March 24 – 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
The 21st Century Transportation Committee.
The 21st Century Transportation Committee heard a presentation from NCTRAM (North Carolina Transportation Reform and Modernization). NCTRAM is a coalition of concerned public interest groups, including but not limited to AARP, MHA-NC, The Arc of North Carolina and NC Housing Coalition. NCTRAM would like to see future transportation needs addressed in a manner that address the needs of all segments of society, promotes sound economic development and contribute to a high quality of life for all North Carolinians. Smart growth.
Finance Subcommittee:
Part of this subcommittees proposal is to phase out the annual transfer from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund. This subcommittee also proposed looking at bonds and gap funding alternatives. The subcommittee members also stated that the federal government is not living up to its responsibilities and that the full committee needs to address this issue.
Intergovernmental Subcommittee:
This subcommittee proposed that the legislature address our status as a donor state with the federal government. This echoed the sentiments of the finance subcommittee.
Intermodal Subcommittee:
Sam Hunt presented the recommendations from this subcommittee. These recommendations included the funding of rail, transit and bus options through means to be worked out in the finance subcommittee. In regards to revenue there must be a source of revenue that is dedicated to intermodal infrastructure. The proposed legislation would permit for a ½ cent sales tax for urban areas, New Hanover, Asheville and any county over a set population numbers.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation.
As reported last week, the Dropout Prevention Commission has been hearing a series of presentation regarding the state of our North Carolina education system. As reported on The Arc of North Carolina Policy blog, 4,050 students with disabilities dropped out of high school during the 2006-2007 academic year.
During this committee meeting, members heard presentations from at risk students who are currently working on completing their high school education.
Gene Bottoms, Senior Vice President Southern Regional Education Board, present on “Promising Policies/Practices for Improving Readiness and Graduation Rates”. In his presentation he addressed the need to identify students early in the middle grades who may be at risk of dropping our and provide accelerated instruction and support. He also proposed providing flexible scheduling that increases students’ time in core language/reading and math classes. Gene Bottoms also addressed that we should be teaching for understanding not teaching for the test. His full report will be available on the web in the next few days.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse.
This legislative oversight committee began the process of hearing staff, member and department recommendations. The majority of the reports centered on issues around Mental Health. Reports regarding issues around serving people with Developmental Disabilities will occur at the next scheduled meeting. Secretary Dempsey Benton also presented his report later in the afternoon. Of interest to advocates of affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities was a presentation by Julia Bick (DHHS) and Trisch Amend (NC Housing Finance Agency). For the FY2007 the General Assembly appropriated $10, 937,500 for capital and $1,205,000 recurring Key Program operating subsidies. The results of these appropriations allowed this program to finance 430 units in 65 developments across 33 counties. 189 households received Key Program rent assistance through this appropriation cycle. For the FY2008 this program received $7,500,000 to be used in capital and $3,500,000 recurring key Program operating subsidies. Last session appropriation to this program allowed DHHS and the Housing Finance Agency to award 120 unit of Key Program assistance, with a second round of applications due in by mid April.
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