06/23/2009

Associated Press

HEADLINES:

_ NC House tentatively approves expanded rules for anti-bullying policies in public schools

_ All NC property owners could pay if beach insurance plan swamped by storm claims

_ Legislature gives final approval on how to clean up Jordan Lake by changing panel's rules

_ Plastic grocery bag ban on Outer Banks blows through Legislature, heading to gov's desk

_ NC motor fleet's preference for high gas mileage approved by Legislature

THE BRIEF:

BULLYING BILL: Supporters of detailed anti-bullying rules in North Carolina's public schools are close to legislative victory — but barely. The House approved 59-57 a bill that requires all school districts to approve updated policies by the end of the year. The bill only needs one more positive House vote before it goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue's desk. The Senate already has passed the bill. The district policies must list perceived characteristics of a person who could be susceptible to bullying behavior. Social conservatives and Christian groups have argued all children can be protected without the list of characteristics in the rules and have pushed a competing bill. They are also concerned with the list because it contains sexual orientation and gender identity. Seven Democrats joined 50 Republicans in voting for the measure, while only one GOP member — first-term Rep. Jamie Boles of Moore County — voted yes with 58 Democrats.

HURRICANE INSURANCE: All insured property owners would have to shoulder the cost of rebuilding if a massive hurricane hits under a deal taking shape in the Legislature. Proposed legislation that could be detailed in a House committee this week seeks a solution to ensure a state-mandated insurance plan for coastal properties can pay all its claims after such a storm. The bill would cap at $1.2 billion the amount of the so-called Beach Plan's underfunded promises that insurance companies would pick up. The measure then would allow insurance premiums to rise by up 10 percent on every residential and commercial property to pay the Beach Plan's claims after a massive hurricane or tough storm season.

JORDAN LAKE RULES: The Legislature has redrawn rules designed to clean up a key water supply for several Piedmont cities. The House approved 108-9 on Monday night a bill that overrules measures to clean up Jordan Lake that the state Environmental Management Commission approved last year. The bill now moves to Gov. Beverly Perdue's desk. The bill attempts to reduce runoff from commercial and residential development that can contribute to pollution in the lake and hurt fish and other underwater life. The compromise between developers and environmentalists also attempts to reduce the cost of anti-pollution efforts for cities and developers.

IN THE BAG: Lawmakers have checked out an experimental ban on plastic bags on North Carolina's barrier islands, and they are sold on the idea. The Senate agreed 44-2 to House changes to a bill pushed by Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, designed to preserve environment and protect wildlife. The measure now goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature. The bill only would apply to large stores on islands or peninsulas in Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties. It would require stores to use paper bags or have their customers bring in reusable bags. Supporters have said the Outer Banks attract millions of tourists annually in part because they're clean. They also say the bags can be swallowed by turtles that choke on them.

FILL 'ER UP: A bill heading to Gov. Beverly Perdue's desk would require the state to express its preference for the top 15 percent of energy-efficient vehicles in their class when buying new passenger cars and truck for the state's fleet. The bill is a variation on a measure that failed to get passage last year that required the motor fleet to purchase new vehicles in the top 15 percent. The measure is designed to help the state save money by spending less on gasoline.

MONDAY'S SCORECARD:

In the Senate:

_ H1112, to create a process by which the putative father of a child born to a mother that was married from conception through birth can be entered on the birth certificate as the father. Final Senate approval. Next: Return to House for concurrence motion.

AROUND THE STATEHOUSE:

House and Senate budget negotiators spent much of Monday trying to work out differences in their competing spending plans for the next two years. Education subcommittee leaders are working toward a preliminary agreement that would keep in place a House provision that would increase class sizes in grades four through 12 but would ease cuts to non-instruction staff and transportation for local school districts. Gov. Beverly Perdue has said she wants to protect teacher positions from layoffs. There's a long way to go before lawmakers work out a final agreement.

ON THE AGENDA:

A House judiciary committee will take up amendments Tuesday to an omnibus bill that would change North Carolina's 50-year-old land annexation laws. The current measure doesn't allow affected residents to vote on whether to accept annexation, something sought by grassroots groups. Municipal officials say that would block expansion because residents would reject paying higher taxes that support services.

QUOTABLE:

"The memory of injustice is part of the pathway to justice." — House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, said of the raising of a highway historical marker in downtown Raleigh that identifies the state's forced sterilization program of the mid-20th century. The marker was unveiled Monday afternoon.

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By Gary D. Robertson and Emery P. Dalesio.