Weekly Report Archive :: 2010

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July 26, 2010

In recent years, North Carolina lawmakers have started to think more about our state’s energy policies. I am a member of the House Energy Committee and was one of the Co-Chairs of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee for this session so I can attest to this. These efforts not only help us save money, but also help us conserve our resources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil and other energy sources from outside of our nation.

We made a number of important steps forward in this effort in this past session and I am pleased to share the highlights of our work with you.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Energy

Legislation that will promote the use of renewable energy by extending the credit for constructing renewable fuel facilities and the credit for biodiesel producers has been ratified by the General Assembly and sent to Gov. Perdue to be signed into law (HB 1829). Among other things, the bill will also revise the tax credit for investing in renewable energy property and reinstate and expand the tax credit for a renewable energy property facility.

The sunset on some economic incentives would be extended under a bill that has been ratified by the General Assembly and sent to Gov. Perdue to be signed into law (HB 1973). These economic incentives include a credit for constructing renewable fuel facilities, a credit for small business employee health benefits, and a credit for biodiesel producers, among others. Once enacted, the legislation will also provide an enhanced incentive for jobs in high unemployment counties.

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July 19, 2010

Coming into the short session, I along with several other House members agreed to support four major priorities for our state and the people I represent. Those priorities were: getting North Carolinians and small businesses back to work; protecting our future by ensuring our children receive a quality education; making sure our state government lives within its means; and demanding a responsible government. We announced these priorities on the first day of session and during a short, efficient session – the shortest since 1996 – we made progress in all of these areas.

The following information highlights the results of our work.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Priority # 1 – Jobs: getting North Carolinians
and small businesses back to work

Our number one priority this session was to get North Carolinians back to work and support our small businesses, which is essential to help our in economic recovery. We agreed to: recruit jobs into the state and protect the ones we have; build a workforce to fit the needs of the 21st Century; invest in existing job development funds for new and expanding businesses and assist small businesses in creating jobs. We did this in our budget (SB 897) with the following appropriations.

$1 million – Small Business Assistance Fund

$1 million – Tourism Marketing Funds

$250,000 – Funds for Got to Be NC agricultural marketing campaign.

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July 12, 2010

We worked long hours last week as we finished this year’s legislative session. Our work has helped move forward legislation on ethics, ban video gambling, extend economic incentives to business, and expand DNA testing in the criminal justice system.

Next week, I will update you on the details of the major legislation that has been approved over the past few months. This week, I wanted to provide some additional information about the budget we passed and that Gov. Perdue signed into law. This information highlights items included in the budgets for Health and Human Services, the Judicial Branch, General Government, and Transportation. Figures in parentheses represent decreases in funding. Some of these are cuts in services, while others represent savings expected from more efficient operations.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Health and Human Services

Provides funding for small rural hospitals for assistance with operations and infrastructure maintenance - $1 million.

Provides state funds to continue to serve people in the AIDS Drug Assistance program who are enrolled as of July 1, 2010. These funds will allow eligible individuals who are on the waiting list as of July 1 to be enrolled. To the degree that funds are available, additional people will be enrolled in the program - $14.2 million.

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July 6, 2010

Governor Perdue signed our final budget into law last week in time for the start of the new fiscal year. The following information highlights just some of the important aspects of the state budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year that pertain to natural and economic resources and education. Next week, we will share information about budgets for Health and Human Services, the Judicial Branch, General Government, and Transportation.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Natural and Economic Resources

Provides funding to attract businesses to locate operations in North Carolina and to increase the sale of North Carolina exports, including agricultural commodities - $875,000.

Provides additional funding for the One NC Fund to enhance the competitive position of North Carolina when recruiting national and international business and industry projects. Three percent of these funds shall be used for small business expansion - $12.5 million.

Appropriates funding for Job Maintenance and Capital Development Fund - $6 million

Funds the One NC Small Business Fund program, which provides matching grants to businesses that qualify for federal incentives funds - $1.5 million.

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June 28, 2010

I continued working with my fellow members of the House last week to pass legislation that I believe will improve the lives of all North Carolina citizens. The following information highlights just some of the legislation that was passed by the House last week. Work continues on the conference budget. I think this week will be a critical week in getting the budget done.

