THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9508010257
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Insurance agencies on the Outer Banks had hoped to be able to offer some local property owners additional insurance later this year under legislation that would have expanded coverages available through the so-called ``Beach Plan.''
But for now, they will have to wait for the results of a legislative study on coastal insurance.
A bill requiring the Beach Plan to cover lost rental income, additional living expenses and other indirect losses cleared a Senate committee early in the session but stalled in the House Insurance Committee where concerns raised by insurance companies helped sidetrack the measure.
Manteo insurance agent Mollie Fearing said last week that a growing number of insurance companies are more and more reluctant to offer property insurance to coastal residents, and she was disappointed that the measure had been delayed.
Coastal insurance availability and affordability is just one of several controversial issues sidetracked by state lawmakers during the 1995 General Assembly.
Legislators also failed to solve growing problems with school construction, sending that issue to a study committee along with a proposal by Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr., a Pasquotank County Democrat, to reduce school construction costs by creating a set of model plans for school buildings available to local school boards.
Action was also postponed on an overhaul of the state's welfare system, regulations on the state's hog industry and a property rights measure. All these issues were turned into studies that will be assigned to special commissions or one of several standing study commissions that routinely meet between sessions of the General Assembly.
That means that extensive debates over most of these difficult issues will likely begin May 13 when the General Assembly reconvenes for its so-called ``short session.''
But debate over conflicting House and Senate versions of welfare reform measures could come earlier. After House Republicans and Senate Democrats failed to reach an agreement on welfare reform, many legislators began to say the legislature should delay action on the plan until Congress adopts its welfare reform package. Some lawmakers speculated that Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. could call the legislature back to Raleigh for a special session this fall to respond to the federal changes.
Other legislative studies of regional interest include:
Withdrawal from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Legislators agreed that the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture should study the issue.
Environmental rule-making. Over a year ago, Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Robert V. Lucas posed the idea of combining the state's environment-related commissions into one panel that would oversee coastal water quality, fisheries and development issues. Lawmakers voted to study the issue;
The state system of issuing permits for coastal development and wastewater and air discharges.
Public school facilities and financing. Legislators failed to agree on a school construction bond package and a measure that would let counties raise the sales tax to help with some school construction costs failed to reach the House floor.
Wetlands. After legislative leaders failed to forge a compromise on a wetlands mitigation plan and the state's role in protecting wetlands, the General Assembly agreed to create a special study commission to look into the issue.
Aquariums. A 12-member State Government Reorganization and Privatization Study Commission was created to study government reorganization and downsizing and the role private entities can play in the operation of the state's three aquariums.
KEYWORDS: HOME OWNERS INSURANCE BEACH PLAN OUTER BANKS by CNB