Print-Out Version of the May 26 Legislative Bulletin

As hundreds of legislators, educators, students and supporters cheered their approval, Gov. Jim Hunt signed legislation Thursday that sets up the fall referendum on issuing $3.1 billion in bonds for capital improvements at UNC System campuses and the state's community colleges. “More than two centuries ago, our state took the audacious step of beginning the nation's first public system of higher education,” the governor said. “Two hundred years later, the people of North Carolina are faced with a choice. Do we keep faith with those whose vision gave us this priceless treasure, or do we let our public community colleges and universities slowly wither away?”

Hunt praised legislators for their bipartisan appoval of the Michael K. Hooker Higher Education Facilities Finance Act, which the General Assembly passed unanimously last week. House Speaker Jim Black said the the passage of the bill in the session's first two weeks “was possible because legislators, the business community and officials from the universities and the community colleges worked together in a bipartisan manner. Now we must work together to explain this critical need to the voters of North Carolina.”

Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, House Minority Leader Richard Morgan and Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine also addressed the rally on the lawn of the Capitol. “The strong support from both Democrats and Republicans for this bond package shows that it is a fiscally responsible plan to improve our schools and our economy without raising taxes,” Basnight said.

As many as 50,000 new students are expected to enroll at the state's 59 community colleges over the next 10 years, state Community College System President Martin Lancaster told the rally. “Today we start to build a future for North Carolina,” he said.

NCCBI President Phil Kirk also spoke at the bill-signing ceremony. Here is the text of his remarks:

“Today is about the future, and NCCBI is pleased to be a part of this bill-signing ceremony. Education -- from early childhood and Smart Start to k-12 to community colleges to public and private colleges and universities -- is the No. 1 issue for the state's vibrant business community. We cannot have good jobs. We cannot have a good quality of life, if we do not have a sound, quality education system. The business community believes we must have high-quality facilities to produce high-quality education and high-quality graduates.

“As chairman of the State Board of Education, I will work to insure that our public school family and all of our constituencies support this bond package. I will ask the State Board of Education to pass a resolution endorsing this bond package next week. Then we will work with 117 school boards to get them to do the same.

“In 1996 NCCBI coordinated the $2.75 billion bond campaign for public schools and highways. This year we are already working hard in planning this campaign for $3.1 billion. While early polling data looks very good, we will run a full-scale, hard working campaign. We will take no vote -- for or against -- for granted. We will run as if we are 20 points behind. With your help we will be successful on Nov. 7 and our future will indeed be bright.”


State Government News Briefs

Holiday Traffic Alert: The state Department of Transportation said Thursday that most work zones along interstate and U.S. routes will be open across the state for Memorial Day from May 26 to May 30. While planning your holiday trip, watch for lane closings or detours in the following areas:

Interstate Routes:

* I-40/85 North in Guilford County is reduced to two lanes from mile marker 130 (near McConnell Road) to mile marker 132 (near Mt. Hope Church Road) to continue widening the roadway.

* I-40/85 South in Guilford County is reduced to two lanes from Exit 135 to Exit 130 to continue widening the roadway.

* I-85 North and South in Guilford County is reduced to two lanes from mile marker 120 to mile marker 121 (near Holden Road) to continue widening the roadway.

* I-40 East and West in Burke County is reduced to one lane from mile marker 90 to mile marker 95, between Morganton and Marion, to improve five miles of I-40.

* I-77 in Surry County is reduced to one lane in each direction from mile markers 91 to 93 and 99 to102. Exit 100 (northbound) accessing N.C. 89 is closed. A signed detour route will direct motorists to Exit 101 to I-74 to N.C. 89. The department is rehabilitating 10 miles of I-77.

U.S. Routes:

* U.S. 64 East in Wake County is reduced to one lane for about three miles near the Franklin County line (past Zebulon) for resurfacing.