If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Economy

The sunset on some economic incentives would be extended under a bill that passed the House last week (HB 1973). These economic incentives include a credit for constructing renewable fuel facilities, a credit for small business employee health benefits, and a credit for biodiesel producers, among others. If enacted, the legislation would also provide an enhanced incentive for jobs in high unemployment counties.

Energy/Environment

The Energy Policy Council would be directed to identify, study, and recommend policies to increase energy efficiency and conservation under a bill that passed the House last week (HB 1804). The legislation would also direct the Energy Policy Council to promote renewable energy resources and reduce carbon emissions.

Legislation to address oil spill liability, response and preparedness passed the House this week (SB 836). Among other things, the legislation will: (1) clarify liability for damages caused by the discharge of natural gas, oil, or drilling waste into state coastal fishing waters or offshore waters; (2) provide for the review of information related to proposed offshore fossil fuel facilities to determine whether they are consistent with state guidelines for the coastal area; (3) direct the Coastal Resources Commission to review existing laws and regulations that pertain to offshore energy exploration and production in light of the recent British Petroleum (BP) accident; (4) direct the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety to immediately review and update the oil spill contingency plan to prepare the state in the event that oil discharged from the BP leak comes to the North Carolina coast; and (5) direct the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to review limitations on recovery by the state for damage to public resources and for the cost of oil or other hazardous substance cleanup.

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June 21, 2010

Work continued last week on our state budget as I and other negotiators met to work out our differences. We are moving closer to a final plan and I remain confident we will have our work completed soon. The process has been complicated by the Medicaid shortfall from the federal government which could add as much as $480m in additional cuts to our budget.

Our efforts in other areas continue to remain strong as well. The following information highlights some of the legislation we worked on last week.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources would be directed to continue to work with the NC Farm Bureau Federation, other agricultural organizations, and farmers in the state to develop a plan to identify and report agricultural water infrastructure needs under a bill that passed the House this week (HB 1748). If enacted the legislation would also direct the previously mentioned Departments to encourage voluntary practices that conserve and protect water resources and to design a cost-share program to assist farmers and agricultural landowners who implement best management practices to conserve and protect water resources related to agricultural use.

Legislation that would establish a task force to develop a plan for the establishment and maintenance of a statewide water and wastewater infrastructure resource and funding database passed the House on Thursday (HB 1746).

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June 14, 2010

Members of the House and Senate began meeting last week to negotiate a final budget proposal to present to Gov. Beverly Perdue. Conference meetings continue this week. I am one of the House Education Appropriations Committee Conferees. Our intention is to complete our work by the end of the month so that the adjustments we propose will be in place by the start of the next fiscal year which is July 1st.

We have also been working steadily on a number of other issues, and I have included information below about some of the legislation that is moving through the House. I hope you will find it useful.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Education

School improvement teams may now be required to use the Education Value Added Assessment System (EVAAS) or a compatible system to collect diagnostic information on students that could help improve their achievement. The legislation (HB 1669) that passed the House this week is based on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee.

A bill that would restore a balance to the law on unemployment compensation for substitute teachers passed the House this week (HB 1676). No substitute teacher or other substitute school personnel will be considered unemployed for time they don’t work unless they were employed as a full-time substitute The bill is based on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

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June 7, 2010

With the state’s citizens and businesses suffering from the effects of the international financial crisis, House members acted decisively last week by approving our version of the budget. The plan we proposed will create jobs, encourage economic activity, provide job training and higher education opportunities and protect core services, such as health care for the most vulnerable residents. We will also continue our push to conduct government business more transparently, to spend wisely and to eliminate waste and fraud. The following information highlights just some aspects of the budget that address these important issues. These items are still subject to change as our budget bill moves on to conference committee. I hope you will find it useful.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Jobs

• Tax credits for small businesses

• Tax Benefits for Investments in Small Business - $3.6 million.

• Tax Benefits for Small Businesses That Provide Health Insurance – ($250/employee) - $7.2 million.

