3 Recovery Community Center in North Wilkesboro, NC, and the second for Partners Health Management to support the Early Diversion Program developed in collaboration with PQA Healthcare, Inc.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
SB 166 – School Calendar Flex/Certain School Systems
SB 166 – School Calendar Flex/Certain School Systems
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth)
Summary
This bill provides local boards of education in Forsyth County and Davie County with flexibility when adopting the school calendar by allowing opening dates for students to be as early as August 10th.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
SB 164 – School Calendar Flexibility/Chatham County
SB 164 – School Calendar Flexibility/Chatham County
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Chatham, Orange)
Summary
This bill allows local boards of education for Chatham County Schools to determine the dates of opening and closing of public schools but notes that all first semester examinations may be given before winter break regardless of the opening date selected for students.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
SB 163 – School Calendar Flexibility/Certain Systems
SB 163 – School Calendar Flexibility/Certain Systems
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Chatham, Orange)
Summary
This bill allows local boards of education for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools to determine the dates of opening and closing of public schools but notes that all first semester examinations may be given before winter break regardless of the opening date selected for students.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
SB 162 – School Calendar Flexibility/Certain Systems
SB 162 – School Calendar Flexibility/Certain Systems
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Anson, Moore, Richmond, Scotland)
Summary
This bill permits local boards of education for Anson County Schools, Moore County Schools, Richmond County Schools, and Scotland County Schools to align school calendars with the calendar of a community college serving the city or county in which the local school administrative unit is located.
Movement
Filed – 2/25/2021
SB 160/HB 176 – Enhance SHP Debt Collection Abilities
SB 160/HB 176 – Enhance SHP Debt Collection Abilities
Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Rep. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Johnston, Lee); Rep. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne)
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Allen McNeill (R-Moore, Randolph); Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph)
Summary
This bill enacts new provisions related to the North Carolina State Health Plan and the Plan’s ability to collect overpayments and unpaid premiums. Specifically, this bill:
- Applies to individuals no longer employed by an employing unit and to whom either (1) an overpayment/erroneous payment of benefits, claims, or other amount has been paid on behalf of the individual/the individual’s dependents by the Plan and the amount owed has not been repaid or (2) unpaid premiums are owed by the individual for coverage provided by the Plan to the individual/individual’s dependents.
- Requires 30 days’ notice of the amounts owed to provide an opportunity for the individual to repay the amounts or enter into an approved payment plan.
- Deems intangible property (defined to include bank deposits, rents, salaries, wages, property held in the Escheat Fund, and any other property incapable of manual levy or delivery) subject to attachment and garnishment.
- Requires repayment to the Plan for any payments of claims to a provider later determined to be an overpayment, an erroneous payment, or an ineligible amount despite any agreement between a Claims Processor and the provider.
- Deems the Claims Processor who paid the amounts owed to the Plan responsible for recovering the amounts owed using all commercially reasonable mechanisms.
- Prohibits the Claims Processor from forgiving any amount due under the statute.
Movement
SB 160
Filed – 2/25/2021
HB 176
Filed – 2/25/2021