Broadband Access Legislation Would Grant New Authority for Counties, Achieving the NCACC’s Top Legislative Goal
Several House members, including two former county commissioners, filed the FIBER NC Act Thursday, establishing a legal structure for counties to improve high-speed internet access for residents and businesses through public private partnerships. House Bill 431 authorizes local governments to build and install broadband infrastructure then lease it to private telecommunications businesses to provide retail internet service.
At the NCACC Legislative Goals Conference in January, counties voted to make increased broadband access in unserved and underserved areas of the state NCACC’s top legislative priority. The association thanks Representative Josh Dobson (former McDowell County commissioner), Representative Kevin Corbin (former Macon County commissioner) and Representatives David Lewis and John Szoka for their sponsorship of H431. Counties have had similar goals during the past two legislative biennia, and efforts by previous bill sponsors – including Representatives Terry Garrison (former Vance County commissioner) and Michele Presnell (former Yancey County commissioner) – laid important groundwork for this year’s bill.
In addition to creating clear authority for counties and municipalities to build infrastructure to lease to private providers, the FIBER NC Act establishes a process in the state’s purchasing laws for soliciting leasing bids, adds broadband projects to the public private partnership statutes, removes a restrictive leasing provision in current law, and requires a series of best practices local governments must follow to protect taxpayer investments and strengthen projects. The bill does not authorize counties to provide retail internet service.
House and Senate members introduced other legislation this week to enhance internet access across the state. The bill Electric Co-Op Rural Broadband Services (H387/S310) enhances the ability of electric membership corporations to provide internet service. House bills 381 and 398 increase funds available from a state broadband grant program.
Ask your House members to cosponsor H431, and ask your Senators to watch for an identical Senate version of this bill and urge them to cosponsor it. Tell the story of the need for broadband access in your county.
Contact Government Relations Director Johanna Reese or Government Relations Coordinator Hugh Johnson for more information on H431 or broadband issues in general.
|
|
House Legislation Appropriates State Funds for School Capital and Broadband Projects
School capital funding remained a hot topic at the General Assembly this week with the introduction of legislation aimed at providing $2.1 billion in state funds over the next 10 years for K-12 public school construction, renovation or repair. House Bill 381 also provides $300 million to community colleges for capital needs over the same period. This is the second bill filed this legislative session by House Republicans providing state funds to address public school capital needs. As previously reported by NCACC, just last week the House approved House Bill 241, sponsored by House Speaker Tim Moore, placing a $1.9 billion public school capital bond on the ballot for voter approval in 2020. The Senate has not scheduled that bill for a hearing.
House Bill 381 uses a different funding mechanism than the bond plan. It appropriates funds for school capital projects through an existing state fund, the State Capital Infrastructure Fund (SCIF). This plan for school construction funding is similar to the pay-go plan recently approved in the Senate. However, unlike the Senate plan, the House legislation does provide specific amounts the counties and school districts can expect to receive over the 10-year appropriation period.
In addition to using the SCIF to fund public school capital projects, House bill 381 provides $15 million annually from the SCIF to bolster broadband infrastructure expansion projects in the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program.
The NCACC asks its members to evaluate the various revenue plans and provide feedback to Association staff as discussions continue about how to address public school and community college capital needs.
For more information on school capital issues, please contact NCACC Legislative Counsel Adam Pridemore.
|
|
Bill Requires Sheriffs’ Cooperation with Federal Immigration Agency
House Bill 370 Require Sheriff Cooperation with ICE was filed late last week. The bill requires sheriffs to comply with immigration detainers issued by the Department of Homeland Security and to inform individuals being detained that they are being held pursuant to an immigration detainer.
The legislation also allows a private cause of action to be brought by any person against a city, county or law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the person resides, if that person believes that the entities are not in compliance with state immigration laws. If the court finds the city, county or law enforcement agency is not in compliance, the court may impose civil penalties that increase with subsequent violations.
The NCACC will continue to track this legislation and asks its members to share any feedback with Government Relations Coordinator Amber Harris.
|
|
2019 Farm Bill Addresses Hemp, Present-Use Value
Legislators filed Senate Bill 315, this session’s “Farm Bill,” this week. The bulk of the bill is dedicated to making a number of changes governing the cultivation of hemp. It creates the North Carolina Hemp Commission and the North Carolina Hemp Program fund. The Farm Bill also establishes regulations beyond what were previously in statute for those who hold licenses to grow hemp and lays out penalties and processes for corrective action for violations.
Of additional interest to counties, S315 changes the definition of agritourism to include “hunting, fishing and shooting sports.” “Shooting sports” is largely undefined, except that the shooting of semiautomatic centerfire rifles is not included in the definition. The bill also establishes new rules for notice and appeal when property loses its present-use value designation, requiring tax assessors to provide written notice of the change. If a property owner appeals the change and a tax assessor finds additional issues that disqualify the property, the assessor must notify the property owner of the additional disqualification. If notice is not sent to the property owner, the present-use value designation will be reinstated until the county board or Property Tax Commission makes a final decision.
Finally, S314 bill increases the size of signs permitted for outdoor agricultural advertising from two feet on either side to three feet and eliminates a timeline for removal of signage.
Please contact Government Relations Coordinator Amber Harris with any questions about S315.
|
|
Bill Expanding Authority for Deed Transfer Stops to All 100 Counties Passes Committee
Legislation to expand the number of counties authorized to block deed transfers on property with delinquent property taxes passed the House State and Local Government committee Wednesday. House Bill 201 expands this authority to 19 counties, making the option available to all 100 counties.
For more information on H201, please contact Government Relations Coordinator Hugh Johnson.
|
|
Senate Moves Bill Delaying Certain Aspects of NC FAST Rollout
On Wednesday, the Senate Health Care committee approved legislation delaying the implementation of certain components of NC FAST. Senate Bill 212 Suspend Child Welfare/Aging Component/NC FAST would postpone deployment of the NC FAST child welfare and aging & adult services case management functionality. The child welfare case management function would be postponed until October 1, 2019, except in the 11 counties that are currently pilot counties for the system. It is unclear how long the aging & adult services case management function will be postponed. The bill gives counties that are not pilot counties the choice to use the intake and assessment function of the NC FAST system. The bill goes to the Senate Rules committee next and could pass the Senate as early as next week. As written, it would go into effect immediately if it becomes law.
For more information on NC FAST issues, please contact Government Relations Coordinator Hugh Johnson.
|
|
Bill Requiring SSWG to Continue Work Passes Committee
Legislation to extend the work of the Social Services Working Group (SSWG) created by Session Law 2017-41 passed the House Health committee Tuesday. Under H291, the SSWG would be made up of the same members, the UNC School of Government would continue to facilitate the group, and it will continue to develop recommendations for regional supervision and interagency collaboration. The bill requires SSWG to report to the legislature by April 15, 2020 and again by February 21, 2121, at which time its work would conclude.
For more information on the SSWG, please contact Government Relations Director Johanna Reese.
|
|
|
|
|
