Advocacy Update: Continuing Resolution, Autism Insurance, and a Break!
Monday, July 6, 2015
By Kay Castillo, Director of Advocacy, Policy, and Legislation
As of today, the State of North Carolina does not have an approved budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Legislators quickly passed Senate Bill 534 2015 Continuing Budget Authority last week so our state could keep operating after July 1st despite not having a budget deal in place. The Continuing Resolution, as outlined in Senate Bill 534, keeps the state budget running for 45 days at current funding levels. The only budget related changes in the Resolution includes $100 million to public education to anticipate enrollment growth, no funding for driver’s education, and it freezes state employee salaries. The deal gives legislators until August 14th to pass a budget. The Resolution was signed into law by Governor McCrory.
Additionally, House members moved Senate Bill 676 Autism Health Insurance Coverage through committee. The bill outlines coverage for insurance to cover services needed for children on the autism spectrum up to $40,000 and until a child’s 18th birthday. Licensed Clinical Social Workers are included as providers under the bill due to many years of our advocacy efforts. The bill is currently being held in Rules Committee in hopes that the Senate will move another bill related to state licensure for Applied Behavioral Analysts. We will continue to advocate for passage of this bill.
Lastly, legislators filed Senate Joint Resolution 717 Adjournment Resolution allowing legislators time off from Thursday, July 2nd until Monday, July 13th. Due to this time off, no Advocacy Update will be published on Monday, July 13th.
NASW-NC works on behalf of the social work profession on a variety of issues. It is a member benefit provided by NASW-NC to have a registered lobbyist advancing and supporting the profession of social work in North Carolina. The North Carolina Chapter works with National NASW on Federal issues such as reimbursement rates, immigration, student loans, and more. Your membership dues help support our advocacy efforts everyday on the state and federal levels. Thank YOU for being a member and staying engaged in supporting the social work profession.
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