Agenda - 08-30-2007-4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The North Carolina League of Mulucipalities Page 13 of 16 Pyrotechnics-HB 189 - Pyrotec/zrzics Per»:its by Cities (SL 2007-38) allows cities to issue permits for fireworks exhibitions in the corporate limits when authorized by the board of county commissioners. Street Gangs-The state budget, HB 1473 (SL 2007-323), contains $4.7 million for street gang prevention grants. HB 274 -Street Garzg Prever:tiorz Act passed the House and remains eligible for further consideration in 2008. It defines "criminal street gang" and "criminal gang activity" in the state criminal statutes for the first time, and provides increased punishments for ci7mes committed as a gang member. It makes it a felony to be a gang leader or to threaten a person for leaving a gang, and creates a felony offense of discharging a firearm from within an enclosure (drive-by shooting). The bill allows seizure of property used in or derived from criminal street gang activity. It would not apply to juveniles under the age of 16. Gaining more tools to combat the growing gang problem is a top priority for the League and the Metropolitan Coalition and we will be pushing for passage in 2008. Mayors, city officials, and police chiefs from throughout the state worked hard on the bill and spent tune in Raleigh and in their hometowns meeting with legislators to discuss local gang problems and the need for the legislation. Without their efforts, the bill would not have gotten as far as it did. We thank Rep. Mickey Michaux, sponsor of HB 274, for his work, as well as Sen. Malcolm Graham, sponsor of the similar SB 1358. Street Solicitation-SB 942 -Prohibit Restricting Newspaper Distribrztior: passed the Senate and will be eligible for consideration in 2008. It would prohibit local governments from enacting ordinances that restrict the news media from distributing newspapers while standing on any street, highway or right-of- way. Traffic Control-A provision of HB 563 -Traffic & Personal Safety Changes/Protests (SL 2007-360) authorizes cities and counties to adopt ordinances regulating the time, place, and. manner of gatherings, picket lines, or protests by pedestrians on state roadways and state highways. laetirement Death Benefit-,S'B 720 - Operz E~zrolluzer:dCorztributory Death Benefit (SL 2007-388) directs the Retirement Systems Division of the Department of State Treasurer to allow for an open enrollment period in the contributory death benefit for retired members of LGERS and the state retirement plans. This open enrollment period begins February 1, 2008, and ends May 31, 2008. The Retirerrient Systems Division is to send notice to all retirees who elected not to be covered under this benefit or who failed to make any election at the time of their retirement. The contribution rate for retirees electing coverage during the open enrollment period is increased by 11.1 % of the rate established for retirees who elected coverage when first eligible at retirement. HB 779 - Lzcrease Contributory Dent/t Benefit raises the amount of the benefit from $9,000 to $10,000. LGERS Purchase of Service-HB 1025-Local Governn:erztRetireu:enUPurcbase of Service (SL 2007-304) permits an employer to amortize the cost of probationary employment for members of the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System when it has elected to pay all or a part of that cost. LGERS Retirement COLAS-The budget bill does not set the retirement cost of living. adjustment for the Local Govemmental Employees' Retirement System. The General Assembly left that decision up to the LGERS Board of Trustees as provided in state law. The Trustees set the COLA for existing retirees at 2.2%. • Police Officer/Firefighter Retirement-As in many previous sessions, a number of bills to provide additional retirement benefits to particular classes of employees, including police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, were introduced. These bills would have provided preferential benefits, such as full pension benefits with 25 years of service and separation allowances for firefighters and rescue squad workers: HB 1114, HB 1433, SB 1142, SB 1238, SB 1409, SB 1444. None of these were enacted, Uut retirement issues remain eligible in the 2008 session. HB 328 -Flexible Pay»zer:dLafv Enforceu:ent Separation (SL 2007-69) did not increase the special separation allowance benefit. It simply provides that the allowance is to be paid in equal installments on the payroll frequency used by the employer (rather than in 12 equal installments on the last day of the month). Transportation Infrastructure-The state budget, HB 1473 (SL 2007-323), appropriates $21 million in each fiscal year for small construction projects and $15 million in each year for rural or small urban highway improvements and related transportation enhancements. Section 27.12 of the budget also states the http://www.nclm.org%LegalBulletin/2007/08-24-07.htm 8/28/2007