Legislative Update:

June 1, 2007

Following the crossover frenzy, this past week has been the calm after the storm.

Two PBA matters to report:

SB 1271 Payroll Deduction for Fire/EMS (and Law Enforcement) was referred from the House to the State Personnel Committee Chaired by PBA endorsed Representative Linda Coleman.  PBA was working this week with the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association in garnering support from the committee. 

 Be on the lookout for a Capwiz alert on this bill in the near future for members of the House State Personnel Committee.  

OFFICER TO BE HONORED ON MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2007

HJR 1986 – HONOR [OFFICER] HOWARD PLOUFF

As reported earlier, PBA endorsed Representative Dale Folwell introduced a House Joint Resolution (HJR 1986) to honor the life of Winston-Salem Sergeant and PBA member Howard Plouff who is one of (8) eight North Carolina police officers to lose their lives in the line of duty so far this year.

HJR passed unanimously from the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 and has been placed on the House Calendar for Monday, June 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

To all members:

Our member will be honored before the full House on Monday night.

Please plan to attend and fill the House Gallery to honor our fellow officer, his family, all the PBA members of the Winston-Salem Chapter, and our fellow officers who have lost their lives this year.

North Carolina officers who died in the line of duty in 2007:

 (Denotes PBA Member**)

1-11-07           James Heath Hardin**      Hope Mills PD

2-1-07             Shawn Joshua Williams    Old Fort PD

2-17-07           Charles J. Callemyn**       Durham PD

2-23-07           Howard J. Plouff**               Winston-Salem PD

4-1-07             Sean Clark                          Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD

4-1-07             Jeff Shelton                          Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD

4-14-07           Jason Campbell**               Greenville PD

5-2-07             Alan Christopher Silver      Rocky Mount PD

Other News:

Also worth noting is the passage of SB 34 (HB 74) Kill Police Animal, in the House on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 117-0, following a favorable committee vote on Tuesday, May 29, 2007.  SB 34 already passed the Senate 47-0 so with the passage from the House, the bill has been returned to the Senate for concurrence on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

The bill makes it a Class H Felony to willfully kill a law enforcement agency animal while said animal is engaged in official duties.

The bill has 19 Senator Co-sponsors and is expected to pass without objection.

Payroll deduction, 25-year retirement, basic workplace fairness / due process, and other work life considerations for the LEO K-9 officers and the 25, 000 other cops in North Carolina can hope to have such legislative support! 

As always, stay tuned.