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the situation has gotten much worse for young people since COVID. She said she would also <br /> like to know the ages of these children, as well as their school status. She also said the <br /> resources here may not be getting to the people who need them most. She said this is a good <br /> wakeup call that there is work to do. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said she agrees and that it's a county function to bring the <br /> pieces together to do the analysis. <br /> Chair Bedford said the state may have more data to share as well. <br /> Commissioner Richards said they do and the Board could review it or have it brought to <br /> a meeting. She said part of why the data is so shocking is that the disparities are still there <br /> despite diversion programs. <br /> Senator Meyer said there is also a statistical truth that the lower the end, the easier it is <br /> to have disparities. <br /> Chair Bedford said she thinks it was inadvertent when the General Assembly <br /> decompressed salaries in the justice system, and did not include juvenile justice staff. She <br /> asked if there are any bills to address that. <br /> Senator Meyer said it will be in the budget. <br /> Commissioner Richards said there's a national effort to help people keep Medicaid when <br /> released from incarceration. She said this should also be worked on in North Carolina. <br /> Representative Price said the county picks up the cost when individuals lose their <br /> Medicaid benefits. She said this is something NACo and NCACC are working on. <br /> Senator Meyer said the Downtown Partnership asked for joint meetings between the <br /> Criminal Justice Resource Department (CJRD) and UNC Hospitals to try to address patients <br /> discharged from the hospital interfering with the downtown Chapel Hill geographic area.He said <br /> this is complicated because there's physical, mental, and behavioral health mixing with property <br /> issues and police. He said it's been a fruitful partnership so far. <br /> Chair Bedford said Mayor Hemminger said one solution is to provide a bus ticket. <br /> Commissioner Richards said (CJRD) just got a grant for a social worker to work within <br /> each of the law enforcement agencies in the county. <br /> Chair Bedford added that this also includes 1.5 clinical positions at Freedom House. She <br /> said Durham has a pilot program for mental health professionals to respond to calls usually <br /> without police, but it was $8 million. <br /> Senator Meyer said there is another push in legislature to authorize non-law <br /> enforcement traffic investigators. <br /> Chair Bedford reviewed the remaining components of the third item on the Board's list of <br /> priority legislative issues. <br /> Chair Bedford reviewed the fourth item on the Board's list of priority legislative issues: <br /> Concealed Weapons in Parks and Red Flaq Law — Support legislation authorizing <br /> counties to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons on county-owned playgrounds <br /> and in county-owned parklands, and allowing courts to prevent access to firearms for <br /> individuals who show signs of being a danger to themselves or to others. Mental illness, <br /> escalating threats, substance abuse and domestic violence are among the <br /> circumstances in which a judge should have the authority to order weapon restrictions or <br /> surrender; <br /> Senator Meyer said each chamber has passed a bill but not the same one. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked what happens if the bills are vetoed. <br /> Representative Buansi said there's hope that won't happen. <br />