Minutes 04-19-2021 Virtual Legislative Breakfast Meeting

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6 Chair Price read the priority on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice: "Support the recommendations of the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC), and specifically legislation to legalize the possession and use of marijuana and permit licensed businesses to engage in retail sales to adults, and this decriminalization will in turn broaden the agricultural economy and jobs as well as enhance revenue for governments with taxes, licenses, and other associated revenues that can be utilized to address opioid and other drug-related problems and other needs." She said the numbers of people who are incarcerated because of possession of marijuana are overwhelmingly Black, Indigenous, and people of color. She said it goes back to 100 years ago when marijuana was decided to be an illegal substance because too many Black and white people were coming together to smoke. She said it is a very unjust system, so Commissioners are putting this forward. She also said there are some farmers that would like to be able to make some money from the crop. Senator Foushee said Senate Bill 646 does all of those things. Representative Meyer said there was a House companion to that bill. He said Chair Price was right about famers, and he hears more about this in Caswell County than Orange County. Representative Insko said she agrees, and would like to see something like the ABC system for marijuana. She said North Carolina has one of the lowest teen alcoholism rates in the nation and gives credit to ABC system for that, and she wants to be careful about teens and marijuana. She said the State needs the tax money, and she would like to see that money come in. Commissioner Fowler said as a pediatrician she does not support marijuana use, but supports the bill of decriminalizing and legalizing it because of the reasons stated. She said regulation is important because the way some people use marijuana through vaping is incredibly dangerous. Commissioner Fowler read the priority on Flexible Billing for Water and Sewer: "Support legislation allowing local governments and other water and sewer providers to implement flexible billing practices to establish pricing policies, potential waivers and debt forgiveness opportunities to assist impacted customers." She said this issue has become really important with the pandemic. Chair Price said Representative Insko has been working on this issue. Representative Insko said the bill has been filed, and was so popular that everyone wants to be part of it. She said the new bill extends it to all public water agencies, so cities and counties would also have the authority to do this. She said it is a good idea to get grants, but the more popular it gets, the more competition there will be in getting those grants. She said she thinks the bill will pass, and it is ready to be heard in Committee now. Commissioner Fowler left the meeting at 9:13 a.m. Chair Price indicated the Board was done presenting its priorities, and asked if there were any questions on other issues listed. Representative Insko said abolishing the State death penalty was important, and asked Representative Meyer if a bill had been introduced in the House this year. Representative Meyer said he was the sponsor of that bill in the House in previous years but passed it along to Representative Vernetta Alston from Durham because she has been a death penalty litigator. He said he is not sure if she introduced the bill yet or not. Senator Foushee said she liked the issue of legislative leadership term limits. She asked if a Commissioner would like to talk about it.