Town of Chapel Hill Potential Legislative Initiatives

1)         Statewide Legislation.

a.         State registration of beer kegs.

b.         Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act.

c.         Opposition to the proposed Constitutional amendment defining marriage as only the union of one man and one woman.

d.         Include sexual orientation as a category under North Carolina hate crimes law.

e.         Application of state vehicle regulations to electric personal assistive mobility devices.

f.          Repeal of N.C.G.S. 95-98 and replace it with a law that would establish collective bargaining rights for public employees.

g.         Support for the League’s position regarding annexation law.

h.         Support an adjustment to the law enforcement supplemental retirement program to provide that each agency where a retiree worked shall contribute a pro rata portion of the retirement allowance rather than having the entire allowance paid by the last agency where the retiree served.

i.          Support a change in state law to reaffirm the confidentiality of public agency attorney work product and attorney-client communications involving public agencies and their counsel. 

j.          Support for adjustments to the homestead tax exemption.

k.         Recommend legislators support State funding of the State Highway Patrol 800MHz trunked radio system known as VIPER (Voice Interoperability Project for Emergency Responders).

2)         Local Legislation.

a.         Reconsideration of a local bill to authorize an additional tax on utility bills to provide funding to put overhead power distribution lines underground.

b.         Support additional substance abuse treatment facilities in Orange County and the hiring of additional local Alcohol Law Enforcement Officers.

c.         Repeal of the Town’s authority to operate automated camera equipment to cite red light traffic violations.

3)         Finance/Revenue Issues.

a.         Authorization of a per-ticket fee on events at large venues, possibly with the revenue being earmarked for public transportation or public safety funding.

b.         Revenue Enhancements.

            1.         Gas tax.

            2.         Vehicle registration fee.

            3.         One-half cent sales tax.