State Budget

The House and Senate have both presented their respective budget proposals for the 2019-2021 SFY biennium.  HB966, the “Appropriations Act of 2019,” passed the House in April and the Senate just last week.  Given significant changes made by the Senate to the original bill, the House voted not to concur on Tuesday, setting the stage for the budget debate to be continued in closed conference with representatives from both chambers.  Negotiations are expected to begin early next week.  Budget conferees were announced yesterday by Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Phil Berger: Budget Conferees - https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Bills/Conferees/2019/H966

Health Care Expansion Act of 2019

In an effort to keep the conversation about Certificate of Need reform alive, sponsors of SB361, the “Health Care Expansion Act of 2019,” plan to amend the bill so that it no longer mandates a full repeal of CON regulations.  The amended legislation is intended to match a CON provision already included in the Senate’s proposed budget that removes requirements for a specific list of facilities:  psychiatric facilities, dialysis centers, ambulatory surgical facilities, intermediate care facilities, diagnostic centers and chemical dependency treatment facilities.  The amended bill will also remove a section that adds funding to reduce the Intellectual/Development Disability (IDD) Medicaid program's years-long waitlist, as that funding is included in the Senate budget. The proposed committee substitute (PCS) also removes a section that tweaks regulatory rules for adult care and assisted living facilities. While the bill was in Senate Health Care this week, and revisions were introduced, the item was on the agenda for discussion only.  A vote on the PCS has been scheduled for next Wednesday, June 12th. 
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/Senate/PDF/S361v1.pdf  (original bill, not yet revised)

Of Significance This Week

Two significant notes to pass along at the end of a very busy week on Jones Street:

• June 6th marked the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, and members of the NC House and Senate commemorated the historical event by holding special legislative sessions at the old state Capitol.  The WWII veterans present were recognized during session, after which all were honored at special ceremony on the Capitol grounds.  Louis de Corail, Consul General of France for the U.S. Southeast, presented several of the D-Day veterans in attendance with the French Legion of Honor Award, one of France’s highest military awards.  He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their service, and thanked them on behalf of France for fighting in Normandy in 1944.  It was wonderful ceremony in recognition of the Greatest Generation.
  https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article231119213.html
   
• The NC House failed to override the Governor’s veto of SB359, “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” A required 2/3 majority is needed to override, and the House was short by 5 votes.  Last month, the Senate was successful in their attempt, but both chambers must override the bill in order for it to become state law.