• Tax Benefits for Putting People Back to Work ($1000/employee for businesses with 25 employees or less) - $7.2 million.
  
  

Provides additional funding for the One NC Fund to enhance the competitive position of North Carolina when recruiting national and international business and industry projects. Three percent of these funds shall be used for small business expansion - $10 million.

Funds the One NC Small Business Fund program, which provides matching grants to businesses that qualify for federal incentives funds - $1.5 million.

Appropriates funding for Job Maintenance and Capital Development Fund for employment in Tier 1 counties - $5.5 million.

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June 1, 2010

Our appropriations process continued to move steadily along last week and we’ll be voting on the House budget this week. Our chief intent as we drew up our budget was to find ways to preserve jobs and to limit the impact of budget cuts in education. As Vice Chair of the Education Appropriations Committee, I have been an active participant in putting the education budget together.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Military

A resolution honoring North Carolina veterans on Memorial Day passed the House last Wednesday (HJR 1940). The General Assembly expressed profound gratitude to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for their selfless service and honored the memory of those killed in the line of duty. Veterans from across the state were present for the reading of the resolution. Our thanks go out to all our Veterans and to the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

The Division of Motor Vehicles could note a person’s military service on driver’s licenses or special identification cards under a bill that was introduced in the House this week (HB 1965).

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May 24, 2010

Work at the General Assembly is going rapidly so far this session, with the Senate approving its version of the budget bill last week, much earlier than in past years. The bill now comes to the House for consideration. Our budget committees have already been meeting to review the contents of the Senate bill and will start crafting our budget this week. As Vice Chair of the Education Sub-Committee on Appropriations, I’ll have an active role in developing the education budget. My focus for the budget and this session is doing what we can to create jobs and to help our small businesses.

We will once again be accepting comments and ideas from anyone willing to offer them. The House Appropriations Committee will host a public hearing on the budget tonight beginning at 7 p.m. The hearing will be at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh with satellite sites at Bladen Community College, Central Piedmont Community College and Southwestern Community College. In addition, we will be accepting email comments at town.hall@ncleg.net. You can get additional information from the General Assembly website, www.ncleg.net.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Jobs/Economy

A bill that would provide H.E.L.P. (Health Care, Employment, Leverage, and Preparation) for small businesses in North Carolina was debated in the House Committee on Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday (HB 1721). This bill would help create or retain 6,000-7,000 jobs, conservatively. It would also help many small businesses get through a very difficult time and it would give the state a stronger structure with which to assist small businesses. The bill is based on the recommendations of the House Select Committee on Small Business.

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May 17, 2010

The General Assembly reconvened last week and I am proud to once again be in Raleigh representing your interests. Several committees have already met and we are starting to consider new legislation that will help make our state a better place to live. We also will be looking at some bills from last session that are still eligible for consideration this year. I reintroduced some of them to you last week and this week will summarize some bills that relate to education, crime, and emergency management, among other important areas of interest.

Also this week, I joined with members of my Caucus to approve a four-point agenda that focuses on jobs, education, fiscal responsibility and accountability. We already have legislation in the works to address each of these items and will also support them through the state budget.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at Culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service.

Education

The State Board of Education would be directed to annually review nutrition standards for food and beverages administered by the Department of Public Instruction under a bill that has already passed the House (HB 900). According to the bill, the State Board of Education would examine the standards on an annual basis and make modifications that reflect current products in the marketplace, best practices in the industry, and science-based evidence from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Local school administrative units could be required to reorganize all high schools that have a high dropout rate. Under the bill (HB 1176), local boards of education would be required to reorganize all high schools that have a graduation rate less than 60 percent for two consecutive years.

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May 10, 2010

The short session of the General Assembly convenes Wednesday, May 12th and I am excited to return to Raleigh on your behalf. My focus while we are in session will be finding more and better ways to help retain and attract jobs for our state (I’ll be focused as I am now on my district) and to continue being good stewards of public money. There will also be other subject areas that we will address, of course, including continued ethics reform, health care improvements, education, the ABC System and small businesses.

