For State Senate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 07/08/2008
Senate Passes Boseman Legislation
Supporting NC Film Industry
Raleigh -The growing film industry in North Carolina is poised to grow even more under legislation introduced by Senator Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) that the North Carolina Senate passed today. The measure extends and expands the 15% tax credit for production companies spending at least $250,000 in our state. The tax credits were enacted in 2005 and were set to expire in 2010; the legislation extends the credits through 2015. According to the North Carolina Film Office at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, total film production for 2007 brought nearly $200 million to the state's economy.
Senator Boseman said, "The film industry is vital to the economy of our state, especially in southeastern North Carolina. By extending these tax credits and expanding some of them, we will continue to attract big productions, independent films, and television series that create jobs within North Carolina and promote our state in a positive light."
According to the Film Office, more than 800 films and 15 television series have been brought to the screen with assistance from the Film Office over the last 27 years. Most recently North Carolina served as the backdrop for "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," "Leatherheads," and "Nights in Rodanthe." For 6 seasons, North Carolina was home to the WB's "Dawson's Creek," which was filmed in and around Wilmington. "One Tree Hill" on the CW Network has been filmed in Wilmington for the past 5 seasons and has been renewed for a 6th season.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/8/2008
Senator Boseman Supports "Jessica's Law"
NC Senate Passes Tougher Penalties for Sexual Predators
Raleigh-Sexual predators convicted of rape or sexual offenses against a young child will be imprisoned for a mandatory minimum of 25 years and monitored for life, and could receive as long as long as life without parole, under legislation that passed the North Carolina Senate today. Senator Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) strongly supported the measure, which was named for North Carolina native Jessica Lunsford, who was kidnapped from her Florida home and brutally raped and murdered by a convicted sexual offender in 2005.
Senator Boseman said, "Few things are more heinous than sexual crimes against a child. With Jessica's Law, sexual offenders will be imprisoned longer and monitored for life. We also took important steps to keep our kids safe by making sure schools and day care centers know when sexual predators move nearby and that they are kept away from our schools."
The Jessica Lunsford Act for North Carolina will:
" Make first-degree rape and sexual offense by someone 18 years old or older committed against a child 13 years old or younger punishable by life imprisonment without parole or a mandatory active sentence of 25 years and lifetime satellite global positioning systems (GPS) based monitoring.
" Shorten the notification time period that offenders have to make changes to their registration if they change their address.
" Require community notification of the presence of sexually violent predators or repeat sex offenders by email to all schools and day care centers.
" Make it unlawful for sex offenders to be in areas where children regularly congregate, including schools.
" Require anyone working in a school (including contract employees) to be checked annually in the State and National Sex Offender Registries.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/8/08
Senator Boseman Supports Gang Prevention Initiatives
Measure Sent to Governor to be Signed into Law
Raleigh-Comprehensive prevention measures to stop young people from joining gangs received unanimous final passage in the North Carolina Senate this week. Senator Julia Boseman, a co-sponsor of the legislation, strongly supported these new prevention efforts to stop the spread of gangs in our state.
"We cannot tackle the growing gang problem without sweeping prevention and intervention efforts. This legislation will go a long way toward promoting juvenile delinquency prevention and will help at-risk young people become law-abiding, productive members of society," Senator Boseman said.
Earlier this year, the Senate appointed a special committee to study the growing gang problem and proposed criminal and prevention measures to combat gangs. Senator Boseman served as a member of this committee. Public hearings were held in Charlotte and Wilmington and a report from the Governor's Crime Commission detailed 550 gangs with over 15,000 members in North Carolina.
Senate and House budget negotiators have agreed to fund $10 million in this year's budget for these prevention efforts.
The new law will:
o Support community-based delinquency, substance abuse, and gang prevention strategies and programs and continue to fund gang prevention grants.
o Review state and local efforts in preventing gangs and addressing the needs of juveniles who have been identified as being associated with gang activity.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/8/2008
Sen. Boseman Supports Lifetime Monitoring for Sexual Predators
Measure to Strengthen Jessica's Law Passes NC Senate
Raleigh-Sexual predators convicted of rape or sexual offenses against a young child will be monitored for life by satellite global positioning systems (GPS) under legislation that passed the North Carolina Senate this week.
Senator Julia Boseman co-sponsored the measure that will strengthen Jessica's Law, which the Senate passed earlier this month. That legislation imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and as long as long as life without parole for adults convicted of sexual offenses against young children.
Senator Boseman said, "We must ensure that sexual offenders never fall through the cracks. This measure utilizes technology to intensively supervise and track those who prey upon children. Lifetime monitoring will make Jessica's Law stronger and our children safer."
U.S. Department of Justice statistics show a much higher recidivism rate for sexual offenders; 1 out of every 20 was re-arrested for a new sex crime within 3 years of release. This legislation will better prevent these repeat offenders and will also make it a crime to tamper with the devices.