Berenice Medina Has Joined Naco As the Targeted to the Employee Group It Plan with a Roth Option
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ■ WASHINGTON, D.C. VOL. 47, NO. 9 ■ MAY 4, 2015 CDBG Coalition hopes to Justice and Mental Health Act introduced protect, increase funding BY YEJIN JANG screening practices that ASSOCIATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR identify inmates with mental BY CHARLIE BAN at a Capitol Hill briefing April 28. and Urban Development. health conditions SENIOR STAFF WRITER The coalition, organized by “If you would adjust for A bill that would provide more • support the development of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, inflation, the program would resources to address the increas- curricula for police academies While celebrating a House and including NACo, reiterated a probably be funded at about ing population of those with and orientation, and appropriations bill markup that wish list of $3.3 billion in funding $12 billion,” said Gene Lowe, mental illness in jails has been • develop programs to train boosted the Community Devel- and an adjustment for inflation, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ introduced in both the House federal law enforcement opment Block Grant (CDBG) to which has been absent since the assistant executive director. “We and Senate by Sen. Al Franken officers in how to appropriately $3 billion, the CDBG Coalition program’s 1974 introduction. simply have been nowhere near (D-Minn.) and Rep. Doug Col- respond to incidents involving pushed for measures that would In its 41 years, the number of that.” lins (R-Ga.). The Comprehensive a person with a mental health sustain the program in the future CDBG recipients has increased Dauphin County, Pa. Com- Justice and Mental Health Act condition. to more than 1,200 from its inau- missioner George Hartwick (CJMHA) would reauthorize the gural 594, but the initial funding described the extent to which Mentally Ill Offender Treatment level, $2.7 billion, has increased CDBG has helped his county. and Crime Reduction Act. much less than the rate of infla- “We’ve been able to do some CJMHA would provide coun- INSIDE THIS ISSUE tion. It’s a need-based, formula- creative things with leveraging ties with funding to expand driven funding program to states dollars,” he said, pointing out specialty courts (e.g. drug courts and local governments through and veteran’s courts) and crisis the U.S. Department of Housing See CDBG page 2 intervention training for law enforcement. It would also: • continue support for mental health courts and crisis intervention teams • authorize investment in veterans treatment courts Cook County sheriff’s program • support state and local efforts tears down walls and builds up to identify people with confidence Page 13 mental health conditions Incoming NACo president, at each point in the criminal Sallie Clark, invites leadership justice system in order to applications Page 3 appropriately direct them to Minnesota county judge takes DUI mental health services rates for a ride Page 6 (sequential intercept model) Nevada, California escape ESA Photo by Alix Kashdan • increase focus on corrections- listing of grouse Page 8 Dauphin County, Pa. Commissioner George Hartwick discusses the based programs such as importance of CDBG funds to his county. transitional services and 2 May 4, 2015 CountyNews • Flexibility, focus on economic developement big selling points for CDBG program CDBG from page 1 percent set-aside of CDBG funding echoed that sentiment. for rural projects has meant. “At a time when local govern- one dollar in CDBG funding can “In northern, rural parts of the ments in rural communities are typically be leveraged to raise $4.77 county, if it wasn’t for our ability to striving to overcome economic in private financing. “Being able to utilize CDBG dollars we may not competition, aging infrastructure have flexible utilization of dollars have any public infrastructure at and scarce federal resources, it is to solve some extremely complex all,” he said. “The idea of providing vital that federal policymakers con- issues in redevelopment, infra- water and sewer lines and the ability tinue to maintain strong funding structure and road repairs — we’ve for us to put in critical roadway has for the CDBG program,” he said. combined it with our infrastructure been crucial.” Reps. Jim McGovern (D) and bank to address major projects,” Tim Ware, executive director of Joe Kennedy (D), both of Mas- Hartwick added. the George Washington Regional sachusetts, also voiced support for Reprinted with permission, Ouray County Plaindealer He emphasized what the 30 Commission in Fredericksburg, Va. CDBG funding during the briefing. ‘Waters of the U.S.’ bill Nepal gets a hand from Fairfax, heads to House floor BY JULIE UFNER under federal permitting authority. ASSOCIATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR Since its publication, NACo has Los Angeles counties expressed concerns about the scope A bill that would require the of the proposed rule and called for it Environmental Protection Agency to be withdrawn until further analy- (EPA) and the Army Corps of sis and more in-depth consultation Engineers (Corps) to withdraw the with state and local officials could proposed Waters of the U.S. rule be completed. within 30 days and to rewrite a new A bipartisan Senate bill that also proposed rule after consultation urges the EPA and Corps to restart with state and local governments is the Waters of the U.S. rulemaking headed for the House floor within process was introduced April 30. the next several weeks. The House The Waters of the U.S. rule is Committee on Transportation and expected to be finalized within the Infrastructure (T&I) passed the next several months. Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 1732) April 15. H.R. 1732 would require the agencies to document where CountyNews consensus was reached with state and local governments and where President | Riki Hokama it wasn’t reached, and how the Publisher | Matthew Chase Public Affairs Director | Tom Goodman agencies addressed those concerns. Executive Editor | Beverly Anne Schlotterbeck The measure currently has 55 co- Senior Staff Writer | Charles Taylor Senior Staff Writer | Charlie Ban sponsors. NACo sent a letter to T&I Design Director | Leon Lawrence III Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Peter ADVERTISING STAFF Job Market/Classifieds representative DeFazio (D-Ore.) in support of the National Accounts representative Regulatory Integrity Protection Act. Beverly Schlotterbeck (Clockwise from top) A Fairfax County, Va. In April 2014, the EPA and (202) 393-6226 • FAX (202) 393-2630 Urban Search & Rescue team awaits takeoff Published biweekly except August by: the Corps jointly released a new National Association of Counties for Nepal. USAR Team members from Fairfax proposed rule that would amend Research Foundation, Inc. and Los Angeles counties help rescue a teen 25 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. five days after the quake. A team member the definition of Waters of the U.S. STE. 500, Washington, D.C. 20001 marks debris. within the Clean Water Act and (202) 393-6226 | FAX (202) 393-2630 E-mail | [email protected] dramatically expand the range of Online address | www.countynews.org public safety infrastructure that falls The appearance of paid advertisements in County News in no way implies support or endorsement by the Na- tional Association of Counties for any of the products, services or messages advertised. Periodicals postage Quick Takes paid at Washington D.C. and other offices. Mail subscriptions are $100 per year for non-members. $60 per year for non-members purchasing multiple cop- TOP 5 MOST COMMON ies. Educational institution rate, $50 per year. Member NON-PRESIDENTIAL COUNTY county supplemental subscriptions are $20 each. Send payment with order and address changes to NACo, 25 NAMES Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. 1. Clay 18 POSTMASTER: send address changes to 2. Montgomery 18 The Clay County County News, 25 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Courthouse 3. Union 18 Ste. 500, Washington, D.C. 20001 in Alabama (USPS 704-620) ■ (ISSN: 0744-9798) 4. Marion 17 © National Association of Counties 5. Wayne 16 Research Foundation, Inc. As ranked by: USA Travel Guide Photo credits: Also clockwise from top: Photos courtesy Airman 1st Class William Johnson/U.S. Air Force, DART/USAID, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Photo credits: Also clockwise from top: Photos courtesy Airman 1st Class William Johnson/U.S. Air Force, DART/USAID, Courtesy of USGENWEB ARCHIVES • CountyNews May 4, 2015 3 Legislation would Memo: NACo Members repeal ‘Cadillac tax’ From: Incoming President Sallie Clark Looking ahead to my year as Membership on policy steering on health care plans NACo president, I want to take this committees is done through a nomi- opportunity to let you know about nation process by state associations BY BRIAN BOWDEN county employee heath benefits. the appointments that I will have of counties; it is not part of the ASSOCIATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR Leinbach voiced NACo’s sup- the privilege of making to NACo’s presidential appointments. port for the bill because counties leadership team. More information about each A bipartisan measure to repeal continue to grapple with the committee and its specific appoint- the so-called “Cadillac,” or excise budgetary challenges left over from These appointments include: ment terms can be found online tax, on high-cost insurance plans the recession, and the excise tax, he • Policy Steering Committee at www.naco.org/presidential_ap- — supported by NACo — was said, is “an unfunded mandate” that and subcommittee chair plication. introduced at a Capitol Hill press would require counties to dramati- and vice chairs To be considered for a presi- briefing. cally raise deductibles and reduce • LUCC and RAC chairs, dential appointment to any of the Rep. Joseph Courtney (D- benefits, making it more difficult to vice chairs and members following committees or as an at- Conn.) unveiled the legislation, hire and retain county employees. • Standing committee chairs, large director for the NACo Board the Middle Class Health Benefits “Not only would the excise tax vice chairs and members of Directors, you must complete Tax Repeal Act, along with co- hinder our efforts to attract and • Ad Hoc Committee, Task the online application at www.naco.