Says much accomplished but stresses need to revisit several important issues

State Sen. Sharon Carson (District 14) said today that she is proud of her accomplishments during the past legislative session and looks forward to revisiting several important issues if re-elected. Carson, who finished her first term in the senate representing Londonderry, Hudson and Auburn, made reducing bullying in school, protecting state/town employees who are whistleblowers and using cell phone technology to increase public safety some of her priorities in the 2009-2010 legislative session.

Carson highlighted the following senate bills she sponsored that are now law:

Senate Bill 358 – expands Whistleblower protections for state/town employees who report illegal activities in their work place and fraudulent waste of taxpayer money. Carson said, “Now, state and town employees can come forward with this type of information without fear of losing their jobs.”

Senate Bill 482 – was successfully combined with a bill in the House that adds the term “cyber bullying” to the state’s definition of what constitutes bullying on school property. “I am pleased that intimidating or harassing someone on school property using the internet, a cell phone or other electronic devices is now considered bullying in New Hampshire. Clearly, state law had to catch up to technology in this area,” she said.

Senate Bill 435 – allows wireless carriers to help law enforcement locate people who are thought to be at risk of death or serious bodily injury by tracing their cell phone signal. Carson said, “This legislation is named for Kelsey Smith, a high school student in Kansas who was abducted from a shopping mall parking lot. Police had difficultly gaining access to her cell phone signal and when they finally found her via her cell phone, she had already been killed. This new law is a tremendous tool for law enforcement that can be combined very effectively with regular investigative work and includes privacy protections.”

Senate Bill 312 – gives The American College of History and Legal Studies in Windham the ability to grant degrees. “As someone who has a Masters in History from UNH”, she said, “I am delighted at the flexibility that ACHLS gives its students, many of who work full-time, to earn a Bachelor’s Degree.”

Increasing transparency in government is another area in which Carson feels strongly. She co-sponsored House Bill 1651 that went in to effect this past July. The senator said, “This new law had strong bi-partisan support in both houses. It puts the state’s checkbook on-line for the first time, allowing the public to see how Concord is actually spending their tax dollars. This is an excellent use of technology to enhance good government. I hope to be able to build upon this legislation and continue to promote transparency.”

Carson also commented on other bills she sponsored that were unsuccessful in the recently concluded legislative session but ones which she hopes to re-submit in 2011 saying, “Keeping our current education funding plan in check while the Legislature creates a fair and equitable plan for all New Hampshire school districts and creating infrastructure improvements around Pettengill Road and will be two of my top priorities if District 14 voters send me back to Concord this November. They can rely on me to hold the line on taxes as well. I voted against every tax increase in 2009-2010. Voters are demanding that New Hampshire live within its means and we need to start by getting our out-of- balance budget under control.”