The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Cullie Tarleton
May 5, 2008
Protecting our citizens and communities is one of our most important duties in the General Assembly. As we get closer to returning to session, the following is an update on some of the work my colleagues and I have been doing in the interim to address public safety issues. You’ll be hearing more about these issues after we return to session May 13.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to share this information with you and please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you.
Select Committee on Street Gang Prevention
This committee met twice during the interim to study effective ways to combat gang violence. The group heard from the Governor's Crime Commission about some gang prevention programs funded out of the $1.5 million appropriated in the last budget cycle and received an update on the distribution of the $4.76 million appropriated for this cycle. The committee also received reports on local police department initiatives and heard from other interested groups, including the North Carolina Gang Investigators Association.
The committee received status reports on the Street Gang Prevention Act, which passed the House last session and is now pending in the Senate. The Senate’s Select Committee on Street Gang Prevention held public hearings in Wilmington and Charlotte.
As hard as it might be to believe, there has been some evidence of gang activity here in the high country.
Joint Legislative Committee on Domestic Violence
The Joint Legislative Committee on Domestic Violence studies ways to reduce domestic violence in North Carolina and protects the interests of victims of domestic violence. Members of the committee have recently considered notifying victims when a protective order is issued. These orders become effective when they are handed to the defendant. Experts recommend that victims do not return home until the order has been served for their own safety. Committee members have also considered ways to increase funding to meet the increasing need for domestic violence assistance.
We are fortunate to have agencies such as Oasis dealing with this problem here in the high country. We need to support their efforts.
Joint Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Recovery
The Joint Select Committee is studying issues related to emergency preparedness and disaster management. The committee has met twice this interim and has heard from representatives of numerous agencies, including the Division of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the State Energy Office, the North Carolina National Guard and the Division of Emergency Management.
The committee has several issues under review for recommendations to the General Assembly, including laboratory and personnel needs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to improve detection of and response to food borne pathogens; strengthening local emergency management response capabilities; and planning for special needs populations in emergency response. The committee is planning a report about these issues for the 2008 Session of the General Assembly.
Joint Legislative Corrections, Crime Control and Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee
The Joint Legislative Corrections, Crime Control and Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee studies the correctional, law enforcement and juvenile justice systems in North Carolina. The committee makes recommendations to the General Assembly on way to help the systems improve their methods to protect the public and punish and rehabilitate offenders.
This session the committee has heard reports from agencies it oversees on several issues including youth development centers, immigration enforcement and ethical policies in law enforcement agencies. The committee will recommend a bill that would change the law governing the release of information when a juvenile escapes from custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Joint Select Committee on Inherently Dangerous Animals
The Joint Select Committee on Inherently Dangerous Animals studies ways to protect the public from health and safety risks involved with dangerous animals. The committee also studies the best ways to provide these protections while protecting the interests of these animals.
Members of the committee have heard presentations on the issues and legislation on dangerous animals in North Carolina. The committee has also considered a bill (SB 1477) detailing the requirements for keeping certain animals.
Notes
I was please to receive word from the N C Rural Center last week that their Board had approved three grants for my district. Boone, Watauga County and Blowing Rock received $1.5 million to go toward the cost of the water interconnect between the two towns. Ashe County received $250,000 to go toward the ReUse Development of the old hospital in Jefferson that will become a boutique Bed and Breakfast. I continue to be grateful to the Rural Center for their support of our needs.
I was in Raleigh most of last week attending meetings. The Education Appropriations Committee I sit on met and we heard a budget presentation from State Superintendent June Atkinson. I want to do all I can for Education, our teachers and staffs.
As we get ready for the short session, I’ve been talking with the leadership about what we might be able to do to help our working families. I’m very concerned about the economy, high gas prices and the cost of groceries. Unfortunately, the recession or slowdown (call it what you like) is affecting our state revenues as well which will limit our ability to do everything we’d like to
do to help people.
SPECIAL FOR ASHE COUNTY
I received several phone calls and emails last week about the Research Station (Upper Mountain) in Laurel Springs. A draft report from the Program Evaluation Division of the Legislature recommends moving the Research Station from the Department of Agriculture to the UNC System. It goes on to say that an Advisory Committee should look at the possibility of closing the station and selling the property. I will fight till the last dog dies (as the old saying goes) to prevent that from happening. I have no real problem with transferring the authority from Agriculture to the UNC system but the Research Station is too important to the citizens of Ashe County and the people of NC to even think about closing it. It’s the only research station that can conduct Christmas Tree Research due to the altitude required for such research. I had several conversations last week with UNC personnel and they assured me they would not close the station. I told them I wanted that in writing. I have also voiced my concerns with the Committee Chairs as well as Speaker Hackney. Believe me; I will stay on the case.
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