House Democrats spearheaded an effort this session to pass strong ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reforms that build on laws already recognized as among the most far-reaching in the nation.
This year, all 120 House members completed the required ethics training during the first month of session, disclosed all relevant financial information and worked to resolve any conflicts of interest. We continue to ensure that our government officials serve the public honestly and openly, and punish those who betray public trust.
Thank you for your allowing me to share this information with you and for all of your support. As always, feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance.
Pensions
This session the General Assembly passed a new law that requires public officials and state workers found guilty of felony misconduct to forfeit their pensions. The bill (S659) applies to officials convicted of a federal or state offense involving election fraud or public corruption committed in their official capacity. It covers legislators, judges, state and local employees and teachers. The law is not retroactive and does not apply to officials already convicted of wrongdoing.
Ethics Act
This session we made more than 50 technical or clarifying changes to the State Government Ethics Act, the Legislative Ethics Act and the Lobbying Law. One bill (H1110) requires legislative employees to attend refresher ethics education every two years. Another bill (H1111) allows the Legislative Ethics Committee to prepare advisory memos for legislators and legislative employees on ethical issues. It also makes ethics committee and State Ethics Commission meetings open to the public except for those involving minors, personnel records or other clearly private matters.
Candidate Convictions
Under a new law, candidates who have been convicted of a felony are required to disclose that information when running for office. Felony convictions do not permanently disqualify a person from running for public office. A person can run for public office once citizenship rights have been restored. Under the bill (S1218), candidates do not have to disclose a conviction if they were pardoned or if the conviction was dismissed on appeal or expunged from the candidate’s record.
Disbarred Judges and DAs
The governor now has the power to immediately remove a disbarred judge or district attorney. The bill (S118) also allows for the suspension of the disbarred lawyer’s pay. However, the salary would be reinstated if the disbarment was reversed. The bill came after a district court judge lost his license but refused to leave his job, even though he was suspended from acting as a judge. Previously, state law required judges and DAs to be members of the bar in good standing but did not provide for their removal.
Legal Defense Funds
This session we created a law to require legislators who establish legal defense funds to report donations to those accounts. Under the law created by House Bill 1737, legislators with these accounts now have to report donations and expenses each quarter. In addition, they also have to abide by restrictions similar to those for campaign accounts. Donations from labor unions, insurance companies, corporations, business entities, or professional associations cannot exceed $4,000 each year. Cash donations cannot be more than $50, and the report must include detailed information about contributors.
Notes
Members of the House repealed a law that allowed chiropractors to charge patients the same co-payments as doctors. North Carolina was the only state with such a law, and while many of my colleagues did not disagree with the policy, they felt obligated to repeal the law since former House Speaker Jim Black inserted it as a special provision to a budget corrections bill in 2005. Black later acknowledged he had accepted cash payments from chiropractors that he did not report.
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As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.