While Budget Impasse Continues, Lawmakers Make Progress Elsewhere

Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Raleigh are continuing to spar over an ongoing budget fight, with no apparent end in sight.

But in the meantime, lawmakers are making progress on other bills, including one to regulate gambling-related activities in North Carolina and another that would help public schools address teacher shortages.

Gambling

The idea of a consolidated state commission to regulate all gambling-related activities and boxing in North Carolina has advanced through the House.

The proposed nine-member North Carolina Gaming Commission would incorporate duties and powers of the current state lottery commission along with those of state law enforcement agents that oversee nonprofit bingo and raffles.

Previous language that would have formally legalized fantasy sports are absent from the bill approved 86-26 on Thursday . Fantasy sports games are still played in the state, but the industry has wanted to be formally licensed and regulated.

Also missing is earlier language directing the proposed commission study the feasibility of the state offering video lottery games. Now, that study would focus primarily on the pros and cons of authorizing sports betting and steeplechases.

Athletic Recruiting

A late-session effort is underway to repeal a 2010 state law that prevented North Carolina taxpayers from having to cover the costs for out-of-state students who were being treated like in-state students when they received full athletic scholarships.

With little debate, the House Rules Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would restore a waiver that had reduced the costs of athletic booster clubs covering those scholarships because those students received the in-state tuition rate.

In 2010, the waiver meant UNC system schools would have been reimbursed over $9 million. Updated costs likely will be discussed at the bill’s next stop — the House Finance Committee.

Rep. Jason Saine of Lincoln County is shepherding the bill. He says the measure could help schools and athletic recruiting.

Hiring Teachers, Protecting LEOs: Governor Signs Bills

And Gov. Roy Cooper has signed legislation that helps public schools rehire retired teachers in hard-to-fill classrooms and increases prison time for someone who uses a gun to assault a law enforcement officer.

Cooper has announced he’s enacted another dozen bills with his signature.

One measure signed on Thursday will more than double the minimum prison sentence to roughly three years for someone convicted of a firearm-related assault on a police, correctional, probation or parole officer. Such crimes will become a more severe felony starting Dec. 1.

Another new law offers a way to hire ex-teachers without harming their state retirement benefits. The teachers could work in low-performing schools and those with a high percentage of students from low-income families. Math and science teachers would get higher salaries.