The following information highlights just some of the bills introduced last year that are eligible for consideration during the upcoming legislative short session, bills that touch on the economy, the environment and election and ethics reforms. This week we will be discussing bills introduced last year that relate to education, crime, and emergency management, among other important areas of interest.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 919-733-7727. I am always glad to be of service. A belated happy Mother’s Day to all our Mothers. God bless our Mothers.

Economy and Consumer Protection

A bill being considered during the upcoming legislative session would enact the Small Business Assistance Act of 2009 and would establish the Small Business Jobs Preservation Fund in the Office of State Budget and Management with related programs coordinated by a technical assistance provider (HB 814).

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May 3, 2010

Oversight and regulation of our education system is a critical part of state government. The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee has worked diligently during the interim to study ways to improve education in North Carolina and made several recommendations in a report to the legislature this week.

The following information outlines these findings and recommendations.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

School Calendar

Findings: The current school calendar law requires that school systems adopt a calendar that includes a plan for making up time missed when schools are closed due to inclement weather. The law also provides waivers for "good cause." The committee finds that for the 2009-2010 school year the calendar law did not provide the flexibility necessary for school systems to make up the unusually large number of days missed due to inclement weather.

Recommendations: The committee recommends amending the existing calendar law to provide school systems the flexibility needed to make up the missed days. The amended law would apply only to the 2009-2010 school year. This is an initiative of mine since both Ashe and Watauga had so many missed days due to snow. We’ll take care of it in the short session.

School Transition

Findings: The committee finds that the transition from middle school to high school is a significant event in children’s lives and requires support from teachers, parents, counselors, and school administrators. Students' experiences in ninth grade often determine their success throughout high school, but the ninth-grade year is often characterized by a decline in grades and attendance. Students who are promoted to 10th grade, but who are off track may have already missed the opportunity to get on a graduation track. Too often a poor start in high school leads a student to drop out. In North Carolina, students dropped out most frequently during ninth grade.

Recommendations: The committee recommends that the State Board of Education consider these suggestions to better prepare students for the transition from middle school to high school:

• Develop and adopt a vision for the middle grades to prepare more students for challenging high school studies.

• Consider having a team of professionals within the Department of Public Instruction whose job is to bring focus to the middle grades.

• Make adolescent reading an immediate and sustained priority.

• Better prepare students for Algebra I by eighth or ninth grade.

• Support professional development of teachers and school principals

• Build student aspirations for college, advanced training and careers by engaging them in exploration and planning for future career and educational opportunities.

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April 26, 2010

Governor Perdue released her proposed budget this week, giving the General Assembly about three weeks longer than usual to consider the plan before the end of the fiscal year.

The proposal calls for cutting about $1 billion in spending and more than 600 positions. It would scale back or eliminate more than 70 programs that are unnecessary or inefficient in today’s economic climate and set aside $100 million to replenish the state's rainy day fund.

The plan also recommends strategic investments in job creation, education, government transparency and better communities. These investments are meant to bolster our state's recovery and help ensure North Carolina emerges from this recession as the best place in the country to live and work.

Over the next several weeks, I will be exploring the details of the nearly 300-page plan Gov. Perdue has proposed. The House of Representatives will do its own budget proposal as will the Senate, after which a final budget will be worked out by budget conferees prior to a final budget being adopted. Hopefully all this will get done before the end of the fiscal year which is June 30th. The following information includes just a few of the highlights from the governor’s draft.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any help to you. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353.

Read full report...

April 19, 2010

Oversight and regulation of utilities is a critical part of state government, particularly now as broadband service has become vital to the operation and success of our businesses.

During this past session, we made several important changes to our utility laws to allow better service for the people of our state while also trying to relieve companies of some of their reporting requirements when possible. We believe these changes will help create a more efficient system in our state.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. You can reach me at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Broadband Service

Public utility franchises that provide telephone service within a defined area may now provide that same service in adjacent areas if it also provides broadband service [S.L. 2009-80 (HB 135)]. This provision applies only when the existing telecommunications provider in the adjacent area is not providing broadband service to the customer.

Telephone Service

The moratorium on the collection of the 911 fee from prepaid wireless providers has been extended through the 2010 calendar year [S.L. 2009-90 (HB 1027)].

