LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Rachel E. Beaulieu July 23, 2015 2015 Certain Session Laws To Date (www.ncleg.net) 1. HB 86 Utility Line Relocation/School Board: SL 2015-­‐111 2. HB 113 Protect Our Students Act: SL 2015-­‐44 3. HB 237 Repeal Personal Ed Plans/Modify Trans Plans: SL 2015-­‐46 4. HB 274 Retirement Technical Corrections Act: SL 2015-­‐67 5. HB 358 School Performance Grade Scales: SL 2015-­‐17 6. HB 879 Juvenile Code Reform: SL 2015-­‐58 7. SB 14 Academic Standards/Rules Review/Coal Ash/Funds: SL 2015-­‐7 8. SB 315 School Playgrounds Available to Public: SL 2015-­‐64 9. SB 333 Teacher Transition Data: SL 2015-­‐126 10. SB 545 Workforce Enrichment/Veterans: SL 2015-­‐143 Bills/Items to Watch 1. HB 13 Amend School Health Assessment Requirement 2. HB 482 Employee Misclassification Reform 3. HB 561 School System Auth. Re: Legal Proceedings (as amended on July 21, 2015) 4. SB 456 Charter School Modifications Benefits Section in Budgets Issue House Senate 30.20(b) & (c) Employer Contributions Retirement: 15.67% Retirement: 15.21% Health: $5,479 (Non-­‐Medicare) Health: $5,378 (Non-­‐Medicare) 30.21 COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) 2% increase. 30.25 Rehired Retirees maintaining their regular State Health Plan coverage (e.g., full-­‐time substitute teachers) Department of State Treasurer would reimburse the Employing unit (e.g., LEA) employing unit for the cost to pays the cost. cover such rehired retirees. 30.29 Interest Rate Assumption No change. No increase. Lowers rate from 7.25% to 7.20% and an additional .05% each year after that, affecting the calculation of the employer contribution rate. 30.30 Creditable Service while on Educational No change. Leave Adds restrictions: 1) Employee must be in pursuit of a degree; 2) Leave must be unpaid; and 3) Leave cannot be used to benefit certain professional organizations (e.g., NCAE). 30.30A Qualified Excess Benefits Arrangement No change. (QEBA) Extends the sunset to participate in the QEBA from January 1, 2015 to August 1, 2016. 30.32 Retiree Medical Coverage Eliminates for those first hired on/after January 1, 2016. No change. State Board of Education | North Carolina Department of Public Instruction | www.ncpublicschools.org