For information about major construction projects across the state, visit the NCDOT Construction Information SafeDrive Guide web site at http://www.doh.dot.state.nc.us/impact/Safedrive

Open Beer Cars in Cars: The House Judiciary 1 Committee discussed but took no action on a bill that would ban open containers of alcohol in cars, even by passengers. Rep. Jim Crawford (D-Granville) introduced the measure, H. 1499 Interlock/Open Container Changes, to bring North Carolina into compliance with federal requirements. Under federal guidelines,the state risks losing $7 million a year in federal highway money unless if bans open containers of alcohol by anyone riding in a vehicle. The state must enact a ban by September. Members of the committee criticized the federal requirement. Rep. Dan Blue (D-Wake) said he resents Congress issuing mandates such as this one.

Hearings on Wetlands Rules: The state Depatment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has scheduled public hearings on a proposed rule defining activities that are exempt from wetland water quality standards as long as those exempt activities comply with best management practices and prior notice is given for construction of new ditches in wetland areas. One hearing will be held in Wilmington on Tuesday, May 30, in Cameron Hall on the UNC-Wilmington campus and at the Craven County Courthouse in New Bern on Thursday, June 1. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. A new component of the rule requires those involved in otherwise exempted activities to notify the state's Division of Water Quality at least 14 days before a new ditch in a wetland is constructed. The notification would include the landowner's name, a map showing the location of the project, the area of the wetland impact and verification by the owner that Best Management Practices, as outlined in the rule, will be used. The proposed rule will reinstate wetland certification exemptions for specific activities as provided in the federal Clean Water Act. Examples of exempt activities include: normal silviculture and on-going farming, maintenance of serviceable structures such as dams and levees, and the construction or maintenance of farm roads and forest roads. Those activities still must meet other state and federal regulations, conditions and Best Management Practices as outlined in the rule. The expected effective date of the proposed rule is April 1, 2001. A temporary rule has been in effect since November 1999. To obtain copies of the proposed permanent rule, or for other information about the hearings, contact Jeff Manning of the DWQ Planning Branch at (919) 733-5083 ext. 579 or e-mail Jeff.Manning@ncmail.net. Copies will also be available at the public meetings. Comments on the rule will be accepted through June 8. Comments may be sent to John Dorney, NC DENR, Division of Water Quality Lab, 1621 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1621; or by e-mail at John.Dorney@ncmail.net.

IT Panel Ganes GOP Members: Making good on a promise, House Speaker Jim Black has appointed nine Republicans to the new Appropriations Subcommittee on Information Technology. They are Reps. Gene Arnold (R-Nash), Arlie Culp (R-Randolph), Sam Ellis (R-Wake), Lyons Gray (R-Forsyth), Jim Gulley (R-Mecklenburg), George Holmes (R-Yadkin), Larry Justus (R-Henderson), Trudi Walend (R-Transylvania), and Robert Grady (R-Onslow). Last week Black appointed Democratic leaders of the House Technology Committee and the chairs of the House Appropriations subcommittees to the new IT subcommittee and said he would name some Republicans to the panel leter.

State Inspecting Private Bridges: In the wake of the bridge collapse at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Transportation Secretary David McCoyon Wednesday directed NCDOT Bridge Maintenance staff to contact the owners of privately-owned pedestrian bridges over state roads and conduct immediate inspections of those facilities. There are 10 privately-owned pedestrian bridges over North Carolina roads, two of which are owned by Lowe's Motor Speedway. In addition to these bridges, there are 77 pedestrian bridges that cross public highways. Forty-seven are owned and inspected by NCDOT and 27 are inspected by cities. There are three bridges owned by other state agencies and inspected by NCDOT. Following the inspections, DOT will require the bridge owners to have them inspected every two years at their own expense based on national bridge inspection standards.

Privately-Owned Pedestrian Bridges in North Carolina

• County, Location, Year Built
• Caldwell ,U.S. 321, 1950
• Catawba, SR 1007 (Old U.S. 70), 1992
• Forsyth, SR 1508 (Fifth Street), 1960
• Forsyth, SR 1508 (Fifth Street), 1981
• Gaston, SR 2466 (East Seventh Street), 1970
• Gaston, N.C. 7, 1985
• Gaston ,SR 2230 (Fourth Street), 1985
• Guilford, SR 3842 (Friendly Avenue), 1996

Bonds for Tobacco Farmers: House Majority Leader Phil Baddour (D-Wayne) on Wednesday proposed issuing special obligation bonds to help tobacco farmers and repaying the bonds with money from the state's share of the national tobacco settlement. Baddour suggested issuing $75 million in bonds to help farmers replace gas-fired burners in tobacco curing barns. The General Assembly agreed last year to earmark half the state's share of the tobacco settlement into a foundation to help tobacco-dependent communities and 25 percent into two trusts, one for health programs and the other to benefit tobacco farmers.

