The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Cullie Tarleton
June 30, 2008
Budget talks gained momentum last week as negotiators met over the weekend and for several hours each day to work toward a compromise. They have reached a general agreement on salaries and many other items already and continue to work toward a quick resolution. They plan to have the final deal ready soon. Maybe next week I’ll be able to share some specific details.
While these talks continue, the House has continued to work on issues important to the people in our communities, such as annexation, health and education. We will continue to work on these vital matters as we wrap up this session and I look forward to returning home full-time soon. I’m saying by July 11th. We’ll see.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I would be pleased to assist you in any way.
Municipalities
A bill that would temporarily halt municipalities’ ability to annex without voter approval has earned the backing of a House committee. The first draft of the plan (H2367) would have created a one-year moratorium on involuntary annexations, but committee members pushed back the start to July 31 to give some cities and towns the time to complete annexations they already have initiated. The proposed moratorium would end April 30, 2009, giving lawmakers 10 months to study the state's annexation laws. I was able to get voluntary annexations both contiguous and non-contiguous excluded from the bill.
Public Safety
Someone who violates a domestic violence protective order three times would be guilty of a felony under legislation (H44) that has been approved in the House. Existing law requires four violations of the order before a person is charged with a felony. Punishment for the crime generally ranges from community service to up to nearly two years in prison. Frankly, I’d support the first time.
People who are wrongfully convicted would receive $50,000 for every year they spent in jail if they were exonerated. Existing law allows only $20,000 a year and caps the total award at $500,000. The bill (H2105) approved by the Judiciary II committee would increase the cap to $750,000 and allow free job training and tuition for community colleges and public universities. The bill now goes to the Appropriations Committee. Let me hear from you on this.
Legislation approved in committee would ban children under 16 years old from riding in the open bed of a truck. The bill (H2340) approved in the Judiciary I committee would change the existing law, which allows children as young as 12 to ride in truck beds and includes exemptions that allow children of any age to ride in the back of a truck if they’re with adults or in a rural area. The bill has been re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary II. Email me your thoughts.
Education
The House has approved a bill that would allow national board certified teachers to become full-time mentors. The bill (H2360) requires teachers to have taught two years before they could become a mentor. They would have to remain a mentor for three consecutive years before returning to the classroom. This bill is now in the Senate. This is a bill I supported.
Health
The House has approved a measure that will require warning labels on containers for unpasteurized and unprocessed milk was approved by the House Health Committee. North Carolina law prohibits the sale of raw milk for human consumption because of health concerns, but the product can be sold for use by pets. The Board of Agriculture approved a plan to dye all raw milk charcoal gray to make the milk unappealing to people, but raw milk advocates said their animals wouldn’t drink such a product, either, and that no organic dye was available. A compromise bill (H2524) would require milk containers to bear warning labels saying that the products aren’t for human consumption and that selling raw milk for human consumption is illegal. We passed this bill in Agriculture last week.
Economy
A bill to improve mortgage services has been improved in the House. The measure (H2188) would require home loan servicers to provide anyone taking out a mortgage with information about servicer fees within 30 days of activation of those fees. If the servicer fails to notify the receiver of the mortgage, the fee would be waived.
Another House bill (H2463) would require mortgage servicers to become licensed and make it against the law to operate without one. The license would expire annually. This bill also clarifies the Mortgage Lending Act by describing in detail the qualifications and duties of a mortgage lender. The bill now goes to the Senate. I support these measures as we try to assist home owners in these very difficult times.
Notes
Congratulations to the town of Lansing. They received a $130,000 grant from the Rural Center last week. This grant will help the town develop plans for the future development and growth of Lansing. Mayor Jason Ring, Alderman Dot Shupe and residents Anita Church and Jack Lynch joined Sen. Goss and me at the Rural Center last week to receive this important grant.
An energetic group from SEANC visited last Tuesday. Most were from Watauga and Ashe County. They do a great job of representing the interest of our hard working state employees.
The Legislature last week recognized the 50th anniversary of public school integration by honoring some of the students and administrators who helped break the color barrier. Governor Easley also recognized the students at the Governor’s Mansion and presented each with the Old North State award.
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