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Unions to fall within the same definition as Banks for the purpose of requir'mg <br />payment of the so-called Bank Franchise Tax. <br /> o No legislation submitted last year. Not a local initiative. <br />State-funded college or university: Following a proposal from Lt. Governor Tim <br />Kaine, the council endorsed the concept of estabhshment of a state-funded <br />college or university in Southside Virginia. The General Assembly agreed to have <br />the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) study the matter to <br />determine the need. <br /> o From all appearances, SCHEV will report to the General Assembly that <br /> Southside Virginia does have a void in higher education. Priority will be <br /> on establishing funding, setting a location, developing legislative support <br /> for the concept and offsetting opposition from established universities <br /> and colleges who are afraid that a new state facility will draw down <br /> support from the existing university system. <br /> <br />New items recommended for 2005: <br />· Publication of information on juvenile escapees: Request legislation permitting <br />the custodial locality to publish to the media photos, descriptors and name in the <br />event a juvenile escapes from custody. This will allow us to safely recover the juvenile <br />and minimize threat or risk as a result of being out of custody. (Results from a <br />juvenile escape from a Martinsville deputy sheriff ar W.W. Moore in Danville; we <br />could not, by law, release her photo or descriptors to the media). <br /> <br />· Telecommunications Taxes: Oppose any proposed changes in payments of cable, <br />telephone or data line franchise fees or wireless phone taxes unless it truly achieves <br />revenue neutrality and equalizes taxes across all technologies. VML has recently <br />agreed to suppor the telecommunications industry's pushing to development a <br />%ingle payee" type system wherein their payments would be sent to the state for <br />distribution to localities. It appears unlikely their push to eliminate those taxes <br />altogether will meet success. Also, staff urges you to support any effort to tax <br />satellite dish entertainment services as our preferred method to bring equity to <br />entertainment telecommunications taxes. <br /> <br /> I would also anticipate that Henry County may have legislative issues for which <br />county leaders may request your support; however, the county's list of legislative <br />priorities is not yet complete. Should you have any questions regarding these issues and <br />recommendations, I will be pleased to update them to reflect the sense of council. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Matthew C. Hankins <br />Communications Manager <br /> <br /> <br />