Orange County NC Website
DRAFT Attachment 1 3 <br /> 2021 ORANGE COUNTY PRIORITY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES <br /> Broadband/Digital Infrastructure — Support legislation, funding, and other efforts that provide <br /> counties with flexibility and opportunities to support options for increasing access to high-speed <br /> internet connectivity and expanding digital infrastructure/broadband capability to the un-served <br /> and under-served areas of the state. Access to high speed internet connections will reduce <br /> disparities, enhance quality of life for all the State's residents, and broaden opportunities in areas <br /> such as education, jobs creation, small business development, health care, civic participation, and <br /> growth in farm enterprises; <br /> Minimum Wage Increase — Support legislation to raise the minimum wage for all, not just <br /> employees of the State of North Carolina, to enhance people's economic security, improve access <br /> to safe and secure housing, boost the economy with increased spending, decrease dependence <br /> on government assistance programs, and improve the lives of families; <br /> Full Funding of the Leandro Remedial Action Plan — Support equity and racial justice by fully <br /> funding the Leandro Remedial Action Plan, which details additional comprehensive, targeted <br /> education funding over the next eight years, predominantly to low-wealth and minority <br /> communities, in order for the State to come into compliance with its constitutional obligation to <br /> provide every student a sound basic education; <br /> Racial Equity in Criminal Justice — Support the recommendations of the North Carolina Task <br /> Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC), and specifically legislation to legalize <br /> the possession and use of marijuana and permit licensed businesses to engage in retail sales to <br /> adults, and this decriminalization will in turn broaden the agricultural economy and jobs as well as <br /> enhance revenue for governments with taxes, licenses, and other associated revenues that can <br /> be utilized to address opioid and other drug-related problems and other needs; <br /> Child Care - Seek legislation to reverse changes made to the childcare subsidy program available <br /> to working families, including establishing eligibility for all children at 200% of the federal poverty <br /> level, to help many working parents who are trying to become more financial self-sufficient, and to <br /> prorate fees for children attending based on the hours attended; <br /> Smart Start and NC Pre-K — Support legislation to increase and ensure secure and stable <br /> funding, enhanced quality early care and education, and family access and benefits in settings <br /> public and private. <br /> Opioid Epidemic Efforts — Support adequate funding for diversionary facilities and programs to <br /> provide and expand access for individuals with opioid use disorder to seek and complete <br /> treatment, and sustain recovery, as well as increased funding to collect data regarding opioid <br /> overdoses and to provide for additional law enforcement to investigate and enforce drug laws; <br /> Behavioral Health Services — Support increased state funding for behavioral health services and <br /> facilities at the state and local level, including dedicated resources for community paramedicine <br /> projects. Support Medicaid reimbursement to EMS for behavioral health transport to crisis centers <br /> and structure appropriate county participation in behavioral health program governance; <br /> Crime Intervention Services — Support legislation and state funding to provide early intervention <br /> services through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils, and support increased state funding for <br />