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April 12, 2010

For a variety of reasons, our nation has become more sedentary over the past few decades. We also tend to eat differently than we did a generation ago. As a result, we are now seeing increasing rates of obesity among our children. A survey from the Centers for Disease Control found that in 2007, 13 percent of North Carolina high school students – about one in every seven students – were obese and that 56 percent of them did not meet recommended levels of activity. North Carolina ranks 5th in the nation for childhood obesity. Eighty-five percent did not eat enough fruits and vegetables in the week prior to the survey. Unfortunately, childhood obesity often leads to being obese as an adult. Nearly two-thirds of all adults in N. C. are either overweight or obese. North Carolina ranks 10th highest in medical payouts attributed to obesity.

In the face of these statistics, we have tried over the past several years in North Carolina to encourage more activity and a better diet among our young people. We have set several new standards recently that I have detailed below. While these steps are a move in the right direction, we must do more and do it sooner rather than later. The health of children is at stake. Also, the Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity has been meeting for several months and is preparing to release new recommendations for legislative action soon.

If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Task Force on Childhood Obesity

The Task Force on Childhood Obesity is responsible for studying issues relating to childhood obesity. In the course of its study, the task force has been considering strategies to address the problem of childhood obesity and encourage healthy eating and increased physical activity among children through: (1) early childhood intervention; (2) childcare facilities; (3) before and after-school programs; (4) physical education and physical activity in schools; (5) higher nutrition standards in schools; (6) comprehensive nutrition education in schools; (7) increased access to recreational activities for children; (8) community initiatives and public awareness; among other means. The task force also encourages input from public nonprofit organizations, promoting healthy lifestyles for children, addressing the problems related to childhood obesity, encouraging healthy eating, and increasing physical activity among children. The group is expected to approve its final recommendations on April 19.

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April 5, 2010

The recently passed federal health care reform bill has attracted much talk and speculation. Still, many questions remain about what these new laws will mean to individuals, small businesses and others. Parts of the law will not go into place for several years, but some key provisions will go into effect before the end of the year. While this reform is taking place at the federal level, I thought it would be helpful to provide some additional information about what is ahead so that you and your family can prepare and better understand the health system. I make no judgments about the legislation, but thought you’d be interested in knowing what some of the provisions of the health care reform bill are.

The information below is provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures, a national, bipartisan organization that provides information, resources and technical assistance to lawmakers and their staffs in all 50 states. For more information about health care and the states, visit NCSL’s website at http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=20062.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. You can reach me at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Insurance Reforms

Insurance plans will be prohibited from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions on children – Prohibits health insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. This provision will be effective 6 months after enactment. Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.

Companies will no longer be allowed to impose lifetime limits on coverage – Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. This provision will be effective 6 months after enactment.

Restrictive annual limits on coverage will be prohibited – Tightly restricts new plans’ use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care. These tight restrictions will be defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services. This provision will be effective 6 months after enactment. Beginning in 2014, the use of annual limits would be prohibited for all plans.

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March 29, 2010

During uncertain economic times, retirees and people with fixed incomes are often hit the hardest. Many of these people are senior citizens. During the past legislative session, I worked diligently with my colleagues in the House to provide tax relief, affordable health care and housing to our older residents. We also continue trying to make them feel safer and more secure when they have to live away from home.

This week, I want to share a few of our successes in these areas. Thank you as always for allowing me to communicate with you. Please contact me if I can be of any service. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353.

Protecting Homeowners

The Statutory Homestead Exemption will be significantly increased under a new state law (HB 1058 - S.L. 2009-417). The law clarifies that an unmarried debtor who is 65 years of age or older is entitled to retain an aggregate interest in the property not to exceed $60,000 in value so long as the property was previously owned by the debtor as a tenant by the entireties or as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship and the former co-owner of the property is deceased. Previously, the exemption applied only to the aforementioned asset with a value of less than $37,000.

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March 22, 2010

The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations met this week as part of its duty to oversee the work of the legislature between sessions. The commission has several subcommittees, including one for Natural and Economic Resources. The Natural and Economic Resources Subcommittee is particularly important now, as much of its work is focused on job creation and retention. This week, I thought you may be interested to learn about the updates the group received.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Commerce

State Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco updated subcommittee members of the progress of economic development grants in North Carolina.

