TITLE: Title
A Discussion of Legislative Issues for the 2018 Short Session of the General Assembly
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to facilitate a discussion of legislative issues to present to our local delegation at the breakfast. The delegation may be able to pursue some of the issues presented during the upcoming session of the NC General Assembly.
body
DEPARTMENT: Town Clerk
CONTACT INFORMATION: Cathy Dorando
INFORMATION: The 2017 Regular Session of the General Assembly adjourned June 30, 2017 and reconvened three additional times. The adjournment resolutions provide that the Senate and House of Representatives stand adjourned to reconvene on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 12:00 P.M. The second session held during the even year of the biennium is referred to as the “Short Session.”
The adjournment resolution specifies what may be considered during the Short Session. Per a January 23, 2018 memo from Anthony Aycock the Legislative Librarian to the Members of the General Assembly, those matters include:
1. Budget bills. Bills directly and primarily affecting the State budget, including the budget of an occupational licensing board, for fiscal year 2018-2019, provided that the bill must be submitted to the Bill Drafting Division of the Legislative Services Office no later than 4:00 P.M. Friday, May 18, 2018, and must be introduced in the House of Representatives or filed for introduction in the Senate no later than 4:00 P.M. Thursday, May 31, 2018.
2. Constitutional bills. These are bills:
a. Proposing an amendment or amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and containing no other matter.
b. Proposing an amendment or amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and containing no other matter other than statutory conforming changes to implement such bills.
c. Solely making statutory and transitional changes to implement bills under sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision.
3. Crossover bills (list attached). Bills and resolutions meeting the crossover deadline but not ratified or defeated in the receiving chamber as follows:
a. Senate bills and resolutions introduced in 2017 that passed third reading in the Senate by April 27, 2017 (House Rule 31.1(h)); and
b. House and bills and resolutions introduced in 2017 that passed third reading in the House by April 27, 2017 (Senate Rule 41).
c. However, any bill otherwise meeting these deadlines is not eligible for consideration if it:
1. Budget bills. Bills directly and primarily affecting the State budget, including the budget of an occupational licensing board, for fiscal year 2018-2019, provided that the bill must be submitted to the Bill Drafting Division of the Legislative Services Office no later than 4:00 P.M. Friday, May 18, 2018, and must be introduced in the House of Representatives or filed for introduction in the Senate no later than 4:00 P.M. Thursday, May 31, 2018.
2. Constitutional bills. These are bills:
a. Proposing an amendment or amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and containing no other matter.
b. Proposing an amendment or amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and containing no other matter other than statutory conforming changes to implement such bills.
c. Solely making statutory and transitional changes to implement bills under sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision.
3. Crossover bills (list attached). Bills and resolutions meeting the crossover deadline but not ratified or defeated in the receiving chamber as follows:
a. Senate bills and resolutions introduced in 2017 that passed third reading in the Senate by April 27, 2017 (House Rule 31.1(h)); and
b. House and bills and resolutions introduced in 2017 that passed third reading in the House by April 27, 2017 (Senate Rule 41).
c. However, any bill otherwise meeting these deadlines is not eligible for consideration if it:
i. Violates the rules of the receiving chamber; or
ii. Is disposed of in the other house by tabling, unfavorable committee report, indefinite postponement, or failure to pass any reading.
4. Study committee bills. Bills and resolutions implementing the recommendations of:
a. Study commissions, authorities, and statutory commissions authorized or directed to report to the 2018 Regular Session;
b. The General Statutes Commission, the Courts Commission, or any commission created under Chapter 120 of the General Statutes that is authorized or directed to report to the General Assembly;
c. The House Ethics Committee;
d. Select committees; or
e. The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee or its Advisory Subcommittee.
A bill authorized by this subdivision must be submitted to the Bill Drafting Division of the Legislative Services Office no later than 4:00 P.M. Thursday, May 17, 2018, and must be filed for introduction in the Senate or introduced in the House of Representatives no later than 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 30, 2018.
5. Local bills. Any local bill that has been submitted to the Bill Drafting Division of the Legislative Services Office by 4:00 P.M. Thursday, May 24, 2018, is introduced in the House of Representatives or filed for introduction in the Senate by 4:00 P.M. Thursday, June 7, 2018, and is accompanied by a certificate signed by the principal sponsor stating that (1) no public hearing will be required or asked for by a member on the bill, (2) the bill is noncontroversial, and (3) the bill is approved for introduction by each member of the House of Representatives and the Senate whose district includes the area to which the bill applies.
6. Appointment bills. Selection, appointment, or confirmation as required by law, including the filling of vacancies in positions for which the appointees were elected by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
7. Gubernatorial actions. Bills providing for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments.
8. Bills authorized by a joint resolution that passed by a two-thirds vote. Any matter authorized by joint resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Representatives present and voting and by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Senate present and voting. A bill or resolution filed in either house under the provisions of this subdivision shall have a copy of the ratified enabling resolution attached to the jacket before filing for introduction in the Senate or introduction in the House of Representatives.
9. Joint resolutions authorizing introduction of a bill. A joint resolution authorizing the introduction of a bill pursuant to subdivision (8) of this section.
10. Pension or retirement bills. Any bills primarily affecting any State or local pension or retirement system, provided that the bill has been submitted to the Bill Drafting Division of the Legislative Services Office no later than 4:00 P.M. Tuesday, May 22, 2018, and is introduced in the House of Representatives or filed for introduction in the Senate no later than 4:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
11. Resolutions. Joint resolutions and simple resolutions authorized for introduction under Senate Rule 40 or House Rule 31.
In previous years, the Board of Aldermen has developed a package of legislative issues to discuss with the delegation. Occasionally, this package has included a piece of local legislation that the Board of Aldermen would like to get passed.
The Board’s 2017 Legislative Priorities are attached for reference.
Staff continues to monitor legislation in the General Assembly and will report to the Board as topics arise. Legislative monitoring will continue throughout the short session by using sources including, but not limited to:
1. General Assembly Website
2. UNC School of Government monitoring and reporting service
3. NCLM legislative monitoring and reporting service
4. The NC Metro Mayors Coalition
The 2018 Legislative Breakfast will take place on April 26th, 2018. The breakfast will take place at Fire Station #2 on Homestead Road in Carrboro, NC and begin at 7:00 a.m.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: The cost of the annual breakfast is a budgeted expense in the Annual Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:r Town staff recommends that the Board discuss the item and establish a list of legislative issues/priorities to share with our local delegation and, where appropriate, to propose local legislation in the upcoming session of the General Assembly.