Lawmakers could hold special session for virus response

A draft bill filed Wednesday would finalize some temporary changes already made administratively by Gov. Roy Cooper in the areas of jobless benefits and tax deadlines. But other changes have to be made by lawmakers, and leaders of the Economic Support working group that met Wednesday signaled they may push for a special session soon.

Legislative leaders have said for days the state needs to wait to see what the federal government does before taking action and that no response bill is likely before the regular session resumes. However, Rep. Julia Howard, R-Davie, said some changes may need to be made immediately.

Howard said the most urgent need is to ease the strain on the unemployment filing system as it processes a record number of claims – more than 166,000 thousand since in March 16, far exceeding previous records set in 2009. Allowing employers to file claims on behalf of all of their employees would dramatically reduce the flood of applications, speeding up claim processing for everyone, she said.

"Now is the time," Howard said, "to get those benefits out to the working public who need them, and the sooner we can do that, the better."

In order to make changes to state law, the legislature has to meet and vote in person. The state constitution, Howard said, does not allow lawmakers to vote remotely. It's not clear how that would work out safely for lawmakers.

"We need to try figure out a way to do that," she urged the panel. "If it's come into session one day, one morning, and everybody come in individually to the chamber as your name is called, I don't know."

State lawmakers, Cooper already working on coronavirus relief

House Speaker Tim Moore said he's open to the idea. While some needs can be met quickly through administrative changes, that may not be the case for all.

"I’m absolutely willing to come in whenever we need to come in to take care of this," Moore, R-Cleveland, said. "If it’s tomorrow, we’ll come in, and my members are ready to come in, because we know whatever we need to do legislatively, we will."

More House working groups on health care and education will meet Thursday, again by videoconference.

A joint statement issued Wednesday by Senate Republican and Democratic leaders seems to disagree. It says senators are doing community outreach and collecting ideas to bring back to session in April.

“Senators and staff are well-equipped to take those suggestions and create a relief package that will be considered promptly when the General Assembly returns," the statement says.

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger's office hasn't responded to questions of whether he would support a special session if action is needed sooner.