Agenda - 05-04-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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8 1 starting its process earlier. She asked if there is a better time to meet with the Representatives 2 and Senator next year. 3 Representative Insko said the primary will most likely not be until May next year because 4 of the Census. She said the sooner, the better, especially in a long session. 5 Chair Price asked if January would be good. 6 Representative Insko said she the legislature will not be in session in January next year, 7 and believes they will not be back in session until after primary in May, but noted this is her 8 assumption. 9 Representative Meyer said in a long session year like this year, it would be better to 10 have this meeting earlier in the year. He said in a short session year, this time is probably fine, 11 somewhere around mid-April. He said next year is a short session year. 12 Senator Foushee said February in long session year, and April is fine for a short session 13 year. She said the Senate's bill filing deadline is two weeks earlier than the House. 14 Commissioner Bedford asked if the Senate was going to crush the school calendar 15 changes. 16 Senator Foushee said she does not see the Senate making any headway, but she files 17 the bills every year. 18 Commissioner Bedford asked as things are happening on short timelines with 19 amendments to bills, what is the best way for Commissioners to effectively communicate with 20 Representatives and Senator and what to tell residents of Orange County. 21 All members of the Legislature said email is preferred because it is a written record. 22 23 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Greene, to 24 adjourn the meeting at 9:29 a.m. 25 26 Roll call ensued. 27 28 VOTE: UNANMIOUS 29 30 31 2021 Orange County Priority Legislative Issues 32 33 Mental Health — Seek legislation to develop and fund a plan to reduce the number of people 34 with mental health issues in county jails as well as ensure that adequate State-funded mental 35 health, developmental disability and substance abuse services and facilities are available at the 36 local level, accessible and affordable to all residents and that sufficient state resources fund 37 service provision costs inclusive of sufficient crisis intervention and treatment, and to structure 38 appropriate county participation in governance. 39 40 Racial Equity in Criminal Justice — Support the recommendations of the North Carolina Task 41 Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC), and specifically legislation to legalize the 42 possession and use of marijuana and permit licensed businesses to engage in retail sales to 43 adults, and this decriminalization will in turn broaden the agricultural economy and jobs as well 44 as enhance revenue for governments with taxes, licenses, and other associated revenues that 45 can be utilized to address opioid and other drug-related problems and other needs. 46 47 Full Funding of the Leandro Remedial Action Plan — Support equity and racial justice by fully 48 funding the Leandro Remedial Action Plan, which details additional comprehensive, targeted 49 education funding over the next eight years, predominantly to low-wealth and minority 50 communities, in order for the State to come into compliance with its constitutional obligation to 51 provide every student a sound basic education.