Hurricane Warning: The House Judiciary 3 Committee favorably reported a bill Wednesday that establishes procedures for closing courthouses and postponing legal activities in the event of bad weather or emergencies. The measure, H. 1502 Adverse Weather Court Closing (Sutton), was recommended by the N.C. Courts Commission in the wake of Hurricane Floyd and a winter storm that hit the state in January.

Conflicts of Interest: North Carolina legislators rank second in the nation for having potential conflicts when voting on legislation that might benefit them personally, according to a study by the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity. The study found 59 percent of General Assembly members sit on committees that regulate a business interest, second to Virginia, with 61 percent. The study also found 34 percent of N.C. lawmakers receive income from a state agency other than the legislature, such as being a teacher or university professor. Auithors of the study conceded the results are skewed by two factors: The N.C. legislature has a large number of committees, increasing the chance for conflicts; and the has a relatively strong law requiring legislators to disclose financial interests. The full report is available at http://www.publicintegrity.org

Safest Schools Recognized: Thirteen North Carolina public schools have proven they're exemplary when it comes to providing a safe school and will be recognized for their efforts in a ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m., May 30, in the Education Building, Room 150, 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh. The Triple "S" School Award was established by the Department of Public Instruction's School Improvement Division to recognize public schools that go above and beyond in their efforts to ensure the safety of students and staff. The program is voluntary. "This program provides an excellent way to recognize those schools that are really striving hard to provide the optimum atmosphere for students and staff to learn and work," State Superintendent Mike Ward said. State Board of Education Chairman Phil Kirk said the Super Safe School Program ties in nicely with the Board's Strategic Priority to provide Safe, Orderly and Caring Schools. "High student performance is difficult to achieve if our schools do not provide a learning environment that is inviting and supportive." Schools receiving recognition as a Super Safe School are:

• * Shallotte Middle (Brunswick County Schools);
• * Pineville Elementary (Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools);
• * Weaverville Primary (Buncombe County Schools);
• * Mulberry Elementary (Wilkes County Schools);
• * Bethel Elementary (Pitt County Schools);
• * Davenport Elementary (Caldwell County Schools);
• * Richmond Senior High (Richmond County Schools);
• * Western Guilford High (Guilford County Schools);
• * Eastern Guilford High (Guilford County Schools);
• * C.B. Martin Middle (Edgecombe County Schools);
• * Vandora Springs Elementary (Wake County Schools);
• * South Granville High (Granville County Schools); and
• * E.O. Young Jr., Elementary (Vance County Schools).

Several other schools will receive a Certificate of Participation for submitting applications for the recognition. These schools are:

• * East Mecklenburg High (Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools);
• * Winstead Avenue Elementary (Nash-Rocky Mount Schools);
• * Sandy Grove Elementary (Hoke County Schools);
• * Forbush High (Yadkin County Schools);
• * First Flight Elementary (Dare County Schools);
• * Shelby High ( Shelby City Schools);
• * Shelby Middle (Shelby City Schools);
• * Saint Pauls Elementary (Robeson County Schools); and
• * Norwood Elementary (Stanly County Schools).

Federal Government News

China Trade Makes Strange Bedfellows

The Democrat-Republican divide was replaced by an urban-rural split in determining how North Carolina's congressional delegation voted on extending permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China. The four members who voted for passage of the bill represent urban areas -- the Triangle, Charlotte and Hickory. The five Republicans and three Democrats who voted against PNTR mainly represent rural parts of the state or areas heavily dependent on textiles.

The House approved the legislation 237-197 on Thursday, with 164 Republicans and 73 Democrats in favor. Voting no were 57 Republicans, 138 Democrats and two Independents. See how the entire House voted. The measure now goes to the Senate, which is expected to take up the bill after Congress returns from its Memorial Day break. Sen. Jesse Helms strongly opposes it and Sen. John Edwards is undecided.

