In 2013, Governor Pat McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly chose not to expand Medicaid to those with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty line. Consequently, North Carolina today is among a minority of 24 states not receiving federal Medicaid expansion funding. Some states in this minority such as New Hampshire and Utah are moving towards accepting funding.
We propose the General Assembly expand eligibility for Certificates of Relief to individuals with multiple misdemeanor and low-level felony convictions, increase the waiting period for relief to 36-months for certain individuals, and establish a filing fee of $50.
Many North Carolina workers are locked in low-wage jobs that don’t pay enough to make ends meet, even though they’re working full-time. Over the long-term, state lawmakers need to implement a comprehensive strategy that creates pathways out of this low-wage economy.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is the first and only federal legislation written specifically to help workers meet the dual responsibilities of family and work. FMLA guarantees job-protected, unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks to care for a newborn or newly adopted child; care for a seriously ill child, parent or spouse; or recover from a serious illness.
Everyone gets sick, but more than a million workers in North Carolina have no opportunity to earn paid sick leave. When illness inevitably strikes, they must take unpaid time off—sacrificing their wages so they can get well or care of sick loved ones. They may even face retaliation from their employers and could lose their jobs.
Congress should pass the FAMILY Act—crucial legislation enacting a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that allows people to continue receiving a portion of their wages when they need time away from work for family or medical reasons.
Most of the attention paid to HB2 has focused on the provisions repealing Charlotte’s recent anti-discrimination ordinance. But it’s crucial to understand how much farther HB2 goes than just addressing bathroom accommodations—the bill actually guts core worker anti-discrimination protections that state law has long provided to workers.
One crucial policy that can help businesses retain their workforce and minimize unemployment during and after economic downturns is called “worksharing.” It can also minimize layoffs when individual companies are facing tough times but the economy isn’t officially in recession.
On March 23, 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly passed HB2, The Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, which Governor McCrory signed later that same day. In the weeks since HB2 became law, the full scope of the discriminatory impacts permitted by the bill have become increasingly clear. At the same time, however, there remains significant confusion over what the new law means for North Carolinians.
North Carolina is rapidly aging—the population over 65 is projected to more than double by 2050. A growing number of seniors will need low-cost solutions for the challenge of long-term care, and in-home care services provide a much more cost-effective approach than nursing homes.
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