RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The North Carolina legislature is back at work barely two weeks after Hurricane Florence left the state to address challenges for public schools and voters and to set aside matching money to tap into federal recovery dollars.

• Legislators returned to the General Assembly to address challenges for public schools and voters after Hurricane Florence.
• The session was called by Gov. Cooper.
• Two bills would ease school calendar rules and would extend the voter registration deadline. 

The General Assembly convened a special session Tuesday called by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to address initial Florence relief. The GOP-controlled legislature has offered bills expected to receive overwhelming bipartisan support from colleagues and Cooper.

One bill eases calendar rules for school districts closed for days or weeks because of damage or stubborn flooding and ensures district employees get paid even when school doors are shuttered.

Another bill would put $50 million in a special Florence disaster fund and extend the deadline for traditional voter registration by three days to Oct. 15.