The Senate is expected to concur in passage, handing President Clinton a major foreign policy victory. Business leaders applauded House passage of the China trade bill, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce calling the bipartisan vote "a victory of fact over fear and a historic win for the American economy and our national security."

North Carolina supporters said normal trade relations with China would bring an economic windfall to the state by opening new markets for commodities and manufactured goods. China isn't one of North Carolina's major trading partners. The $254.2 million in goods we exported there last year ranks China as the state's 16th-largest foreign market.

Price and other supporters said the legislation will boost that total significantly by requiring China to slash tariffs on poultry, pork, tobacco and other commodities, as well as on such manufactured goods as chemical and pharmaceutical products, computers, telephones and other high-tech items. "This is potentially one of the most positive developments in years for North Carolina tobacco farmers," Cong. Bob Etheridge (D-2nd) said in a statement. "This is a big, big victory for our state's tobacco farmers and rural economies." Etheridge swung in favor of the trade bill after China dropped restrictions on tobacco imports.

How They Voted

• Yes
• Cass Ballenger, R
• Bob Etheridge, D
• Sue Myrick, R
• David Price, D
• No
• Richard Burr, R
• Eva Clayton, D
• Howard Coble, R
• Robin Hayes, R
• Walter Jones, R
• Mike McIntyre, D
• Charles Taylor, R
• Melvin Watt, D

Ergonomics Update: OSHA will hold an informal public hearing on July 7 on the economic impact of its proposed ergonomics standard on state and local governments, the United States Postal Service and railroads. Public comments on these issues are due no later than June 22, 2000. While OSHA's ergonomics proposal addresses these workers, the original economic impact statement did not include these costs. Although OSHA does not cover state and local government workers, states that run their own OSHA programs (about half the states, including North Carolina) do and would cover workers within their jurisdictions. The supplemental economic analysis concludes that the ergonomics proposal would affect another 8.7 million workers in state and local government at more than 165,000 sites. OSHA estimates these workers experience about 175,000 musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) each year. OSHA estimates that adding the three groups to its ergonomics proposal would raise the total net costs by nearly $420 million per year. The public hearing will be held July 7, beginning at 9:00 a.m., in the auditorium of the Francis Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Comments also can be transmitted electronically through OSHA's web site.

Hot Weather: The four-month period of January through April this year was the warmest January-April period on record in the United States in 106 years of record keeping, according to statistics calculated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists working from the world's largest statistical weather database. NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville holds data that spans through the entire 106 years of record keeping. The preliminary data indicate that nearly 70 percent of the country was much warmer than normal, while less than one percent of the country was much cooler than normal. The persistent warmth of the past eleven months has resulted in record warm ranks for several combinations of months ending in April 2000. These include each of the nine periods from February-April 2000, January-April 2000, back to June 1999-April 2000. The temperature value, at 44.3 degrees Fahrenheit, was .3 degrees over the second warmest January-April, which occurred in 1990.

SBA Revises SIC Codes: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Oct. 1 will adopt a new industrial classification system that more accurately reflects today's small business sector, especially the fast-growth technology area. It will serve as the basis for the agency's widely used small business size standards. The new system, known as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), reflects recent business development trends by listing a greater number of advanced technology and service industries than the current Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), which has been in use since the 1930s. The NAICS classification system now is used to compile business and trade statistics in the United States, Canada and Mexico. "The phenomenal growth of our national economy in recent years has created entire new industries, especially when measured by the technology sector," said SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez. "The SBA is adopting NAICS to keep current and more accurately classify our diverse economy. The benefits of this more precise classification will be shared by all, but particularly by those small businesses in these emerging industries.” Federal procurement officials and others use size standards to determine whether a business is large or small. Knowing the correct size standard can pave the way for a firm to receive contracts, research and development awards and financial or technical assistance reserved only for small businesses. Read more about the issue.

