Former State Rep. Robert "Bob" Hensley, Jr. died this morning at Rex Hospital from complications of leukemia. He was 62.

Hensley represented Wake County in the House from 1990 to 2002, according to a news release announcing his death.

"Bob Hensley was a spirited and dedicated public servant who fought for what he thought was right and always cared about the average citizen," said State Rep. Deborah Ross, who now holds Hensley's seat.

He was among a handful of dissident Democrats during the early 2000s who didn't hesitate to buck the will of then-Speaker Jim Black.

Hensley was born in 1947 in Wilmington.

He graduated with a BA in history from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and received his law degree from North Carolina Central University Law School.

"Bob was a progressive voice for Wake County and for the people of NC. During his time in the NC House, he represented the people with courage, enthusiasm, wisdom and wit. We will miss him," said Jennifer Weiss, a Raleigh Democrat. 

Hensley was most recently in the news for representing lobbyist Don Beason who was charged in a road rage incident. 

Hensley is survived by his wife, Pat Granger Hensley and sons Preston, Chris and Robert Hensley, III.

"I want to thank our many friends and neighbors for their kindness and care during Bob’s illness. We hope that everyone will keep us in their prayers during this difficult time," said Pat Hensley.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

The House gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would double fines for violations of child labor laws.

First time violators would be fined $500 instead of $250 and subsequent violations would draw a $1,000 fine instead of $500.

If an underage worker is injured at a business with workplace safety violations, state officials can fine the company $14,000, up from $7,000.

The legislation, approved by a 114 to 1 vote, was prompted by a series of stories in the Charlotte Observer last year that chronicled how thousands of youths in the U.S. are injured working jobs deemed unsafe for underage workers.

"Currently it's like a slap on the wrist to hire an underage person," said Rep. Jennifer Weiss, Raleigh Democrat and a key sponsor of the bill of the existing penalties. "We need to make sure that the workplace is safe."

The bill is one of three proposals meant to strenghthen enforcement of child labor laws. A bill that required more reporting from the Department of Labor to the legislature was prevously adopted.

A third proposal that would have funded more investigators and enforcement officers has been set aside this year because of the budget deficit, Weiss said.

Update: Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said in a statement that the bill should help curb violations. 

"I’m supportive of anything that will protect our young workers," Berry said. North Carolina has had one youth workplace fatality in the last five years but that is one too many. Hopefully this legislation will remind employers to think twice about what tasks they are asking our young workers to perform."

The Conservation Council of N.C. recognized seven state politicians for environmental work.

For its annual "Green Tie" awards, the Raleigh-based nonprofit honored Attorney General Roy Cooper, state Sen. Ellie Kinnaird and state Reps. Angela Bryant, Ruth Samuelson, Cullie Tarleton, Jennifer Weiss and Paul Luebke.

Cooper was praised for having a team of lawyers fight the Tennessee Valley Authority over air pollution.

Bryant, Samuelson and Tarleton were recognized for their support for a smoking ban and bills on energy efficiency and water conservation.

Weiss and Kinnaird were singled out as representative and senator of the year.

Luebke received the "Defender of the Environment" award, the highest award given this year. 

"At the Legislature, it was a short time ago very few people talked about the need to protect the environment and public health," said board president Nina Szlosberg.

She said business and environmental groups now work together.

Rep. Jennifer Weiss recalled the days of the smoke-filled backroom.

And front room. And committee room. And hallway.

Speaking about the proposed smoking ban on the floor today, the Cary Democrat recalled her time as a freshman legislator nine years ago, when the General Assembly allowed smoking throughout the building.

"I returned home from my first day of work smelling like I had been out bar hopping," she said.

She said that it was ironic that she was serving on a stroke and heart-disease prevention task force at the time which was pushing smokers to quit. 

Weiss then related that a local waiter had told her he couldn't wait for the ban to pass so that he could go to work without second-hand smoke.

Several legislators have signed onto parts of Gov. Beverly Perdue's budget.

