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