Airline Merger: United Airlines, the world's largest carrier, has agreed to acquire US Airways in an $11.6 billion deal that would create an airline with nearly twice the number of flights as its nearest competitor. US Airways is the dominant carrier at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and is a major carrier at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. United plans to keep US Airways' Washington-New York-Boston shuttle and enough slots at Reagan National to feed Washington-area passengers to US Airways international hubs in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Charlotte. The merger agreement was said to be an all-cash deal, with United paying $4.3 billion and assuming US Airways' debt of $1.6 billion. The rest of the $11.6 billion price tag involves assumption of aircraft leases. The newly merged airline would have hubs from coast to coast and about 6,500 daily flights, nearly double that of American Airlines. United is primarily an east-west airline, while US Airways primarily flies north-south routes. United said the acquisition would add 560 routes to its system.

Taylor and Taxes: Jackson County Tax Collector Beverly Buchanan has asked the U.S. House to garnishee the paycheck of Cong. Charles Taylor (R-11th) for $3,583.50 as payment for a delinquent property tax bill the county says he owes. Buchanan said Taylor owes the county $17,989.37 in taxes, going back to 1996, on six parcels totaling 628 acres. The money requested covers taxes on one of the parcels. Taylor declined comment. His lawyer, Robert Long, denied Taylor owes back taxes in Jackson County. The dispute involves Taylor's claim for a lower tax rate because his land is under active forest management.

Bills of Statewide Interest Introduced This Week

HOUSE BILLS

* Blank budget bills were tossed into the hopper this week. The budget process starts in the House this year; these bills will be the vehicles the chamber uses to hammer out spending for the year beginning July 1:

H 1704 (By Ruth Easterling and David Redwine) 2000 APPROPRIATIONS ACT-1 -- An act to modify the Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 1999 and to make other changes in the budget operation of the State.

H 1705 (By Ruth Easterling and David Redwine) 2000 APPROPRIATIONS ACT-2 -- An act to modify the Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 1999 and to make other changes in the budget operation of the State.

H 1697 (By Pete Oldham) CLOSE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP/FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to close the academic achievement gap that exists in the public schools.

* Local option taxes remain popular with counties. These tax bills were offered:

H 1735 (By Don Davis and Leslie Cox) HARNETT LOCAL SALES TAX -- An act to authorize Harnett County to levy a one-cent local sales and use tax for public school capital outlay purposes, if approved by the voters of the county.

H 1758 (By Don Davis and Leslie Cox) RAISE AVERASBORO ROOM TAX -- An act to authorize Harnett County to increase the occupancy tax in Averasboro Township.

H 1654 (By Leslie Cox and Donald Davis) LEE LOCAL SALES TAX -- An act to authorize Lee County to levy a one-cent local sales and use tax for public school capital outlay purposes and community college plant fund purposes, if approved by the voters of the county.

* Other bills:

H 1788 (By Thomas Wright) PORTS AUTHORITY TAX CHANGES -- An act to extend the tax credit for State Ports Authority wharfage, handling and throughput charges

H 1706 (By Thomas Wright) FUNDS/OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH -- An act to appropriate funds for the Office of Minority Health in the Department of Health and Human Services.

H 1709 (By Martin Nesbitt) NO SALES TAX ON FREE PUBLICATIONS -- An act to exempt free circulation publications from the sales tax.

H 1726 (By Gene Rogers) TEACHER RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY -- An act to amend the definition of the term "teacher" for purposes of membership in the Teachers' and State employees' Retirement System.

H 1727 (By Gene Arnold) ABC PILOT/STUDIES -- An act to direct the State Board of Education to implement a pilot program to increase the achievement of students who are performing below grade level, to repeal the "advanced competencies" portion of the Excellent Schools Act, to prohibit smoking in school buildings during instructional hours, to require the State Board to make an interim report and recommendations regarding the dropout prevention/driver's license law, to require the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee to study increasing the minimum amount of instructional time and the contractual period for teachers and to appropriate funds.

H 1738 (By Doug Yongue, Donald Bonner and Ronnie Sutton) UNC TUITION EXCEPTION -- An act to provide that a nonresident is eligible to be charged that in-state tuition rate if the nonresident is enrolled as a student at a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina and the nonresident's domicile is within a one hundred-mile radius of the UNC campus at which the nonresident is enrolled.

H 1760 (By Art Pope and Russell Capps) EXPEDITE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION/WAKE CO. -- An act to provide for flexibility in school construction and repair contracts for the Wake County schools.

