The Raleigh Report

from the office of Representative Marian McLawhorn
April 11 , 2008

This week Gov. Easley announced the recipients of the Energy Efficiency Reserve Fund grants. Legislators helped create the grant program and set aside $5 million for this fiscal year. This investment will save us about $3.2 million a year in utility costs. I want to use this opportunity to tell you about this fund and some of the work we are doing between sessions on energy and environmental issues.

Thank you for your interest in state government and for allowing me to share this information with you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Energy Efficiency Reserve Fund

More than 200 groups applied for the Energy Efficiency Reserve Fund grants administered by the State Energy Office. All of the 58 projects awarded grant funds will help us use our natural resources and tax dollars more efficiently. A full list of the recipients and a description of individual projects can be found at www.energync.net. The fund was established at the request of Speaker Joe Hackney and included in the budget for the first time this year. I was among the supporters of this program.

Recipient Grant amount ($) Estimated yearly savings ($)
Department of Administration 425,000 203,000
Department of Commerce 150,000 30,000
Department of Consumer Services 740,000 524,000
Department of Crime Control 125,000 41,000
Department of Cultural Resources 25,000 15,000
Department of Environment and 220,000 84,000
Natural Resources
Department of Health and Human 530,000 419,000
Services
Department of Juvenile Justice 125,000 166,000
Department of Transportation 190,000 40,000
Appalachian State University 120,000 62,000
UNC-Chapel Hill 210,000 130,000
Recipient Grant amount ($) Estimated yearly savings ($)
UNC-Charlotte 195,000 98,000
Elizabeth City State University 55,000 34,000
East Carolina University 125,000 125,000
Fayetteville State University 105,000 45,000
UNC-Greensboro 65,000 36,000
North Carolina A&T 160,000 99,000
North Carolina Central University 185,000 111,000
North Carolina State University 215,000 115,000
UNC-Pembroke 75,000 46,000
Western Carolina University 125,000 93,000
Winston-Salem State University 150,000 93,000
North Carolina School of the Arts 120,000 40,000
North Carolina School of Science 85,000 11,000
and Math
UNC-TV 85,000 70,000
Wake Tech Community College 150,000 93,000
Piedmont Community College 120,000 40,000
Central Carolina Comm. College 15,000 3,000
Martin Community College 25,000 5,000
Mitchell Community College 25,000 8,000
Central Piedmont Comm. College 50,000 17,000

Joint Select Committee on the Agricultural Drought Response

The Joint Select Committee on Agricultural Drought Response met last month and made several key recommendations to be presented to the General Assembly in May. The committee voted unanimously to appropriate $12 million to assist a number of farmers hurt during the recent drought. Of this amount, $1.5 million will provide a cost-share program to help some 300 farmers drill new wells and re-drill old ones and $1 million will help 150 farms clean out or construct farm ponds. The committee recommended that $8 million be used for pasture renovation for 1,600 farms and another $1 million to educate consumers on water conservation and to conduct a campaign to preserve the economic viability of the green industry.

The committee was pleased to announce that in mid-April, $6 million will be available immediately for pasture renewal. The planting season has already begun and seed, fuel and fertilizer costs have skyrocketed since last year.

Members of the committee were especially thankful for the work of private financers as well as the Rural Center for its assistance in relief efforts. According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the drought has caused an estimated $600 million to $700 million in damage to North Carolina agribusiness.

Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change

The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change is still receiving input from various interest groups as it looks toward making recommendations for legislative action in its May meeting. Members anticipate adopting a goal of capping carbon emissions at 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050, with interim goals, such as stabilizing emissions, by 2015. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report says these steps are necessary to avert irreversible climate change.

The commission is also hoping to recommend legislation enacting stricter efficiency standards for all government buildings and any buildings that receive government funding. Members will also take some measures to begin adapting to the changes in climate and sea level rise that are already occurring. The commission also hopes to recommend that North Carolina adopt California's clean cars standard. Mobile sources are responsible for more than 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and cleaning those up are the quickest and easiest achievable reductions.

