N.C. Senator Ellie Kinnaird's Newsletter

February 12, 2007 Newsletter

Greetings from Raleigh,

Ellie Kinnaird

What makes North Carolina move forward? Why do some parts of our state fall behind while some areas thrive? In the education field, we have to ask, why some parts of the state have outstanding educational systems while others struggle to meet the minimum standards? This session will require answers in both funding and programs to achieve the best for all students.

State employees pay increase and health insurance will be on the top of my list along with making our educational system the best it can be - from pre-kindergarten, through our community colleges and outstanding research university.

An Independent Energy Act will be introduced again and I will be a main sponsor. While the bill didn’t succeed last year, many more people are on board because of the extensive hearings of the Global Warming Commission. We can cut our reliance on foreign oil and coal and nuclear plants through energy efficiency and alternate sources.

One of my main goals this term is to promote economic development in Person County that has suffered a loss of manufacturing jobs. The county and city leaders have worked hard to reverse that trend and have made some good progress. Situated on 501 North and adjacent to Durham County and the Research Triangle Park with an attractive landscape and a well-trained work force, Person County and Roxboro offer many advantages for industry and residential development. I will work with those leaders and our Commerce department to showcase those outstanding qualities.

Specifically, my legislative bills will be centered on the Justice, Crime and Correction and Juvenile Justice budget. 80% of juveniles in the criminal justice system are seriously mentally ill. The Juvenile Justice department is changing to a therapeutic model of dealing with these youths in their system. Our court system, while receiving generous help in last year’s budget, still has shortcomings, which I hope to address in this year’s budget.

I am introducing a number of bills in this same area, including an expunction of minor felonies committed between 17 and 21 years of age after 10 years of good conduct. We know from brain studies (and our experience with our own teenagers) that youth that age are undergoing what is called "brain reconstruction" that impairs judgment, impulse control and susceptibility to peer pressure. Those sentenced with minor felonies at that age can never get jobs in education, health care and many other professions, even when they have lived productive, contributing lives after their sentence.

I will introduce a bill to prevent one’s home from being taken away from a patient’s inability to pay excessive hospital bills. I will also introduce a revision of the Do Not Resuscitate laws, Post-adoption Contacts bill and a bill allowing all holy scriptures to be used to swear an oath in a court of law, Naturopathic Licensing, prohibition of the execution of the mentally ill, and a study of lethal injection in executions.

Finally, I hope to finish what I began as a freshman: 50 cents on each rabies tag to go into a fund to provide low-cost spay and neutering of pets of low-income people. Thousands of animals are slaughtered in shelters each year. We could prevent that by curbing the population through spaying and neutering. I need help to pass this bill because of professional opposition.

I look forward to hearing how you feel about each of these bills and any concerns you have for the 2007 session.

Paid for by Ellie Kinnaird for Senate • PO Box 668, Carrboro, NC 27510 • 919-929-1607 •