Legislation signed includes bills for education and transportation

Published 1:34 pm Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Several pieces of legislation have been signed into law and are of interest.

On the education front, a 15-point scale for determining school performance grades is now law. House Bill 362 stipulates that performance grades reflect the following:

A at least 85; B at least 70; C at least 55; D at least 40; F less than 40

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An amendment to change the percentage of achievement scores and school growth scores was tabled in the NC Senate. Currently, achievement is counted at 80 percent and growth 20 percent. The amendment would have changed achievement to 51 percent and growth to 49 percent.

Dare Schools Superintendent John Farrelly has argued for an even split.

NCDOT is directed in House Bill 620 to prepare a Public Street Information Database and have it operable by Jan. 1, 2020. The date “shall convey clear and concise information regarding the status of roads to the public.” The database is to include federally-owned roads; state-maintained with state road number assigned; and state-owned with state road number assigned.

The legislation directs the transportation department to update its Subdivision Roads Minimum Construction Standards Manual by July 1, 2020.

A new law will bring more native plants to North Carolina’s roadways, creating habitat for birds and pollinators across the state.

Senate Bill 606 passed through the House and Senate with unanimous votes, after a strong lobbying effort by Audubon North Carolina.

The bill requires the North Carolina Department of Transportation to give “strong preference” to native species of trees, grasses, and legumes when the agency plants vegetation along highways.

On Thursday, at the Joint Forces Headquarters in Raleigh, Gov. Roy Cooper signed the North Carolina Service Members Civil Relief Act, Senate Bill 420.

The new law helps service members while on duty. For example, it allows members on long-term active duty the ability to end contracts or leases without penalty, and to take leave from work without using any of vacation time, reports a media release from the governor’s office. The law extends the rights and protections of federal Service members under the Civil Relief Act to members of the North Carolina National Guard on active duty responding to natural disasters and to members of the National Guard of other states serving on state active duty who reside in North Carolina, says the release.

In Robeson County, the Governor signed Senate Bill 218, Clarify State Recognition – Lumbee Indians. The new law recognizes the tribal government and broadens the resources the tribe can pursue with that status. Additionally, it also establishes the North Carolina Lumbee Trust Fund, says the media release.

On Friday, July 26, the governor signed the following legislation:

House Bill 675: 2019 Building Code Regulatory Reform

House Bill 108: PED Safekeeper Health Care Cost Recovery Practices

House Bill 469: Various Family Law Changes

House Bill 628: 2019 Banking & Mortgage Corrections & Changes

Senate Bill 154: Allow Sports/ Horse Race Wagering Tribal Lands

Senate Bill 332: Civil Procedure/Limitations/Land Surveyors

Senate Bill 343: Various Education Law Changes

Senate Bill 391: Expand Youth Internship Opportunities

Senate Bill 478: Modify Appointment Reporting

Senate Bill 493: DVPO Abuser Treatment/Time of Expiration

Senate Bill 604: Amend NC Veterinary Practice Act