The commission agreed to accept the recommendations of the Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG). CAPAG’s 56 recommendation focus on residential, commercial, and industrial areas, energy supply, transportation and land use, agriculture, forestry and waste management, and cross cutting. A draft of the full report can be found at http://www.ncclimatechange.us/capag.cfm.

Environmental Review Commission

The Environmental Review Commission evaluates actions of all boards, commissions, departments, and agencies of state and local government related to the environment and protecting the environment. Recently the commission discussed the management of low-level radioactive waste, the controlled releases from Falls Lake, and the development of a proposed recycling program for fluorescent lamps.

The commission also studied pending legislation in similar states, drought conditions, and the Governor’s recommendations to response to droughts. Members of the commission discussed changes to the federal ozone standard and what those changes mean for North Carolina. The commission also reviewed the implementation of several environmental laws in North Carolina including Promote Renewable Energy/Baseload Generation (S.L. 2007-397), the Energy Conservation in State Buildings legislation (S.L. 2007-546, Sec. 2.1(c)) and the Swine Methane Capture Pilot Program (S.L. 2007-523, Sec. 4)

Please remember that you can listen to each day’s committee meetings and press conferences on the NC General Assembly website. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection – Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room. You can also use the website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.

The Raleigh Report

From the Office of Representative Marian McLawhorn

March 6, 2008

This session, the General Assembly came up with several ways to cut taxes for the people of North Carolina without sacrificing the quality of our public services. Some of these changes will benefit you this tax season, while others can’t be claimed until next year. I hope this information is of use to you as the deadline for tax filing approaches.

Thank you for your support and for allowing me to share this information with you. Please let me know if I can be of any service.

Individual Income Taxes

Earned Income Tax Credit

_We created a 3.5 percent refundable earned income tax credit. This tax credit would lower the tax burden for many of the working people who earn about $40,000 or less. And because it’s refundable, they may get tax refunds they may not have otherwise received. North Carolinian taxpayers who are eligible for the federal earned income tax credit are eligible for the state credit. This tax credit will become effective for the 2008 taxable year.

Long-term Care Insurance Tax Credit

_ The General Assembly approved a $7 million a year tax credit for families that purchase long-term care insurance. This tax credit allows a credit of 15 percent of the premiums paid for long-term care insurance during the taxable year and is limited to taxpayers earning less than $100,000 for a married couple. Up to $350 is allowed for each long-term care insurance contract. Please note that this tax credit became effective in 2007 and can be claimed on returns filed this spring.

Adoption Expenses Tax Credit

_This year we created a tax credit to benefit those who adopt a child. Taxpayers who are eligible for the federal tax credit for adoption expenses are also eligible for the state tax credit. The state tax credit is equal to 50 percent of the federal tax credit and has a maximum amount of $5,695. This tax credit also became effective in 2007 and can be claimed on returns filed this spring.

Nonprofits and Renewable Energy Property

_Legislators approved a credit for individuals and businesses that make donations to tax-exempt charitable organizations so that the organization can invest in renewable energy property. Taxpayers must choose between claiming this credit or taking a deduction for the charitable contribution. This tax credit will be effective for the 2008 taxable year.

Volunteer Firefighter and Rescue Squad Workers

_My colleagues and I approved a $250 tax deduction for volunteer firefighters and rescue squad workers who attend 36 hours of drills, training, or meetings during a year. This tax credit is effective for the 2007 tax year and can be claimed on returns filed this year.

Sales Tax

Sales Tax Holiday

_North Carolinians benefit from a sales tax holiday each year in the first weekend in August. Previously the sales tax holiday applied to school items that cost less than $100. This year the General Assembly increased the cap to $300 because some college textbooks cost more than $100. This cap increase will become effective for the sales tax holiday in 2008.

Farmers and Manufacturers

_The General Assembly approved a phase-out of the sales tax on piped natural gas, electricity, and other fuels (excluding motor fuel) sold to farmers and manufacturers. The taxes will be phased out over the next three years.

Property Taxes

Property Tax Homestead Exclusion

_The property tax homestead exclusion helps low-income disabled and elderly people keep their homes. Under previous law, $20,000 or 50 percent (whichever amount is greater) of the value of the homestead was excluded from taxation. This session we increased that amount to $25,000 or 50 percent of the homestead. We also increased the income eligibility limit of the program to $25,000. It was previously capped at $20,500. These changes will become effective for the 2008 tax year.

