Last month, the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature met in Chapel Hill. This session marked 25 years advocating for North Carolina Senior Citizens. Two charter members, Macon County Delegate Dorothy Crawford and Avery County Delegate Rachel Deal, were presented plaques in recognition of their service.
The Issues Committee met to review and discuss 13 proposed resolutions that were under consideration for the 2019 legislative session of the North Carolina General Assembly. Of the 13 that were submitted for consideration, six were approved by the Senior Tar Heel Legislature.Those were: 1. Increase funding for HCCBG – which provides home and community‐based services to the elderly; 2. Maintain and Increase Funding for Senior Centers – which provide programs and services to enhance the health and wellness of older adults; 3. Increase funding for Project C.A.R.E. – which funds Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia caregivers respite support; 4. Strengthen and Fund North Carolina’s Adult Protective Services Program – which provides service to vulnerable and older adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect and Exploitation; and 5. Staff‐to‐Patient Ratios in Nursing Homes – to establish and maintain Nursing Home Staff at a required ratio. The sixth resolution was a proposal to increase funding for the Senior Tar Heel Legislature which has not been increased in over 10 years. The Senior Tar Heel Legislature delegates will advocate for adoption of these resolutions by the General Assembly in its 2019 legislative session. Delegates will meet with the General Assembly as a group in March. Individual delegates also will meet with the representatives for their county in 2019.
In other business, new appointments to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature were approved for Bertie County: Patricia Puch‐Wynn, Delegare and Constance Richardson, Alternate.
To schedule an informational meeting on the Senior Tar Heel Legislature and its 2019 legislative priorities, please contact Transylvania County’s Delegate, Pat Roberts, at [email protected].