JDIG – Job Development Investment Grant

• Since its beginning in 2003, JDIG has committed $750 million in grants to 100 grantees, resulting in commitments of over $7 billion in investment and over 30,000 new jobs.

• In 2009 alone, JDIG entered into 16 grant agreements, which will result in the creation of over 5,000 new jobs and the retention of 6,000 existing jobs.

One NC

• Since 2003, through the One NC Fund the State has made 304 awards, totaling $71 million for the creation of 40,000 jobs and capital investment of $6.9 billion.

• In 2009, $8.5 million was committed to 40 grantees for job creation and retention of over 14,000 jobs and $550 million in capital investment.
  Industrial Development Fund

• 6 grants were awarded in 2009, totaling $4.6 million.

• These grants leveraged $733 million in private capital investment and will result in the creation of 1,000 jobs

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March 15, 2010

In the face of concerns about ethics and efficiency, reformation of North Carolina’s ABC System has become an important issue for many North Carolina lawmakers. The following information highlights the mission of the recently appointed Joint Select Committee on Alcohol and Beverage Control, and provides a general outline for the issues addressed by committee members this week during their first meeting.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Overview of ABC System

Our ABC system dates back to 1874, and the ABC Commission was established in 1935 after the repeal of Prohibition.

The state controls the sale of liquor, which means that only local ABC Boards are authorized to operate retail stores and sell liquor in NC. There are 163 local ABC boards and 414 stores across the state. These local boards employ close to 2,400 people.

The ABC system is a profitable industry for the state of North Carolina: $757 million in sales in 2008-09 makes the ABC system an important source of revenue for the state. Proceeds from these sales support the operation of the stores and provide funds for state and local governments including several of our municipalities here in the high country where ABC stores are located.

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March 8, 2010

This week, I would like to take the time to talk to you a little bit about one of our most important interim commissions, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations. The commission was created in 1975 to provide ongoing legislative examination and review between legislative sessions. Various general statutes and session laws also require state agencies and other entities to consult with the commission before taking action on a particular issue or to submit reports for its review.

The Commission is chaired by the leaders of both the House and the Senate: House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senator Pro-Tem Marc Basnight, respectively.

The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations has met twice since the legislative session adjourned in August, once in November and once in January. The following information highlights just some of the important issues they have considered recently.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Revenue Outlook and Economic Report

Revenues through January are $35 million short of forecast.

• The General Fund revenue for the first half of the fiscal year came in about $35 million below the $11 billion target for the period. So far, collections are running just below expectations. The weak economy continues to affect consumer spending, and in turn, the state’s economy-based taxes. Revenue forecast assumptions anticipated slow economic growth with a gradual improvement during the second-half of the fiscal year.

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March 1, 2010

Every year, the General Assembly examines ways that the state can improve the way it does business. Sometimes, that means creating an office with new responsibilities or realigning existing units of government. Other times we need to change laws to make it easier for people to do important work or to encourage progress.

This week, I thought I would share some of the highlights of the General Assembly’s work in improving state government. There are also a number of laws that I have shared with you before that strengthen ethics and transparency in all of government, but most of the changes discussed below concern mostly operational matters.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Emergency Management

The state can now enter into mutual aid agreements with local governments. Previously, the law authorized only the governor to enter into mutual aid agreements with the federal government and with other states. The new law (S.L. 2009-194 – HB 379) allows the governor to work with local government, also, if the local governing board approves.

A new state law statutorily establishes the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. Previously the department had authority primarily granted through executive orders issued by the governor (S.L. 2009-397 – HB 378). The legislation was recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Recovery.

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February 22, 2010

Economic development in the rural parts of our state will play in important role in reviving our state’s economy. In the coming session, I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to come up with ways to improve rural economic development in the district and across the state.

The following information highlights just some of the important strides we made last year in this area.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Budget

The main funding for rural economic development goes to the non-profit Rural Economic Development Center (Rural Center). The center now has a total state appropriation of $24.4 million. Of that amount, $1.54 million was transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to help pay for water and sewer improvements. The center received $500,000 in new money to help small businesses.

