The Raleigh Report
from the office of Representative Marian McLawhorn
July 21 , 2008
Gov. Mike Easley signed the state budget bill into law last week, clearing the way for the General Assembly to adjourn Friday. We completed the session by approving important legislation on a number of matters, including drought, mortgage foreclosures, drivers’ licenses, ethics, election reform and anti-gang legislation. This newsletter includes a description of some of these major items we addressed, and I’ll be sharing more information with you in the weeks to come.
I now look forward to returning home and working with you to learn more about how I can best serve the people of our district. Thank you as always for your interest in state government, and please let me know if I can be of any service.
Transportation
The General Assembly approved changes this week to how drivers’ licenses are made and distributed. One bill would allow the state Division of Motor Vehicles to use new laser-engraving technology that would embed photos into the licenses and help reduce fraud. The bill (S1799) also allows drivers’ licenses to be mailed to people’s homes or a post office box if they don’t have a street address. The change is part of new process for how licenses are made and distributed. The revised procedure is designed to make it more difficult to fraudulently obtain licenses. Licenses will now be centrally distributed out of Raleigh, and there will be a 20-day waiting period. During this time, drivers will be issued a temporary permit and can use their existing license for identification. The mailing provision is expected to make the waiting period more convenient by eliminating the need for applicants to return to their DMV offices to pick up their licenses.
Crime
_ The General Assembly has given approval to anti-gang legislation that would create several felonies for those who take part in gang activity. Those who commit drive-by shootings, solicit people to join gangs or threaten those who try to leave a gang would be subject to felonies under the bill (H274). Property acquired for gangs or resulting from gang activity could be taken. The bill provides the state’s first legal definitions of gang activity. Gov. Mike Easley has already signed a separate bill (S1358) that addresses gang intervention and prevention programs. The state budget includes $10 million for gang prevention grants.
_ The General Assembly this week gave final approval to a bill titled “Jessica’s Law.” The bill is named for Jessica Lunsford, a former North Carolina resident who was raped and murdered in Florida at the age of 9 by a convicted sex offender. The bill (H933) would make the rape or a sexual offense committed on a child punishable by life in prison without parole or a mandatory 25-year sentence with lifetime GPS monitoring. This bill also increases penalties associated with the exploitation/prostitution of a minor, strengthens sex offender registry requirements and limits contact offenders have with victims and on what premises. This bill requires sex offenders to be 300 feet or more away from places where minors are prevalent. Any sex offender not on the registry for a life term will be on the list for 30 years. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.
Drought
_ A bill to improve the state’s response to droughts was approved this week in the House. The bill (H2499) would give the governor more authority during a drought to work with local governments to help them address water shortages and makes other changes to improve how we manage droughts. The bill also would require public water providers to develop drought and water shortage plans while heavy water users would be subject to stricter reporting requirements. The bill was the result of collaboration between many different interests, including municipalities, businesses, farmers and private residents. The bill must now be signed by the governor.
Mortgages
_ The General Assembly has approved a bill that will give mortgage holders more time to work out a plan with their banks before losing their homes. The bill (H2623) requires lenders to give homeowners 45 days notice before starting foreclosure proceedings and gives the state bank commissioner authority to delay foreclosures for 30 days in hopes of coming up with a new payment plan. The bill is one of several we have approved recently to help cope with the ongoing mortgage crisis.
Justice
_ A Senate judiciary committee has approved a bill that will give people who are wrongfully convicted $50,000 for every year they spent in jail if they were exonerated. Existing law allows $20,000 a year and caps the total award at $500,000. The bill (H2105) would increase the cap to $750,000 and allow free job training and tuition at community colleges and public universities.
Notes
_ The House has confirmed David McCoy as the next state controller for North Carolina.
McCoy was nominated for the job by Gov. Mike Easley. He will oversee the 200-person controller’s office, which handles state payroll and manages other fiscal responsibilities.
McCoy has been Gov. Mike Easley’s chief budget officer since 2001. His term will last seven years.