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Wed. late: XOver minus 23 hrs
posted at 2009-05-14 01:24 | Last modified 2009-05-14 01:26
After 12 straight hours of debate over 140 or so bills, the day’s running together a bit. But these are a few of the proposals I thought were the most interesting.
H1180, the Phone Deregulation Act, optimistically titled the “Consumer Choice and Investment Act.” Proponents say it’ll open the state’s phone markets to more competition, encouraging better service and more telecom investment. Doubters like Durham Dem Paul Luebke argue the measure does a lot more for telcos than for consumers. Orange Dem Bill Faison observed that House Commerce had stripped out several consumer protection provisions his Ways and Means committee put in. Still, it passed – but I’d expect we’ll be hearing a lot more about this one.
S1018, the Outer Banks Bag Ban. It would prohibit big retailers (5K+ sq ft) from giving customers disposable plastic shopping bags. The ban would only apply in Currituck, Dare, and Hyde counties. Sponsor Josh Stein (D-Wake) says only 3 to 5 percent of plastic bags are actually recycled. Most of the rest end up strewn across the landscape and floating off the coast, where they foul boat engines and kill wildlife.
"The other thing a plastic bag in the ocean looks like is exactly like a jellyfish. Sea turtles are ingesting plastic bags and its suffocating them. As we all know, we have some of the most important sea turtle nesting areas on the entire East Coast on the Outer Banks."
The measure would require stores to use recycled paper bags, and to give small discounts to customers who bring their own reusable bags. Stein says it’s a pilot project for a statewide ban. It passed the Senate 47-1 – Minority Leader Phil Berger was the only vote against.
H1110, Alienation of Affection. The House tentatively agreed to update NC’s 17th-c common-law "heart’s balm" statutes that allow a betrayed spouse to sue the cheater and the, ahem, third party for damages. Johnathan Rhyne (R-Lincoln) tried to add a waiting period before estranged spouses could legally take other lovers, but his amendment was voted down. The N&O’s Ben Niolet has more on the bill here. Third reading is set for Thursday.
H593, Change School Starting Date. The House voted to loosen a 2004 law banning schools from starting any earlier than Aug 25th. That bill was backed by tourism lobbyists who said early start dates were hurting vacation bookings and cutting into the labor pool. But some school administrators want more flexibility to set exam dates and to match their schedules with local community colleges. H593 would let districts choose to start as early as the second Monday in August as long as the local school board agrees. Durham Democrat Paul Luebke says the change won’t mean shorter summers, either.
"Let me stress that the intent of this bill is to keep the number of vacation days exactly the same. What might - what might come off in August will be added in June."
The measure passed the House 79-39.
Also of interest:
The Senate tentatively passed the Racial Justice Act (S461), but only after adding an amendment that would speed up the resumption of executions in NC, in part by revoking the Council of State’s say in the matter. Third reading is Thursday.
The House okayed the Clothesline Protection Act (H1353), which would prevent cities and counties from passing ordinances banning the use of clotheslines. Detractors included Ronnie Sutton (D-Robeson), who called them “monstrosities,” and Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) who warned that "People get hurt with these things.” But the “right-to-dry” backers won the day, 100-14.
Lots more to come tomorrow. For more frequent updates as the day unfolds, follow me on Twitter: @LauraLeslie.
Comments? Drop me a line.
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