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R iL i1t' A d <br />egiona eg s a ive gen a <br />Page 3 <br />23 <br />Aging-and Long Term Care 1Veeds for the Older Population: Care for-the growing population of older Americans <br />withinour communities is an integral part of the regional concerns of our local governments. Triangle J supports <br />efforts to -recognize the right of every North Carolina'resident to have access to health care. Related to long-term <br />care Triangle J 'supports restoration of the Medicaid Community-Alternatives 'Program for Disabled Adults <br />(CAP/DA) to the level available on' September 30, 2001. Support is also sought for steps that address the current' <br />workforce shortages of direct'care workers trained and paid to assist those in need of long term care. Legislation is <br />necessary for an Alzheimer's Special Care Disclosure Act that would allow consumers to .make informed decisions': <br />about nursing home placement. In addition, there: is a need to find ways to` improve the access of older adults to <br />dental care services,. including support for .the special care dental delivery model" using mobile care units to :serve <br />long-term care facilities and senior centers'. <br />.Affordable Housing:. Affordable housing, as an element of land use planning and growth management, is key to <br />quality of life in the region. Accordingly, ,.Triangle J seeks approval of statutory amendments that' allow the <br />inclusionary housing provisions referenced in the'Growth Management Strategies-of this agenda: Appropriations <br />by the General Assembly authorizing recurring funds for the `North Carolina Housing Trust Fund' to provide new <br />home ownership opportunities, along with affordable rental homes for the disadvantaged are also sought. <br />Economic Development: Continued financial support of the World Trade Center and its link to the global trade <br />market is sought to assure continued economic vitality for the region. Over time this support has` been as much as <br />$300,000 per year, but has -been cut due to the state's budget crisis. State support, an terms of existence and <br />facilitation, of the various Foreign Trade Zones in the region and'the state is also encouraged. <br />Electric Utility Dere;aulation: Triangle J continues to express strong concern about any decision by the legislature <br />to deregulate. the state's electric utility,industry. However, should deregulation occur; in North Carolina, legislation <br />should include`provisions for local government decision-making authority regarding zoning, land-use controls,: etc. <br />and should bar any preemption of raditional local government authority. ,Conservation and emission pollution <br />control requirements on electric generation and distribution must be a part of any deregulation legislation. Clear <br />authority for local governments to aggregate electric utility services is sought should deregulation occur. <br />Indigent. and Uninsured Health'Care Delivery Costs: 'The influx of immigrant residents into the region has <br />'manifested itself in an ever-increasing demand on local health care services;aubsequently,`,county'governments find <br />themselves bearing major expenses for indigent and uninsured health care delivery costs. Accordingly, Triangle J <br />seeks legislation to provide state appropriations to finance health care delivery for immigrant residents who are not <br />sponsored, and/or who are not insured regardless ofnationalityand citizenship.' <br />LRO Personnel: Revisions to certain provisions of the :North Carolina General Statutes are sought to clarify the <br />application of particular personnel and employee guidelines. In the general administration of the various'aspects of <br />the council of government's business affairs, the Council generally-.follows.`the provisions of GS 160A, Article 7, <br />Part 4.regarding personnel for the .public<employees of the Council: Language is sought to clearly=state the <br />authority upon which the Council conducts its business in this regard. <br />State LRO Funding: The state has for many years provided an `appropriation of a small stipend in support of <br />regional-planning and economic development. Originally $55,000 per Lead Regional Organization was?;provided' <br />through the N.C. Division of Community Assistance, bufnow this amount has been reduced to @`$48,000 through <br />state budget cuts. Triangle J seeks to maintain this small, but important; funding for Lead Regional Organizations. <br />Homeland Security and Regional Emerge~acy Preparedness: The events of September 11, 2001 are self evident:in <br />demonstrating the need for ocal government to address security issues. From the ° 1970's until 2001; regional <br />councils had provided Emergency Management Services ..for over twenty-five years until budget cuts eliminated all <br />but a few programs. In view of the wealth of experience in 'this service area, Triangle. J seeks' support of state <br />efforts to provide planning services for homeland security on a regional basis, and the funding of -city and county <br />needs for regional emergency preparedness <br />Triangle J Council of Governments -Regional Legislative Agenda <br />