The Raleigh Report
from the office of Representative Marian McLawhorn
June 12, 2008

Now that the House of Representatives has sent its budget proposal to the Senate, my colleagues and I have been considering other policy matters, both in our committees and in the House chamber. This week, we addressed issues of public safety, health, transportation and local governance, among other matters.

The Senate is expected to complete its proposed budget soon and then a conference committee comprised of members of both chambers will negotiate a final proposal to present to the governor.

As always, if you have any questions about these matters, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your interest in state government and the opportunity to represent you.

Public Safety

_Prisoners who are disabled or terminally ill would be released from custody under legislation Gov. Easley signed into law this week. The new law (S1480) requires the inmates to have an appropriate health care plan in place before their release is granted. The change is expected to save the state thousands of dollars in health care costs and free up as many as 160 additional beds in the state prison system. The state spends an average of $87,000 a year to care for such patients, according to state correction officials. Inmates convicted of the most serious crimes, such as murder and rape, would not be eligible for release and those who regain their heath would have to return to prison.

Local Government

_ The House Finance Committee approved a proposed one-year moratorium on annexations to allow for time to consider changes in state law. The moratorium would begin July 1. The measure (H2367) now goes to the Judiciary II committee. Many people in the state are unhappy with North Carolina annexation laws, saying they don’t have enough control about what happens to their property and often that they don’t receive promised services quickly enough.

Health

_ The House Health Committee approved three bills this week that would ban smoking around government buildings and in state cars.  Legislators agreed last year to a law that bans smoking in state buildings. One proposal (H2253) would create no-smoking zones within 50 feet of state government buildings. Public walkways and thoroughfares would be exempt.  Another measure would ban smoking in state vehicles (H2252). The third (H2254) would restore the authority for community colleges to ban smoking on their campuses.

Transportation

_ A measure approved in the House this week will give the Department of Transportation expanded authority to partner with governmental and private entities in the planning, design and development of road and rail projects. The bill (H2318) also extends that authority to counties. The bill is expected to help improve the state’s transportation infrastructure by making it easier for private companies to work with government.

Families

_ The House has approved a bill that would require adoption agencies to report how many people are using a new program that helps birth parents and adoptees learn each other's identities. Lawmakers created a program last year that allows adoption agencies to act as confidential intermediaries. The individuals' names and medical information can be shared if both parties agree. Under the proposed law (H2185), state officials would have to track how many people use the system and how many individuals contacted agree to share information.

Notes

_ The House honored a North Carolina National Guard unit that returned home this week from an 11-month deployment. Five members of the 1132nd Military Police Company died in Iraq during the deployment, four of them from North Carolina. The unit is based in Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and Mount Olive.

_ Appalachian State University returned to the General Assembly this week to be honored for winning their third consecutive national football championship. Gov. Easley proclaimed Tuesday as "Mountaineer Football Day." The Mountaineers beat Delaware in December to win their latest title.

_ The House voted this week to continue operating its climate change commission through April 2009. The commission was originally formed in 2005.

Please remember that you can listen to each day’s committee meetings and press conferences on the NC General Assembly website. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection – Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room. You can also use the website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.