Friends, The Senate passed the budget bill yesterday, and soon the House and Senate will send a state budget bill to Governor Cooper. At that point, the Governor can either sign the bill into law or veto it. Considering that both the House and Senate budgets refuse to expand Medicaid and continue to divert money from schools to corporate tax cuts, a veto is very likely. To put it lightly, budget season is a difficult time for the legislature. But today, I write to you with hopeful news. On May 23rd, Governor Cooper signed Executive Order 95 to provide Paid Parental Leave to 56,000 State Employees.

Read the Order

Paid parental leave has been shown to promote mental and physical family health , increase worker retention , improve worker productivity and morale and reduce the demand on the social safety net by reducing the likelihood that working parents must apply for taxpayer-funded benefits. Paid parental leave can also reduce gender inequities in the workplace and at home, where women are more likely to bear the burden of unpaid caregiving responsibilities on top of their careers. Although we have a tough Budget fight ahead of us, I am proud to know that Governor Cooper is working to ease inequity in the workplace by providing new parents the ability to spend time with their children without sacrificing pay or employment opportunities. As always, if you have questions about this new policy, please reach out to my office. We also welcome any questions or concerns you might have as the Budget process continues.

Sincerely, Representative Julie von Haefen

Legislative Update

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Redistricting Committee Meeting, May 16th I attended the Redistricting Committee’s first meeting about the unconstitutional gerrymandering House Districts 36, 37, 40, and 41 in 2017. I am not a voting member of the committee, but I was glad to be present and to learn about the process. In line with the November 2018 court decision, Districts 36, 37, 40, and 41 will return to the lines drawn for them in the 2011 map . However, the 2011 map includes a racial gerrymander of House Districts 33 and 38, and that still has to be fixed. To do so, members of the Redistricting Committee have until June 6th to use map making software to create proposals for new maps. No paid consultants are allowed to propose or assist in the creation of these maps. We were also told that the NCGA Redistricting website will update to include a portal for public comment. Here is the link to that page . We will continue to monitor it and will update you with the exact link once the public comment portal is functional.  Please note that the next meeting of the Redistricting Committee will be Thursday, June 6 th at 10AM and that all meetings are open to the public.

District 36 Meet & Greet

You're invited to a Legislative Update Meet & Greet at Crowder County Park! Representative Sydney Batch and I will speak with attendees about the budget process and will answer any questions you might have about the legislature. This event is kid friendly, and we encourage you to bring the whole family to enjoy the beauty of Crowder County Park and to take advantage of their playground. Popsicles, snacks and drinks will be provided! When: Saturday, June 29th, 2-4PM Where: Crowder County Park's Robin Shelter, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd, Apex What: Legislative Update / Meet & Greet

Article: NC's Teacher Pipeline is Drying Up

"North Carolina’s student population is growing by 20,000 students a year. To respond to the challenge of educating more students, we need to focus on hiring and retaining teachers. Our education system won’t succeed if we keep cutting benefits."

Read My Article

Film Screening

What: Resilience Screening When: Monday, June 10th @ 7PM Where: Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N Salem St, Apex RSVPs are appreciated at info@publicschoolsfirstnc.org

I have partnered with Public Schools First NC, Apex Mayor Pro Tempore Nicole Dozier, and WCPSS School board Member Lindsay Mahaffey to show this award-winning, must-see 60-minute film called  Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope!   This limited release documentary examines how abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect children's development & health outcomes in adulthood. Research shows ACEs are common, they affect all income levels, and their impact on health and well-being is significant. "The child may not remember, but the body remembers."   This film highlights why we need more school nurses, counselors and social workers in NC public schools!   This event is free and open to the public. There will be short commentary following the film. Read More About the Film

Office Hours Update

Please Note: Recurring office hours have paused for the summer. We will announce office hours at the beginning of each month.

Friday June 7th, 11:30AM - 1PM at Common Grounds Coffee House, Apex Stop by my office hours to talk about your district needs. There will be no set agenda. RSVPs are not required, but they do help me plan ahead. Click here to RSVP

Education Spotlight

Wake County Smart Start Thank you to  Wake County Smart Start   for the tour of two wonderful childcare facilities in Raleigh run by A Safe Place. Farm to table food, outdoor learning spaces & comfy classrooms make these places unique. Kids attend pre-K here as well through Head Start. State funding of North Carolina Smart Start helps to make these partnerships possible, and that's why I voted to increase funding for the Smart Start program this year.

Advocating for Our District

Beginning Teachers Training I was glad to join the Wake Ed Partnership's Beginning Teachers Advocacy training for Wake County teachers. I spoke to new teachers about issues in public education and how educators can best advocate and use their voices to advance policy.

Stop the Bans! Women’s healthcare is under attack across our country and here in our state. I was proud to stand with Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic , ACLU of North Carolina , NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, NC NOW (National Organization for Women) , and many other community advocates and groups who showed up on May 21st to say  Stop The Bans and stand up for Women's Reproductive Rights. Abortion is Healthcare. Abortion is a right!

Moms Rising Legislative Mother's Day Breakfast I was glad to join Moms Rising for their Legislative Mother's Day Breakfast on May 16th. We discussed the importance of securing Paid Family Leave and supporting North Carolina's Caregivers by passing HB 269. Little did we know that two weeks later, Governor Cooper would sign Executive Order 95 to provide paid parental leave to state employees!

NCCASA Panel I was honored to be a speaker at the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault conference in Chapel Hill where Rep. Chaz Beasley and I shared the latest on sexual assault legislation, including HB393 and the Survivor Act which requires the testing of 15,000 rape kits in NC

ERA NC Alliance On May 16th, I visited the ERA NC Alliance advocates at the General Assembly who were at the NCGA with resolutions and petitions from across the state calling for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment!

Public Schools First NC Proud to stand with Governor Hunt and these education advocate legislators (Reps. Rachel Hunt, Joe John, and Cynthia Ball) in support of public education tonight at an event for Public Schools First NC.

NC Occupational Therapists I was happy to speak with Occupational Therapists from District 36 last week about their legislative needs and goals for this session. Thank you all for stopping by!

The SAVE Act Every Tuesday, Nurses descend on the Legislative Building to advocate for the SAVE Act, which would modernize nursing regulations and allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to provide healthcare to North Carolinians without the many outdated and undo barriers they currently face. I'm proud to have co-sponsored HB 185 bill when it was introduced, and I was glad to have bumped into the NCNA's newest advocate last week!

Memorial Day I honored Memorial Day at the Town of Garner Observance at their beautiful Garner Veterans Memorial Park. Erik Shepardm of the Travis Manion Foundation spoke of his lost friends and their legacy of bravery with the words “If not me, then who?” I was thankful to join him and other attendees in honoring, remembering and lifting up those who lost their lives for our country.

Did you Know?

Members of the NC House are only able to introduce 15 public bills per session. Those 15 public bills are tracked by the bill drafting division as "tokens" that are used up when a member files a public bill. But not to worry, if a member hits their 15 bill limit, bill tokens can be transferred between Representatives as long as both parties agree to the exchange.