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February 15, 2010

North Carolina’s small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy. Our state and our people benefit most when these companies prosper and grow. Those of us in the General Assembly are clearly aware of this and we focus much of our effort on making North Carolina a great place to do business. I expect us to focus on our small businesses during the short session and I have a Resource for Small Businesses list that’ll I’ll be happy to email to you if you’ll send me your email address.

These efforts and our state’s business climate have been recognized throughout the nation and the world. A recent study commissioned by the Council on State Taxation and conducted by Ernst & Young found that North Carolina places a lower state and local tax burden on businesses than any other state. In addition, North Carolina is ranked seventh in benefits received by businesses relative to their tax burden. Our reputation as a business-friendly state assists in our efforts to strengthen our economy and improve our unemployment, as recent important job announcements throughout the state show.

The following information highlights just some of the ways state government works to preserve the well-being of North Carolina’s small businesses.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

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February 8, 2010

The work of the General Assembly is wide ranging and has great influence over spending priorities, economic policies, education, health care and other critical areas.

The Legislature is also responsible for working with law enforcement and judicial officials to write the state's criminal laws. This past session, we approved new laws making our drug laws stronger, toughening sex offender laws and cracking down on illegal weapons. These laws help make our communities safer and help protect our families. A few of them are highlighted in the information below.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. I am always glad to be of service.

Drugs

The new Paraphernalia Control Act regulates the sale of glass tubes and splitters, which are known to be used as drug paraphernalia. The tubes can be used to smoke illegal drugs, while the splitters can slice the wrappings off of a cigar. The wrappings can then be filled with illegal drugs and smoked. The new law (HB 722 - S.L. 2009-205) requires that the items be placed behind the sales counter, that clerks require identification from those people purchasing such items and that the buyers keep a record of such sales for at least two years.

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February 1, 2010

Energy efficiency and moving toward a more sustainable, greener economy is a top priority for me and many of my colleagues in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Making an effort to keep our state moving in a green direction is particularly important in this changing economy. By embracing renewable energy resources and adapting to more energy efficient standards, our state and our economy will be at a great advantage now and in the future.

In the face of financial difficulties, federal stimulus funds played a significant role in advancing North Carolina’s green economy. The following information highlights just some of the ways federal stimulus dollars have been spent on energy projects across the state.

If you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. You can reach me at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant is currently administered through the U.S. Department of Energy by the State Energy Office within the Department of Commerce. The controlling federal legislation for the program is the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. The purpose of the program is to assist cities, counties, states, territories, and Indian tribes to develop, promote, implement, and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs. The Recovery Act marks the first time that the program has been funded by the federal government. Under the Recovery Act, $3.2 billion was allocated to the program. North Carolina’s share is $58,050,300. Thirty-three designated cities, counties and the Cherokee Indians are receiving a total of $37.4 million directly, based on a population formula. The remaining $29.9 million is being distributed to non-designated communities, public school systems and community colleges based on a plan developed by the N.C. Energy Office and the state Office of Economic Recovery and Investment and approved by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Here is a list of Federal Recovery Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds distributed directly to designated North Carolina cities, counties and tribes:

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January 25, 2010

We came into this session knowing we would face a financial challenge; however, many of us were determined not to let it stop us from moving this state forward, particularly in the area of education. Education is the key North Carolina’s economic prosperity in the long term, and it is our responsibility to make a world class education available to any and all North Carolinians who have a desire to learn. Our state’s strong commitment to education stems from our history as a leader and reformer in the field.

In the face of financial difficulties, federal stimulus funds played a significant role in preserving education across the state. The following information highlights just some of the ways federal stimulus dollars have been spent to improve education in North Carolina.

If you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.

State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF)

The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) program is a new one-time appropriation of $53.6 billion (nationally) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These funds are distributed directly to states to:

• Help stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential public services.

• Help ensure that local educational agencies (LEAs) and public institutions of higher education (IHEs) have the resources to avert cuts and retain educational personnel and staff.

