Special Report to Blowing Rock News. December 6, 2010. RALEIGH, NC -- Each Week, Blowing Rock News is pleased to publish State Representative Cullie Tarleton's "The Raleigh Report," which he prepares each week as a service to the constituents of NC House District 93 (Ashe and Watauga Counties).

The Raleigh Report 

From the Office of Representative Cullie Tarleton

I hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving. We did. We had all our children and grandchildren here. A number of new laws went into place in North Carolina last week. Some of them you may have heard about, while others have received less attention. I wanted to point out a few of them to you. I believe all of them will help make our state a better place to live and help provide a better environment for our people.

If you would like to see a full listing of the laws that went into effect Dec. 1, visit www.ncleg.net and look through the News & Information section of the page.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government. If you have any questions about this information or anything else that I can help with, please contact me. I am always glad to be of service. I can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 828-295-3353. I might have another report before my term ends on 12-31, but if not, thank you again for your support.

Criminal Law

We gave final passage to new protections for victims of domestic violence by increasing penalties for trespassing at shelters and safe houses for those covered by protective orders. (SL2010-5)

Legislation that increases the penalty for killing an animal from a Class A1 Misdemeanor to a Class H Felony has been signed into law (SL2010-16). The legislation would also increase the penalty for the malicious abuse or torture of an animal from a Class I Felony to a Class H Felony. Susie's Law, as the legislation is commonly known, is named after a dog found burned and left to die in a Greensboro park last year.

The state has strengthened its prohibition on video gambling. The new law (SL2010-103) makes it illegal to operate, or place into operation, a machine or device to conduct a sweepstakes through the use entertaining displays. The first violation of the law is a misdemeanor. Subsequent violations are felonies.

Good government

The Government Ethics and Campaign Reform Act of 2010 (SL2010-169) creates stronger standards for elected officials and government workers. Among other things, the act: increases the penalty for illegal campaign donations; improves the state’s campaign finance database by making it easier to search; makes complete salary histories of government workers public; requires the government to pay plaintiffs’ legal fees in cases where they are found to have violated open records laws without a written basis; increases economic disclosure requirements for judicial officers, legislators, and public servants.

The state continues to crack down on Medicaid fraud. A new law explicitly makes it illegal to knowingly and willfully solicit or receive kickbacks, bribes, or rebates in exchange for inducing a person to buy items or services paid for by Medicaid. The law also covers the purchase, recommendation or lease of goods, services or a facility. (SL2010-185)

Miscellaneous

Retired probation and parole officers can now be excused from firearm safety and training courses required to carry a concealed handgun. To qualify for the exemption, officers must apply for the permit within two years following the date of retirement. They must also have been authorized to carry a gun in the course of their duties and met firearms training standards, never have been subjected to disciplinary action that would have prevented them from carrying a gun and not be prohibited by state or federal law from receiving a firearm. (SL2010-104)

The courts-martial rules for the state National Guard have been updated to more closely follow the system used by United States military courts. The law (SL2010-193) will help ensure that military court proceedings are handled consistently and professionally for our National Guard members.

Notes

Fountain Powerboat Industries Inc., a designer and manufacturer of offshore sport boats, sport fishing boats, and cruisers, will expand its facility in Beaufort County, creating 411 jobs and investing $5.1 million over the next five years in Washington.

FAS Controls Inc., a manufacturer of custom designed electromechanical components, will expand in Cleveland County. The company plans to create 52 jobs and invest $1.5 million over the next year in Shelby.

Global textile firm Sattler AG will bring 76 jobs and invest $4.56 million during the next three years in Caldwell County.

Speaker Hackney has appointed Mary Howell, of Ashe County, to the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission. Mary teaches at Ashe Middle School. Congratulations Mary and thank you for your service.

I continue to work on the potential closing of Mt. Jefferson State Park. I’m trying to get it off the possible closing list.

Congratulations to Don and Carol Tucker of DJ Trees in Ashe County for being the Grand Champion Fraser Fir Winner and providing the tree for our State Capitol. Congratulations also to Joe Freeman and Linda Jones of Mistletoe Meadows in Ashe County for being the wreath winner and providing wreaths for the Capitol.

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