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The bill allows municipalities to transfer public housing authority responsibilities to regional councils for efficient operation. It also appropriates funds for technical assistance, broadband access, and water resource management programs. Legislative priorities include aging, transportation, workforce, and appropriations monitoring. Seeking federal funds for rural broadband expansion and local food network support. Active involvement in advocating for various federal initiatives. Congressional briefing scheduled to present the 2017 NC Tomorrow Plan.
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2017 NC Legislative Priorities & Federal Agenda March 13, 2017
2017 NC Introduced Bills House Bill 89 • Short Title: Housing Authorities Transfers • Long Title: AN ACT TO ALLOW MUNICIPALIATES TO TRANSFER THE POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITEIS OF A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO A REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT.
Summary & Status House Bill 89 Summary Status Filed February 02.13.17 No companion bill in Senate 02.15.17 Referred to the Committee on State and Local Government II 03.08.17 Reported favorably out of committee and re-referred to the Committee on Finance Primary Sponsor -Rep. Jay Adams Co- Sponsor - Rep. Mitchell Setzer Would allow municipalities to transfer the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a public housing authority to a regional council of government. The date of the abolition of the authority would be set in the city council’s resolution abolishing the authority on a date that will allow sufficient time to wind down the operations of the housing authority. The act would be effective when it becomes law.
2017 NC Introduced Bills(cont’d) NOTE: This House Bill to be filed March 14th; No Bill # Assigned as of March 13 • Short Title: Regional Councils of Governments Funds • Long Title: AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE STATE’S SIXTEEN REGIONAL COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENTS FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.
Summary & Status HB - Technical Assistance Funds Status To be filed and introduced the week of March 13th Primary Sponsor – Rep. Kevin Corbin (former Chair of the Board of Southwestern Council of Governments, Region A) Official bill draft and legislative summary pending bill filing and introduction. “COG” Association Summary Appropriates $100,000 over 2 years to COGs to provide technical assistance, convene coalitions of governments, private-sector providers and users to set strategies to achieve efficiencies and make broadband more available in un-served and underserved rural areas of the state.
In The Queue NOTE: Seeking Sponsors for this Bill • Short Title: Water Resources Management Program Funds • Long Title: AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR REGIONAL COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT REGIONAL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
HB - Water Resources Management Program Funds Summary & Status Status: Seeking sponsors - Out of Bill Drafting and COG Association is seeking bill sponsors; COG Summary: Appropriates $200,000 over 2 years to each COG and $50,000 to Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). These funds shall be used by each council to develop and implement a non-regulatory regional water resource management program through the voluntary cooperation of their respective local governments, water users, other stakeholders and DEQ
NC Legislation MonitoringThe Issues We are Watching • Aging Issues • Supporting NC Coalition for Aging’s agenda: • Increase recurring state funding for Home and Community Care Block Grants • Establish a joint legislative committee to examine issues pertaining to the state’s growing older adult population. • Increase state funding and support for adult protective services and public guardianship services. • Invest in Medicaid Personal Care Services(PCS) and the Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP-DA) programs by increasing the reimbursement rate.
NC Legislation Monitoring(cont’d) Transportation Issues • Monitoring any legislation that might affect organization and appropriations dealing with RPO’s and MPO’s. Workforce Development Issues • Monitoring any legislative action or proposed appropriations changes that would affect reorganization or realignment of workforce development boards and deployment of workforce programs. Appropriations • Will be monitoring all legislation that affects COGs (example: Community Development Block Grants).
Federal Initiatives Rural Broadband • Seeking federal funds/assistance to match requested state funds with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds for expanding broadband to rural areas of NC. • Local Food Network Support • Seeking USDA funds for regional technical support, convening private and pubic organizations for the purpose of developing regional strategies for local food-based industry growth and to provide staffing to existing food councils/hubs in NC. Partnering with NC State University and NC Department of Agriculture in this initiative.
Congressional Briefing March 22, 2017 • Meeting with staff members of all Congressional offices to brief them on the updated 2017 NC Tomorrow Plan: North Carolina Regional and Statewide Strategies for Community and Economic Development. • We will also advocate for the funding of EDA, ARC, USDA, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant funds and voice support for The Workforce Investment Act and The Older Americans Act appropriations.
Questions? • Contact: David Huskins • Email: david@ridgetopassociates.com • Cell: 828-691-3300