• Help support the modernization, renovation, and repair of school and college facilities.

• Help advance early learning through post-secondary education reforms to benefit students and families.

Each state is required to use 81.8 percent of its SFSF towards primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. States are required to restore funding for the next three state fiscal years, to the greater of state fiscal year 2008 or 2009 levels. North Carolina was required to restore funding to FY 2008-09 levels. The remainder of the SFSF, 18.2 percent, is directed toward other public services including public safety.

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January 19, 2010

As our state grows, it has become increasingly important for us to improve our transportation system. Crowded roads and long delays detract from our quality of life and decrease our sense of safety. Transportation projects help decrease those delays, and right now they also bring much needed jobs to North Carolina. Transportation needs continue to be a major focus of mine. There are still major transportation issues in both Watauga and Ashe. I’m grateful to our DOT colleagues for their help and assistance.

There are a number of transportation projects already underway that are funded by federal stimulus dollars (including the King Street work in Boone). These projects will aid our state’s economy and go a long way toward the improvement of our bridges and highways. The following information is meant to shed some light on how federal stimulus dollars are being spent on transportation projects across the state.

If you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.

Overview

To date, the State of North Carolina has received approximately $816 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds for transportation and transit-related projects. In total, the NC Department of Transportation has identified 474 projects across the state that will receive Recovery Act funding.

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January 11, 2010

Animals play an undeniable part in all of our lives. Whether they are pets, farm animals or service animals, we interact with them in a meaningful way every day. At our house, it’s our Boston Terrier, Banastre. This year the General Assembly considered a number of important measures concerning how we treat the animals around us. Some of these laws are intended to protect public health or our food supply while others are meant to provide greater protection for the animals. All of them are critically important to making the state a better, safer place. I have provided some information about many of these laws in this week’s newsletter. I hope it is of interest to you.

In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns that I can help you resolve, I hope that you will contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.

Public Safety

The state veterinarian can now implement emergency measures when there is imminent threat from a contagious animal disease that could spread rapidly and have serious consequences. (HB 1083 – S.L. 2009-103). Authorized measures include restrictions on the transportation of potentially infected animals, agricultural products, and other commodities into and out of potentially infected areas, restrictions on access to such areas, quarantines, emergency disinfectant, destruction of infected animals, and other control measures at portals of entry to the State. The state veterinarian was temporarily granted this authority in 2003, but the legislation was set to expire this year.

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January 4, 2010

This is the first report in 2010. I hope you had a good New Years Day with collards and black eyed peas, pork and cornbread.

Throughout the 2009 legislative session, I worked with my colleagues in the General Assembly on initiatives that will improve life in our state. Some of these new laws were effective Jan. 1, and I want to share some information about them with you. These laws cover everything from smoking in bars and restaurants to protecting the environment and conserving energy. They are intended to make you and your families more secure, to protect our children and to make sure those who do violate our laws are properly punished.

You can access the full list by visiting the General Assembly’s website at www.ncleg.net and opening the document 2009 Legislation Effective Dates.

In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns that I can help you resolve, I hope that you will contact me. I’m pleased to do what I can to help any of my constituents. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.

Health

A new law that will result in smaller rate increases than originally projected for members of the State Health Plan, while also increasing the plan’s transparency, will go into effect on January 1, 2010 (SB 287 – S .L. 2009-16). The new law reduces the premium rate increase for the next two years from 10 percent to 8.9 percent. It also adds coverage for treatment by chiropractors, mental health and substance abuse professionals and speech therapists and includes provisions to encourage plan members to stop smoking and to lose weight. The law retains language added in the House that calls for an independent audit of the plan; more detailed billing information, and increased disclosure of transactional data and administrative costs. The law also calls for monthly financial reports and establishes a 15-member Blue Ribbon Task Force that will examine the plan’s rate structure and governance, among other things.

The state law that prohibits smoking in bars and restaurants went into effect on January 2, 2010 (HB 2 – S.L. 2009-27). The intent of the legislation is to protect North Carolinians from the harm of secondhand smoke.

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Rep. Hugh Holliman
Majority Leader,
NC House