Three bills filed today at the legislature echo provisions of the $21 billion proposed budget unveiled by Perdue this morning:

H.B. 619: Earmarks $5 million for N.C. Green Business Fund, Reps. Pricey Harrison, Angela Bryant, Paul Luebke and Joe Tolson

H.B. 640: Increases per-cigarette tax rate to 5.5 cents, directs some revenue to mental health, Reps. Jennifer Weiss, Rick Glazier, Luebke and William Wainwright

S.B. 608: Directs $5 million for the One North Carolina small business fund, Sen. David Weinstein

Naturally, the sponsors hope to tap into momentum created by the governor's proposals, but given the amount of time it takes to write a bill, these weren't simply filed as a "me-too" effort.

The cigarette tax proposal also differs from Perdue's, which simply covers the general fund revenue shortfall.

A few more bills from the House today:

H.B. 84: No Bail for Certain Illegal Aliens, Reps. Justin Burr, Pearl Burris-Floyd

H.B. 87: DOL Enforcement Positions/Funds, Reps. Beverly Earle, Jennifer Weiss, Angela Bryant, Jean Farmer-Butterfield

H.B. 88: Healthy Youth Act, Reps. Bob England, Susan Fisher, Alma Adams, Winkie Wilkins

A few of the interesting new House bills:

H.B. 74: Spend 65% of School Funds in Classroom, Rep. John Blust

H.B. 75: Salary Funds/Spend Only for Salaries, Rep. Blust

H.B. 76: School Board Candidate Filing Fee, Reps. Rick Glazier, Doug Yongue

H.B. 78: Honor Jimmy Johnson, NASCAR Nextel Champ, Rep. Bill Owens

H.B. 83: Modify Out-of-State Tuition Exemption, Reps. Pricey Harrison, George Cleveland, Wil Neumann, Jennifer Weiss

Several more House bills were filed this afternoon:

H.B. 21: Eugenics Program - Support and Education, Reps. Larry Womble, Ronnie Sutton, Earline Parmon and Martha Alexander

H.B. 22: Enhance Youth Employment Protections, Reps. Jennifer Weiss, Melanie Wade Goodwin, Paul Luebke, Angela Bryant

H.B. 23: Strengthen Child Labor Violation Penalties, Reps. Weiss, Luebke, Bryant and Goodwin

H.B. 24: Funds for Cochlear Implants / CASTLE, Rep. Verla Insko

H.B. 25: Clarify SCFAC Appointments, Rep. Insko

H.B. 26: Stay Beach Plan Rates, Deductible Surcharges, Reps. Timothy Spear, Carolyn Justice

A few more bills have been filed in the House:

H.B. 15: Military Family Assistance Center / Funds, Rep. Cullie Tarleton

H.B. 16: Retired Judge May Perform Marriage, Rep. Russell Tucker

H.B. 17: Asheboro Satellite Annexation, Rep. Harold Brubaker

H.B. 18: Speech Language Pathologist Qualifications, Rep. Bill Faison

H.B. 19: MLK's 80th Birthday / Obama Inauguration, Reps. Larry Womble, Paul Luebke, Jennifer Weiss, Earline Parmon

H.B. 20: Compensate Eugenics Sterilization Survivors, Reps. Womble, Parmon, Ronnie Sutton and Martha Alexander

Rep. Hugh Holliman has filed the first bill of 2009.

The House majority leader submitted H.B. 2 today, as promised.

The bill's title says it would "Prohibit Smoking in Public and Work Places." No further information was available, but the Lexington Democrat has said he would ban smoking in places such as restaurants and allow local government to pass stricter bans.

It is co-sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Weiss, a Cary Democrat; Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat; and Rep. Jeff Barnhart, a Concord Republican.

Barnhart was notable in the 2007 session for being one of the Republicans to crossover in favor of a failed attempt at the ban, despite having a Philip Morris plant in his district.

He gave an emotional speech at the time, noting his father-in-law died of secondhand smoke.