Legislative Update:
Friday, February 16, 2007
 

Welcome members, friends, and supporters of PBA’s 2007-2008 legislative agenda.

Prior to the session opening in January, PBA was hard at work contacting legislators in an effort to obtain very specific data needed to formulate plans for the 25 year retirement legislation.  With an overwhelming response from legislators, much data has been received and will assist us in our efforts towards 25 year retirement for law enforcement.

As you know, the 148^th session of the NC General Assembly convened at 12 noon on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, in Raleigh.

PBA members spent the first day speaking with several legislators. NCPBA Legislative Chairman Randy Byrd began his day at a reception of newly elected and PBA endorsed Representative Ty Harrell.  Randy has since met with most of our PBA endorsed legislators and some that were not endorsed but have voiced a desire to work with PBA and our legislative agenda.

Jeff Gray, lobbyist for the FOP, began work immediately together with PBA to secure mutual language on a 25 year retirement bill for law enforcement officers that is mutually supported by the law enforcement associations.

During the legislative week of February 5, 2007, committee chairs were established in the Senate and new committee structuring in the House.  The committee chairmen were announced the following week.

On Tuesday, February 13, 2007, a draft 25 year retirement bill for law enforcement officers emerged from bill drafting.

PBA and lobbyist Jeff Gray have been actively lining up bill sponsors from both the House and Senate.

Two important changes to this draft bill over previous bills include:

1) Removing the age limitation of 62 for eligibility for the separation allowance.  The new language reflects that officers will be eligible for the separation allowance whatever age in which they receive social security and,

2) Section 8 of the bill directs the State Treasurers office with the responsibility of implementing a plan for administering the separation allowance, thus taking the burden from the local government agencies.

PBA also spent time this week acquiring support for procedural due process legislation.

Stay tuned, we’ve only just begun………….