Anyone remember the old “Schoolhouse Rock” television bits that taught us all kinds of valuable lessons? Most memorable for me as a child was the “I’m Just a Bill” one. Now that I am an adult and have become more aware of how our state handles the creation of bills, my mind is blown. This is not what I imagined.

In simple terms, one would think a bill is drafted as an idea. It is sent to committees to evaluate the bill with regards to constitutionality and benefit to the community. One would think that the committee maintains the focus of that bill as stated, submits it to be voted on, then sends to the other side of legislature for the same process. Eventually, that vote for the bill occurs on both sides of the House and the Senate and it passes or fails. Wow – that sounds simple. But let’s talk this out in terms of what actually happens. Let’s use a very simple example that perhaps will help you see how bizarre and at times, quite unfair this entire process can be. How can the content of a bill change completely during its journey? Follow me on this –

1. Representative “Bob” comes up with the idea to allow Food Trucks to be available in school parking lots during lunch hour, since large schools don’t have enough cafeteria space for all the students. This will help reduce students leaving campus for lunch and will balance out the crowding problem. (Okay, there’s a purpose and benefit stated. Cool. Let’s call this “HB123: Food Truck Bill.”)

2. “HB123” goes into judicial committees for review. Representative “Sally” wants to change the wording and recommends that the bill include healthy options, such as fruits and vegetables become available for sale as well.

3. The bill gets added to the docket to be voted on TOMORROW and it is listed on the state website, but schools haven’t been notified of this recommendation. They are impacted, but they haven’t had time to weigh in on the impacts to budgets, government funding, parking lot crowding, or any other impacts to their schools. They want the ability to determine on a school-by-school basis if this will be allowed. Some parents call their representatives and try to voice their opinions, but they can’t get their representative to listen to them. The first question you are asked is, “What organization are you with?” Oh, no organization? You’re just a citizen. Hmmm. (In other words, you don’t have enough backing for us to really listen.)

4. So now a school board member (a person with a little more clout than a parent) shows up to a committee meeting and is granted their 2-3 minutes to speak against the bill, but they themselves get interrogated as to their qualifications to represent the school on food choices. Perhaps this speaker is overweight and doesn’t appear to exercise, so the lawmakers don’t consider this speaker a worthy, healthy person to represent the “children.” Basically, they are discredited to add valuable input.

5. You now have a bill that passed through committees quickly, without good feedback from those who will be impacted by the bill. The House votes this bill to pass.

6. The next big step – HB123 moves to the Senate side for vote.

7. Senate committees don’t like the wording of the bill, so they edit it. They really don’t like the food truck idea, but they like the idea of fruits and vegetables. The bill is rewritten to plant a vegetable garden and fruit trees on school campuses. The language about food trucks, the idea of reducing crowding in cafeterias, and reducing students leaving campuses for lunch are completely removed. (Wait, what? Our lawmakers just completely gutted this bill, even after it was voted on as originally written by the House?)

8. “HB123: Food Truck Bill” moves to the Senate floor for vote. Remember, this bill is no longer about food trucks at all. It’s about planting gardens. Completely different yet with the same title and reference number. (Mind blown….they didn’t talk about this in Schoolhouse Rock!)

9. The Senate passes the bill with the new wording.

10. The bill goes back to the House for vote – and remember, they’ve already voted on this once. Who knows, remembers, or cares that this bill is now completely different? They vote again. Bill passes. Guess you better find some dirt space on campuses for someone to plant gardens and maintain them now.

This is a simplified example, but this is exactly what happens time and time again. NCRSOL has seen this so many times. This is why this organization is so critical to the lawmaking process. They send advocates to these committees to try to correct the problematic language. They have legal experts weigh in. They work with non-profits who fight for fairness. So please, continue renewing your NCRSOL memberships. Continue your support of this organization. And spread the word.

And if there’s one last piece of advice I can give you, get to know who your Representatives and Senators are. Let them continually hear from you. Send emails frequently. Start reading up on the bills pertaining to SOs. Follow NCRSOL articles and updates.

What’s frustrating to ME as a taxpayer is knowing that we have given feedback to lawmakers that bills they are passing are NOT constitutional. We work with them to change the wording so that it is fair and makes sense. Yet, they pass them anyway. Ultimately, these elected officials are costing our state money because by passing bad laws, they are opening the state up for litigation. It is critical that we as individuals learn more about our elected officials, how they vote, and if they are really looking for fair and just laws that make sense.