Please remember that you can listen to each day’s committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website at http:// HYPERLINK "http://www.ncleg.net/" www.ncleg.net. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection – Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room. You can also use the website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.

Marian N. McLawhorn

9^th House District Representative

1217 Legislative Building

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Office Phone: 919-733-5757

Email: marianm@ncleg.net

Driver License in North Carolina

The Raleigh Report

From the Office of Representative Marian McLawhorn

January 24, 2007

About Central Issuance of the North Carolina Driver License

Beginning July 1, 2008, North Carolina driver licenses will be issued from a secure central location and mailed to recipients within 20 days after they apply for a new license or identification card, or to renew a license.

This new requirement, enacted into law in July 2006, is meant to further strengthen and safeguard the production, manufacture and issuance of the North Carolina driver license and to further assure that it is issued to the individual who requests it. The law is an outgrowth of concerns across the nation that licenses from several states were issued to the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Both central issuance and residential delivery are designed to prevent the problem of driver license production-material theft, and document and address fraud.

In July, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing driver licenses and identification cards by following a routine similar to that currently used. Customers will visit their local driver license office, take the sign and eye tests, as well as a driving test, if required. Their photos will be taken and their signatures will also be recorded. If the customer’s application is accepted, he will be issued a temporary driving certificate valid for 20 days. The temporary certificate will not display a photo of the customer and is valid only for driving purposes, not for identification. The customer may keep his current driver license during this temporary period. A new driver license will be issued by a central production facility in Raleigh and mailed to the customer at the residence address he has given DMV.

DMV reminds customers that they may apply to renew their driver licenses as much as 180 days (six months) in advance of their renewal due date, usually their birthdate. Renewing early will help assure on-time delivery of their new license or ID card.

DMV is currently working with the United States Postal Service and others to address instances in the state where residential delivery of mail is not offered, such as in small towns like Grifton and in rural areas where mail is delivered only to a P.O. Box. DMV will continue to study this issue as it prepares to meet the requirements of the central issuance law.

###

Marian N. McLawhorn

9^th House District Representative

1217 Legislative Building

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Office Phone: 919-733-5757

Email: marianm@ncleg.net

Driver License in North Carolina

The Raleigh Report

From the Office of Representative Marian McLawhorn

January 24, 2007

About Central Issuance of the North Carolina Driver License

Beginning July 1, 2008, North Carolina driver licenses will be issued from a secure central location and mailed to recipients within 20 days after they apply for a new license or identification card, or to renew a license.

This new requirement, enacted into law in July 2006, is meant to further strengthen and safeguard the production, manufacture and issuance of the North Carolina driver license and to further assure that it is issued to the individual who requests it. The law is an outgrowth of concerns across the nation that licenses from several states were issued to the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Both central issuance and residential delivery are designed to prevent the problem of driver license production-material theft, and document and address fraud.

In July, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing driver licenses and identification cards by following a routine similar to that currently used. Customers will visit their local driver license office, take the sign and eye tests, as well as a driving test, if required. Their photos will be taken and their signatures will also be recorded. If the customer’s application is accepted, he will be issued a temporary driving certificate valid for 20 days. The temporary certificate will not display a photo of the customer and is valid only for driving purposes, not for identification. The customer may keep his current driver license during this temporary period. A new driver license will be issued by a central production facility in Raleigh and mailed to the customer at the residence address he has given DMV.

DMV reminds customers that they may apply to renew their driver licenses as much as 180 days (six months) in advance of their renewal due date, usually their birthdate. Renewing early will help assure on-time delivery of their new license or ID card.

DMV is currently working with the United States Postal Service and others to address instances in the state where residential delivery of mail is not offered, such as in small towns like Grifton and in rural areas where mail is delivered only to a P.O. Box. DMV will continue to study this issue as it prepares to meet the requirements of the central issuance law.

###

Marian N. McLawhorn

9^th House District Representative

1217 Legislative Building

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Office Phone: 919-733-5757

Email: marianm@ncleg.net