Legislative Update:

Friday, May 11, 2007

There is much activity to report during the week, which began as the 60^th day of the 2007 Legislative Session.

On Tuesday, May8, 2007, SB 1271 Firefighter/EMS Payroll Deductions Sponsored by Senator Snow was heard before the Senate State and Local Government Committee.  Our friends of the North Carolina Professional Firefighters Association graciously accepted a proposed amendment requested by PBA to include law enforcement officers in the bill.

The proposed committee substitute to HB 1271 included state wide municipal and county payroll deduction by adding the new language, “A law enforcement employer shall make a payroll deduction upon the request of a law enforcement officer for a law enforcement organization or association that has at least 2,000 members statewide.”

On Thursday, May 10, 2007, HB 1271 was calendared before the full Senate and passed by a vote of 40-8.

All members should thank those Senators who voted for this bill and remember those who did not.

We need to always thank those elected officials who know the difference between saying they support law enforcement and public safety and those that actually do support those men and women who actually serve and protect, fight the fires and save lives.  Those eight Senators who voted AGAINST SB 1271 are:

Senator Austin Allran    Catawba, Iredell Counties

Senator Andrew Brock Davie, Rowan Counties

Senator Pete Brunstetter           Forsyth County

Senator Jim Forrester               Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln Counties

Senator Eddie Goodall  Mecklenburg County

Senator Neal Hunt                    Wake County

Senator Jim Jacumin                 Burke, Caldwell Counties

Senator Robert Pittenger           Mecklenburg County

Senator Harris Blake                Harnett, Moore Counties

And, Senator Marc Basnight (President Pro Tem of the Senate) did not vote.   

SB 1271 is now on to the House.

HB 980 – LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DISCIPLINE ACT - has been re-calendared in the House several times since passing the House Judiciary I Committee.

Due to lengthy debate on the budget bill, HB 1473, well into the late evening of Thursday, May 10, 2007, HB 980 which was calendared to be heard, has been re-calendared for next Monday, May 14, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

This gives us another weekend to reach out to our legislators.  Refer to the latest Capwiz Alert for information and instructions on what to do next. (www.ncpba.org click on the “political action” button)    Your telephone calls, e-mails and letters HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE.

Legislators who have been receiving your phone calls have told us it has galvanized their support or changed their thinking and they are supporting HB 980.

Legislators who have received only a couple of calls or none at all have advised so far that they are not inclined to vote for the bill or at best are undecided.

We have had at least two PBA endorsed legislators that support the bill but have been very disappointed that they have not heard from their officers.  If you have not called, these legislators may be yours!

HB 1583 - Restore Contract Rights to State/Local – (collective bargaining bill) was heard but not voted on in the House Judiciary II committee also on Thursday, May 10, 2007.

Committee debate on the bill will resume on Tuesday, May 15, 2007.

Crossover deadline has been postponed from May 17^th to May 23^rd, 2007.  This gives more time for non-appropriations local and public bills to be heard.

Following the crossover deadline, WE WILL HAVE MORE DELIBERATE ACTIVITY ON OUR 25 YEAR RETIREMENT BILLS, which are safe from the crossover deadline because they are appropriation bills………COMING SOON.

Stay tuned.  We will keep you posted.