H 1787 (By Jim Black and Martha Alexander) MECKLENBURG/FUNDING FOR COURT SYSTEM -- An act to authorize court officials in Mecklenburg County to apply to the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to enter into contracts with local governments for the provision of judicial secretaries, temporary assistant public defenders, assistant clerks, deputy clerks and other employees in the Office of the Clerk of Court when the public interest warrants the use of additional court resources

H 1789 (By Douglas Yongue and Howard Hunter) REALLOCATE WATER BOND FUNDS -- An act to reallocate proceeds of the Clean Water bonds

H 1794 (By Alex Warner) SCHOOL CENTRAL OFFICE SALARY FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to increase the minimum pay of school supervisors, coordinators and directors

H 1795 (By Alex Warner) TEACHER ASSISTANT SALARY FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to pay teacher assistants at least fifty percent of the salary of a teacher with the same years of experience

H 1796 (By William Culpepper, Ruth Easterling, Paul McCrary and Joe Tolson) CONVENIENCE FEE FOR COURT RECORDS -- An act to prescribe the convenience fee for remote access to court records

H 1797 (By Gene Arnold) BD. OF GOVS. STUDY UNC SYSTEM -- An act to provide that the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina shall study the state's university system and to appropriate funds for that study

H 1798 (By Verla Insko and Joe Hackney) STATE PAY JUVENILE COSTS -- An act to revise the juvenile code to provide that the state, rather than Orange County, pay certain costs associated with the treatment of undisciplined and delinquent juveniles and to appropriate funds for that purpose

H 1800 (By Howard Hunter) COMM. DEV. INITIATIVE FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to the Department of Commerce for the Community Development Initiative

H 1801 (By Beverly Earle) MECKLENBURG RAIL BANKING -- An act to provide for the rail banking of a portion of the Piedmont and Northern rail corridor in Mecklenburg County

H 1804 (By Phil Baddour) ESTABLISH JUVENILE DEPARTMENT -- An act to establish the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and to make conforming amendments to the General Statutes

H 1805 (By Martin Nesbitt) RETIREMENT WITHDRAWAL SERVICE -- An act to allow the purchase of withdrawal service in the Teachers' and State Employees' retirement system

H 1806 (By George Miller) SOME ELECTRICITY TAX EXEMPT -- An act to exempt sales to manufacturers of electricity used in arc furnaces, induction furnaces and aluminum manufacturing processes from the sales and use tax

H 1676 (By Cary Allred) $30,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION -- An act to reduce property taxes on homestead property, to allow more individuals to qualify for homestead tax reduction, and to reimburse local governments for one-half of the revenue loss due to the homestead tax reduction.

H 1681 (By Bill Owens) LRC STUDY OF FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS -- An act to appropriate funds for the Legislative Research Commission to study ways to discourage the filing frivolous civil actions.

H 1684 (By Lanier Cansler) USE TAX CREDIT -- An act to exempt the first one thousand dollars in consumer purchases made out-of-state from the use tax by providing a sixty dollar tax credit against the use tax imposed on out-of-state purchases made by an individual for a nonbusiness purpose and to relieve an individual who is not liable for use tax from the record-keeping requirements.

H 1685 (By Mitchell Setzer) MERCHANT'S DISCOUNT OF 1% -- An act to allow a one percent merchant's discount for collecting state sales and use taxes.

H 1686 (By Dan Barefoot) ALLOCATIONS FOR ADM GROWTH IN SCHOOLS -- An act directing the State Board of Education to allocate additional resources to local school administrative units experiencing a loss of students to charter schools but an overall increase in average daily membership in noncharter schools.

H 1687 (By Gene Arnold) RETIRED TEACHERS/COMPENSATION -- An act to allow retired teachers to teach without losing their retirement benefits.

H 1693 (By Stan Fox) NC TECHNOLOGICAL DEV. AUTHORITY FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to the North Carolina Technological Development Authority, Inc.

H 1657 (By Lanier Cansler) MEDICAID FUNDS/MENTAL HEALTH -- An act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate Medicaid funds for the 2000-2001 fiscal year for certain mental health purposes, and to conduct other activities to improve mental health services.

