Update

The legislature is really following up on their efforts to streamline government.  Check out all the agencies, committees, etc that they are getting rid of in Senate bill 636(Government Reduction Act).

House Bill 709 (Protect and Put NC Back to Work) could get to the Governor's desk next week.  Some highlights of this bill are it caps the disability benefits that are allowed for individuals who are classified as Temporarily Totally Disabled to 9 ½ years versus their lifetime.  There are specific exceptions to the cap, such as: loss of both hands, eyes, paralysis, severe brain injury, or severe burns over 33 % of their body and those who can show that they lose their wage earning capacity.  Additionally, this bill allows for the burial expenses for a worker who is killed on the job from $3,500 to $10,000.  It extends the allowable benefit weeks to 500 for workers with partial incapacity, who are physically unable to perform their old job and end up taking another at lower pay.  Lastly, this legislation sets a procedure for the employer to follow when they access the worker’s doctor or medical information.

No word yet as to what the Governor is going to do with the Budget Bill (H.200). 

She is running out of time.  She has 10 day to either sign or veto.  After that it becomes law without her signature.  The time frame is already causing some problems.State law says that a state agency must give an employee 30 days notice if they are to be terminated. In anticipation of budget cuts (based on both the House and Senate versions of the budget) some agencies may have already notified employees they are losing their jobs. What happens if proposed cuts are not as severe as now appear? How do they operate with dramatically reduced budgets and, at the same time, wait until July 1 to give notice? How will this affect the remaining 11 months of their budgets?

Had a meeting with the Regional Roads Committee last week and heard a report from NCDOT on road project in the region.  Hwy 74 By-Pass is on go and DOT is purchasing right-of-way now for phase one and two.  It is anticipated that construction on phase one and two will begin in 2012.  However, the DOT representative warned us to watch Congress and see if they reauthorize the Federal road program and how much money they commit.  That will have a direct bearing on all major road projects in North Carolina