Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler – June 9, 2014
The fourth week of the short session started with a flurry of bills being considered in committees. Then some of them moved quickly to the House floor for debate and votes. On Tuesday our House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation reviewed the Governor’s budget adjustments for the 2014 – 2015 fiscal year, as well as the Senate’s budget adjustments.
Wednesday was Town Hall Day at the Legislature, and I was glad to welcome several towns and their officials. There in force was Southport with Mayor Robert Howard, Aldermen Mary Ellen Poole, Meezie Childs, and Jim Powell, as well as City Manager Kerry McDuffie. Caswell Beach Mayor Harry Simmons came by, as did St. James’ Bill Bittenbender, representing the ABCPOA of Brunswick County. Other towns from the county were Belville, Leland and Navassa.
In our policy committees Tuesday we had some interesting and important bills, particularly in the House Education Committee. We took up House Bill 1061 – Replace Common Core to Meet NC’s Needs, as well as Senate Bill 370 – Respect For Student Prayer/Religious Activity. These bills were controversial, the debate in committee was long, but they were voted out and went to the House floor on Wednesday.
House Bill 1061 had a name change when it came to the House floor. It became Replace Common Core With North Carolina’s Higher Academic Standards. The Dept. of Public Instruction reviews and replaces standards for our schools every five years. The idea is to replace Common Core standards with standards for NC that are better and are geared to our students’ needs better than Common Core. A commission of educators is established to write the standards, which will then be reviewed and approved by the State Board of Education. I was a sponsor of this bill and it passed by a vote of 78 – 39 and was sent to the Senate. The Senate passed a similar bill on Thursday, also by a 2 to 1 margin.
Senate Bill 370 had passed the Senate by a vote of 48 – 0. We took it up in committee Tuesday and it was also on the House floor Wednesday. The bill clarifies that student-led prayer on school property is constitutional and that school authorities should not interfere, as long as they are not disruptive or coercive. A phrase that school personnel “may adopt a respectful pose” was heavily debated, but left in the bill because it permits a respectful pose instead of requiring it. This bill created some long and interesting debate, but it was passed by a vote of 106 – 9.
We were finally able to have a House Transportation Committee meeting Tuesday and approved all the bills for changes requested by the Dept. of Transportation. These bills also moved to the House floor during the week and passed. Our budget meetings this week will prevent a Transportation meeting, but I will be able to Chair the next one the following week. We will be finishing up the bills we have in the committee at that time and be preparing for adjournment soon after.
The budget will occupy virtually all committee meetings this week, and we hope to pass it out of the House by Friday. It will then have to go into conference with the Senate to iron out the differences. If you are interested in hearing about the House budget, there is a press conference scheduled for 9:00 A.M. Tuesday morning. You should be able to listen in at www.ncleg.net and click on “Audio” and “Press Conference Room.”