H 1667 (By Martha Alexander) CHARLOTTE CHARTER CONSOLIDATION -- An act to revise and consolidate the Charter of the city of Charlotte.

SENATE BILLS

* Tax / spending / education measures:

S 1419 (By Ham Horton) TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT -- An act to provide governmental accountability and protection to the taxpayers by limiting increases in the General Fund budget, reforming the budget process, establishing an Emergency Reserve Trust Fund and prohibiting unfunded State mandates.

S 1434 (By Virginia Foxx) BUDGET CUTS TO REPAY INTANGIBLES TAX -- An act requiring the Director of the Budget to cut expenditures to provide funds for the intangibles tax refund.

S 1420 (By Steve Metcalf and Charles Carter) ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE TECH FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to the Community Colleges System Office for the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College BASF Enka project.

S 1436 (By Roy Cooper) DISTRICT ATTORNEY/PUBLIC DEFENDER SALARIES -- An act to set the salaries of district attorneys and public defenders at an amount that is the midpoint between the salary of a senior regular resident Superior Court judge and the salary of a chief District Court judge and to appropriate funds for that purpose and to conform the salaries of the Industrial Commission, as required by law.

S 1451 (By Fountain Odom) CHARLOTTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUICKTAKE -- An act to allow the City of Charlotte to use the procedures of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes for condemnation for economic development purposes within a defined area.

S 1456 (By Dan Clodfelter) MECKLENBURG/FUNDING FOR COURT SYSTEM -- An act to authorize court officials in Mecklenburg County to apply to the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to enter into contract with local governments for the provision of judicial secretaries, temporary assistant public defenders, assistant clerks, deputy clerks and other employees in the Office of the Clerk of Court when the public interest warrants the use of additional court resources.

S 1457 (By Oscar Harris) RAISE AVERASBORO ROOM TAX -- An act to authorize Harnett County to increase the occupancy tax in Averasboro Township.

S 1459 (By Luther Jordan) COMM. DEV. INITIATIVE FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to the Department of Commerce for the Community Development Initiative.

S 1460 (By Howard Lee) FILM INDUSTRY INCENTIVES -- An act to provide incentives for development of the film industry on North Carolina.

S 1462 (By Roy Cooper and Charles Carter) ESTABLISH JUVENILE DEPARTMENT -- An act to establish the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and to make conforming amendments to the General Statutes.

S 1464 (By David Hoyle) TREASURER INVEST IN RURAL SBIC -- An act to authorize the State Treasurer to invest in a small business investment company that invests in rural North Carolina business.

S 1465 (By David Hoyle) VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT -- An act to provide venture capital investment in North Carolina.

S 1476 (By John Kerr) INSURANCE REGULATORY CHARGE -- An act to set the insurance regulatory charge foe calendar year 2000.

S 1377 (By Oscar Harris) LEE LOCAL SALES TAX -- An act to authorize Lee County to levy a one-cent local sales and use tax for public school capital outlay purposes and community college plant fund purposes, if approved by the voters of the county.

S 1378 (By Oscar Harris) HARNETT LOCAL SALES TAX -- An act to authorize Harnett County to levy a one-cent local sales and use tax for public school capital outlay purposes and community college plant fund purposes, if approved by the voters of the county.

S 1381 (By John Kerr) REALLOCATE WATER BOND FUNDS -- An act to reallocate the proceeds of the Clean Water Bonds.

S 1385 (By Tony Rand) PRO TEM APPOINTMENTS -- An act to appoint persons to various public offices upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

S 1389 (By Fountain Odom) FUNDS FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE -- An act to appropriate funds for a Superior Court judge in the set of Superior Court districts in Mecklenburg County.

S 1390 (By Fountain Odom) FUNDS FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE -- An act to add an additional District Court judge in district court District One and to appropriate funds for that.

S 1391 (By Dan Clodfelter) CHARLOTTE CHARTER CONSOLIDATION -- An act to revise and consolidate the Charter of the City of Charlotte.

S 1395 (By Bill Martin) CLOSE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP/FUNDS -- An act to appropriate funds to close the academic achievement gap that exists in the public schools.

This is the end of the May 26 Legislative Bulletin