Deborah Ross in NC legislative records

On Abortion: Allow ObamaCare state exchanges to provide abortion services

Highlights:
• Prohibits "qualified" health plans offered through the State Health Insurance Exchange from providing coverage for abortions except under certain circumstances including the following circumstances:
• When the life of the mother is endangered arising from the pregnancy;
• When the pregnancy is the result of rape; and
• When the pregnancy is the result of incest.
• Specifies that health care providers are not required to perform or participate in abortion services on the basis of a moral, ethical, or religious objection.
• Prohibits counties and cities from providing abortion coverage greater than that provided by the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees to county officers and employees.

On Civil Rights: Voted NO on a constitutional amendment to define marriage

Synopsis:
• Vote to pass a constitutional amendment establishing marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that North Carolina will recognize.
• Specifies that North Carolina voters will vote on this amendment during a statewide election held on the date of the first primary in 2012 with a simple majority needed to pass the amendment.

On Crime: Allow statistical race evidence in death penalty cases

Highlights:
• Specifies that the use of statistical evidence alone is insufficient to establish that race was a significant factor in seeking or imposing the death penalty
• Limits statistical evidence to statistics derived from the county or prosecutorial district where the defendant was sentenced, whereas existing law authorizes the use of statistical evidence from the judicial division and the state in addition to the county and prosecutorial district
• Limits the time from which evidence may be used to find that race was a significant factor in seeking or imposing the death penalty to 10 years before the offense was committed and 2 years after a sentence is imposed, whereas existing law does not provide a time limit

On Energy & Oil: Voted NO on horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracking

Highlights:
• Authorizes horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing
• Defines "hydraulic fracturing treatment" as any stage of the treatment of a well by the application of hydraulic fracturing fluid under pressure that is expressly designed to initiate or propagate fractures in a target geological formation to enhance production of oil and gas
• Requires a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources prior to using hydraulic fracturing
• Establishes a maximum fine of $25,000 per day for every day an individual continues to knowingly violate the provisions of this bill, including the use of hydraulic fracturing without a permit
• Establishes the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission to establish rules and regulation for the development of oil, gas, and mining resources, including regulating the process of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

On Government Reform: Voted NO on shortening early voting period

Highlights:
• Requires the early voting period to begin the second Thursday before the election, whereas existing law requires the early voting period to begin the third Thursday before the election.
• Requires county boards of elections to accept early voting on the last 2 Saturdays before the election, whereas existing law requires early voting only on one Saturday.

On Government Reform: Establish one-stop registration and voting sites

• Requires individuals to show proof of residence and to complete a registration form
• Allows voters to immediately vote after registering at one-stop sites
• Allows individuals who are already registered to update their information at these one-stop sites
• Gives the State Board of Elections the power to enforce and determine the time frame for extending "same-day registration and voting" to all voting booths

On Gun Control: Voted NO on concealed carry in restaurants and state parks

Highlights:
• Authorizes a person with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in a restaurant, unless the person in control of the restaurant has posted a notice prohibiting the carrying of a concealed handgun on the premises.
• Authorizes a person with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun on the grounds or waters of any state park.

On Health Care: Expand state Medicaid under ObamaCare

Highlights:
• Prohibits any state department, agency, or institution from expanding the state's Medicaid program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
• Prohibits any state department, agency, or institution from forming a state-run Health Benefit Exchange, or providing resources for any services related to the federally facilitated Health Benefit Exchange
• Prohibits the Department of Insurance and the Department of Health and Human Services from using funds provided by federal grants provided for the pursuit of a Health Benefit Exchange
• Requires up to $11 million of the federal funds provided for the pursuit of a state Health Benefit Exchange, appropriated prior to the effective date of this bill, to be reviewed for reimbursement to the state for technology and personnel expenses.