Wednesday is Latino Legislative Day at the General Assembly, and immigrants rights groups will be in Raleigh discussing comprehensive immigration reform with state lawmakers.

Their lobbying day also coincides with the first committee hearing for a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at undocumented residents.

The RECLAIM NC Act would grant certain driving privileges for undocumented immigrants under a restricted license, but the bill would also authorize immigration status checks of individuals lawfully stopped, detained, or arrested.
House Bill 786 would also reject the use of a matricula consular or other similar documents as an acceptable form of identification.

El Pueblo’s Executive Director Angeline Echeverría weighed in on the legislation last weekend when she appeared on News & Views with Chris Fitzsimon.

To hear an excerpt of that interview, click below. To hear the full segment, including her thoughts on in-state college tuition for undocumented students, visit the Radio Interview section of the NC Policy Watch website.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina is sharply criticized the state Senate’s passage of legislation which would require mandatory drug testing for low-income parents who apply for public assistance under the state’s Work First program before receiving aid.

Here’s more from the ACLU-NC’s statement:

“Forcing people in need to pay up front for an invasive test without any suspicion of drug use would be cruel, costly, and blatantly unconstitutional,” said Sarah Preston, ACLU-NC Policy Director. “All available evidence shows that North Carolina would lose more money than it would save under this proposal, since public aid recipients are less likely to use drugs than the general population and the vast majority would have to be reimbursed for their tests. If a citizen truly has a substance abuse problem and needs help, the state should help to get that person into treatment – not simply kick them and their children off of crucial support services. Current law allows the state to make drug treatment a condition to receive Work First benefits, but it does not deny much-needed assistance to low-income individuals and their family members, as this bill would so cruelly do.” Read More…

The NC Senate gave final approval Monday to legislation requiring drug tests for those seeking Work First benefits  such as food stamps, small cash grants, or job training.

Macon County Senator Jim Davis told his colleagues the bill was intended to identify those parents with a drug problem and direct them to help. Those applying for assistance would be required to pay for their own drug test under Davis’ bill.

Guilford County Senator Gladys Robinson attempted to amend the bill to require annual drug testing for elected officials, including legislators and the Governor.

But Henderson County Senator Tom Apodaca used a parliamentary maneuver -  a substitute amendment – to enable the Republican-controlled Senate to avoid even voting on Robinson’s proposal.

In the end, Senate Bill 594 passed 35-15 and now moves to the NC House for consideration.

A report released Monday by the NC Justice Center finds suspicionless drug testing of public assistance applicants and recipients likely violates the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizure. Other states that required testing without reasonable suspicion have been deemed unconstitutional, according to the report.

To hear a portion of Monday evening’s debate click below:

This week’s Top Five on NC Policy Watch:

1. The arrogant and vindictive Senate

2. Community college radio show taken off air after NC Rep. complains

3. Critically important, but not divine

4. Is the Courts Commission on the chopping block?

5. Both Sides Now: Education Reform from the House and Senate

Education historian Diane Ravitch weighs in on her blog this week about the latest educational reform efforts proposed in North Carolina, and she doesn’t hold back.

‘The Legislature in North Carolina is determined to wipe public education out in that once-progressive state.

Read this parent newsletter. It is sad. It is outrageous.

North Carolina is near the bottom of the national barrel in funding its public schools. Teacher salaries are near the bottom nationally. Legislators want charter schools, tax credits, vouchers for special education, vouchers for all.

Why the passion to eliminate the engine of social mobility and economic progress? Why the mad dash back to the past? This won’t be good for education or excellence or equity.

Will Secretary Duncan or President Obama hurry to North Carolina and urge the legislators to stop their assault on public education? The time is now. There is a fierce urgency to now.’

Ravitch issued similar warnings when she spoke at NC Policy Watch’s Crucial Conversation in March.