Legislative Session, Week 10
Relevant bills filed this week: 
- HB 492 Tier II Medicaid Personal Care Services for Alzheimers/Dementia. This act would direct DHHS to develop Tier II- enhanced Medicaid Personal Care Services for persons with a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
- HB 498 Mandate Autism Health Insurance Coverage. This bill would mandate that autism services be covered by health benefit plans.
- HB 510 Foster Care Children’s Bill of Rights. This bill identifies eleven core principles for protecting children in foster care.
- HB 543 MHDDSA Providers As Uncompensated Guardians. This bill would allow providers of MHDDSA to serve as uncompensated, court appointed guardians to unrelated clients. A similar bill, SB 573 (MHDDSA Providers/Guardianship Issues) was also filed in the Senate.
- HB 580 Establish Statewide Telepsychiatry Program. This bill directs DHHS to establish and implement a telepsychiatry program.
- HB 589 Voter Identification and Verification Act. This bill would require Photo ID at the polls. It would start in the 2014 elections with full implementation by the 2016 Presidential elections.
- SB 566 Teen Court/Drug Court Justice Act. This bill would restore funding for Drug Courts and appropriates money for expanding Teen Court.
- SB 589 2013 School Safety Act. House Bill 452 was filed last week. This bill is a response to school shootings nationwide. It appropriates money for school social workers and more staff to be hired. It would also establish other measures to help schools establish safety requirements.
- SB 594 Require Drug Testing/Work First Benefits. This bill would require drug testing be done for applicants of Work First Benefits.
- SB 633 No Voting By Those Adjudicated Incompetent. This bill would prohibit those deemed incompetent from voting.
- SB 675 Eliminate Exceptions/Med Treatment/Minors. This legislation would prohibit physicians from treating minors for STDs, mental health and substance abuse without written consent from guardian.
- SB 683 Safe Harbor/Victims of Human Trafficking. This bill would create a safe harbor for victims of human trafficking and prostituted minors.
- SB 712 ID Card for Homebound Persons. This legislation would direct the DMV to establish ID Cards for homebound persons.
Action on relevant bills this week:
- SB 306 Capital Punishments: passed on the Senate floor and will be sent to the House. This bill eliminates the Racial Justice Act AND would have the state start back with executions on death row.
- HB 392 Share Arrest Warrant Status/Pub. Assistance. This bill passed out of committee this week and will be heard on the House floor Tuesday, April 9th.
Participate in Advocacy Days:
– Tuesday, April 9th, Women’s Advocacy Day
– Child and Family Day, April 17th 10 am to noon on Halifax Mall at the General Assembly. Join us as we convene on behalf of N.C.’s children. The day will include an issues briefing, rally and opportunity to visit legislators. Click here to register.
– Second Chance Lobby Day, April 23rd from 9-5 at the N.C. Legislative Building. Sponsored by the NC Second Chance Alliance
Medicaid News
This week, the Governor announced a new initiative with Medicaid: Partnership for a Healthy North Carolina. The program would combine physical and behavioral health into one system and will possibly eliminate Community Care of NC (CCNC). Comprehensive Care Entities would be operated by private companies to deliver services in NC. You can read more about the announcement here.
NASW-NC Social Work Blog 
How has NASW advocated in support of House Bill 452, 2013 School Safety Act?
Hi there and thank you for your question! I have sent this question to Kay so that she may answer you. She is in and out of the office attending legislative meetings and session, and will answer you as soon as possible!
Hi Nikki,
We have been meeting with bill sponsors to better incorporate school social workers in the legislation. We suspect an amendment will be run once it gets to the House floor incorporating these changes. From there, it will be sent to the Senate. Feel free to email me at kay@naswnc.org for further questions!
Kay Paksoy