I commend those in elected positions who are trying so diligently to do what’s right. Several have been open to listening to organizations like NCRSOL and educate themselves on other viewpoints. They use us to learn about things they didn’t previously know and to see how we can move forward together. We commend them for that and wish there were more like them. We need to be bold and be vocal to educate lawmakers on how these senseless laws are negatively impacting us.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Be a Change Agent.

– Phoebe

I occasionally write articles about things that are hitting me at the moment.  I found that as I made my daily commute to work, so many things would enter my mind.  I would literally hold my phone, hit the record button, and just talk out my thoughts.  These thoughts eventually became an article.  This was so therapeutic to me.  2020 is a year unlike any other.  I am no longer making my commute and have spent more time inside my house in the last ten months than I have in the last 15 years!

Does that mean the things of the world aren’t bothering me?  No.  Does that mean I am any less annoyed with the absurd laws and treatment of people on the registry?  Heck-to-the-NO!  Does that mean I have no complaints about the registry?  Absolutely not.  I have no idea why my thoughts aren’t stirring me up, getting me fired up to write and convince you to talk actions.  I have turned off the television far more than I used to.  I am sick to death of the news – and I’m pretty sure they are highly responsible for the reasons I get so wound up.  I just needed a break.

But as I sit here today thinking about the break I “needed,” I realize I can’t really afford to take that break.  If we stop pushing for positive change, if we all stop to take breaks, the lawmakers will continue making unconstitutional laws.  Those decisions usually have far more serious impacts than our lawmakers realize at the time they are clicking in their Yes /No votes before moving on to the next issue so they can close out their legislative session quickly.

Let’s be clear.  Supporting changes to the laws to help registrants and their families is NOT a popular campaign strategy.  It takes BOLDNESS to do what’s right rather than what gets you votes.  It takes BOLDNESS to slow down and learn the impacts of the registry.  It takes BOLDNESS to talk to colleagues and fellow lawmakers about taboo topics. It takes BOLDNESS to make common sense laws rather than quick-attention-getting laws.

What can you do right now, even a state of blah-ness like I am at the moment?  At a time when your motivation has waned?  At a time when you feel like all you can do is sit at home and wish 2020 away?  I’m starting my list….

1. Find the names of your Senator and House of Representative.
Email them – frequently.
Tell them stories.  Tell them what it is like to be on the Registry or a family member of the Registry.  Tell them your constitutional rights are impacted.  Tell them how this is double punishment (after serving time, after probation, and still on the registry).  Tell them the length of time on the registry.  Trust me – most have NO idea of these things.
2.  Join NCRSOL.  Read the newsletter.  Read the articles.
3.  Find 1 friend or family member to join NCRSOL and start reading the articles.  This isn’t just about membership drive – it’s about educating people with real-life examples of how the laws impact us.  We need people to stay current with the laws and the temperament of our legislators.
4.  Be bold!  Report situations to NCRSOL if you are being treated unfairly by employees, law enforcement, law makers, educators, etc.  We need to know about situations that are happening with people if they seem outside the boundaries of enforcement.  We need evidence of these situations.

You may be a registrant, but you are also a person.  You deserve fair treatment.  I will always, always, always say that if you are guilty of your charges, you must first focus on rehabilitation.  You CANNOT REOFFEND.  Period.  Make sure you’re working through treatment programs and dealing with that first.  Reoffending is the very issue any person in our society will latch on to.  If even ONE person is a recidivist (reoffender), then the assumption is that the thousands of registrants must be also.  That’s simply not the case.  Our lawmakers don’t know the statistics.  The public doesn’t know the statistics.  The media doesn’t know the statistics.  We do, and the recidivism rate is extremely low.  But it’s all about PERCEPTION.  The one reoffender WILL be published on the news and papers.  It will blow up into a big stink.  It will hurt every registrant and every family member by sheer perception of guilt.  So there’s my sermon, people.  DO. NOT. REOFFEND. EVER.

We must change the misconceptions about offenders.  We must educate people.  We must work towards fair treatment and reintegration into society.  The few volunteer leaders of NCRSOL cannot do it alone.  We need YOU.  We have seen so much growth in this organization in just a few years, but we can’t know what’s happening if you don’t share your stories with us.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Be a Change Agent.  BE BOLD.
– Phoebe