LAURINBURG — Committees at the General Assembly will begin meeting this week to discuss and vote on House bills, and some may affect residents of Scotland County.
“This is the first week (when committees meet) and will hear the house bills,” said State Sen. Tom McInnis, R-Rockingham. “We will experience a large amount of committee meetings. We are a week off (behind), but nothing extraordinary.”
State Rep. Garland Pierce, D-Wagram, is also gearing up for the week ahead and said the House bills will most likely be viewed on Monday and voted on before Wednesday.
He listed that a few of the bills on the agenda, like the HB56 Art Education requirements.
“The art education bill would require every high school student to take some form of art, dance or painting,” he said. “That would affect all of the students at the high school.”
Pierce also spoke of HB283, which is Conner’s Law, named in honor of the Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner who was killed during a traffic stop in October 2018. Conner had local ties to Robeson County and Pierce said the bill states if law enforcement, unfortunately, lost their life on duty, this law would bring harsher punishment on the killer and help families financially after losing their loved one.
“The bill 283 would affect our law enforcement … it would ensure that the offender would get the wrath of the law and the family would receive higher death benefits,” said Pierce.
Rep. Pierce attended the NC Re-entry Summit “Harnessing HOPE for people returning from incarceration” in Greensboro, last week. Its goal is to increase the success of individuals returning from incarceration to their communities and Pierce says it could also make a difference in Scotland County.
“It helps them get their driver’s license, resumes, and in contact with agencies who will hire them,” said Pierce. ” The work of Reentry has really grown and I was excited about the number of volunteers from across the State of North Carolina.
“I believe we can make a difference in the life of people with unfavorable backgrounds,” he added. “These are our sons and daughters who are returning to our communities.”
McInnis said some of the committee meetings he will partake in will be about transportation, education, commerce and insurance, and rules and operations of the Senate. He adds that his focus is on education and the bills he will be adding are still being drafted.
“There are a lot of education issues I am working on, like the modification of teacher licenses,” said McInnis. “It’s to help with the teacher shortage in North Carolina.”
Jael Pembrick can be reached at 910-506-3169 or [email protected].
