The long anticipated start to the legislative short session begins today at 12:00 p.m.With a tight budget (only a $150 million surplus) and it being an election year (very few controversial bills emerging) this session is shaping up to be a sprint to the finish.
Some of the major budget issues this session will be teacher's raises, transportation/infrastructure needs, and mental health services funding. Currently both the Governor's budget and the leaders in the General Assembly are focused on addressing the same issues. However, the appropriation requests are very different. The Governor has in his budget $68 million for mental health services, primarily aimed at crisis services. The MH/DD/SA Legislative Oversight Committee proposed $42 million for mental health services.
Both proposals address the creation of in community START Model teams for crisis services for people with developmental disabilities. However, neither proposal address the crisis in accessing CAP/MR-DD Slots for children with developmental disabilities.
The Arc of North Carolina Policy Blog will be in the building all session keeping you up to date on the progress of the budget and other policy issues. The Arc of North Carolina will be rolling out its Short Session Policy Agenda later today.
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