RALEIGH, N.C. — Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin Friday urged House lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 652, Prohibit Sale of Novelty Lighters. The bill was passed by the Senate on Thursday.

“Last night’s fire at a Jamestown store appears to have been set by a child playing with one of these dangerous lighters disguised as a toy,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “Thankfully no one was hurt, but I’m concerned that, if this bill is not made law, someone will get hurt next time.”

Four states have already banned the sale of these lighters and 16 others are considering similar measures. The National Association of State Fire Marshals supports a ban on the sale and use of these toy-like lighters.

These lighters are often sold where children shop with their parents, places like gas stations, convenience and hardware stores and are easily mistaken for toys. Many have lights, visual effects and sound and resemble toys or characters familiar to children such as Gumby, a rubber ducky or “Nemo.”

More than 70 million of these lighters are imported to the United States each year. The European Union banned the sale of toy-like lighters as of March 2007. As a result, more of these lighters will be redirected to the U.S.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said Wednesday he supports Senate Bill 957, which qualifies laid-off employees of small businesses for federal benefits that extends the enrollment period of and helps pay for COBRA health insurance coverage.

“I want to thank Senator Nesbitt for working with the Department of Insurance on this important piece of legislation, and sponsoring it on behalf of our agency,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “Now more than ever, it’s imperative that the state does its part in making sure North Carolinians are getting as many of the benefits found in the federal stimulus package as possible.”

COBRA gives workers and their families the option to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plans for limited periods of time under certain circumstances. Under federal law, COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees, and workers may be charged up to 102 percent of the full health insurance premium. Smaller employers — those who have fewer than 20 employees — are required to offer the same continuation coverage under North Carolina’s Group Health Insurance Continuation laws, often called “mini-COBRA.”

The federal stimulus package contains two provisions that expand the benefits available to those employees who have been involuntarily terminated from their positions:

1.      Provides a subsidy that pays for 65 percent of the premium for both COBRA and mini-COBRA recipients who enroll from Sept. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2009. Depending on the size of the former employer, either the employer or the insurance provider fronts 65 percent of the premium amount and then recoups that expense through federal payroll tax credits. Workers are responsible for the remaining 35 percent of the premium.

2.      Extends the election period for eligible employees to determine whether or not they wish to enroll in the federal COBRA program. The federal stimulus package does not mandate an extended election period for mini-COBRA plans; however, if SB 957 passes, it will extend the mini-COBRA election period in North Carolina.

Unemployed workers who are eligible for the stimulus-related benefits will be notified by their former employer’s group health insurance provider.

Consumers who have general questions about COBRA benefits or other insurance questions, may call the N.C. Department of Insurance at 800-546-5664. For specific questions about COBRA subsidies, enrollment periods, employer payroll tax credits or other technical information, consumers and employers may contact the U.S. Department of Labor at 866-444-3272 or the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-4933.

Facts about North Carolina’s 2009 inauguration:

WHEN & WHERE: 10 a.m. Saturday, in front of the Office of Archives & History Building, 109 E. Jones St., Raleigh. This will be the seventh time the building has been the site for the inauguration, dating back to 1981 and the second term of Gov. Jim Hunt. The event, which is open to the public, will begin with a concert, followed by the actual ceremony at 10:30 a.m. About 5,000 chairs will be set up for the event.

WHO: The ten members of the Council of State elected in November will be sworn in to office, capped by administration of the oath of office for Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker. Incumbents getting sworn in for additional four-year terms are Attorney General Roy Cooper; Secretary of State Elaine Marshall; Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry; Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson; and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

NEWCOMERS: Four people will begin their first terms on the Council: Walter Dalton as lieutenant governor; Beth Wood, state auditor; Janet Cowell, state treasurer; and Wayne Goodwin, insurance commissioner.

CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTS: Television icon Andy Griffith, a Manteo resident, will give a special reading. William Swart, 12, of Fuquay-Varina, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Swart’s father is a National Guard member training to deploy to Iraq. A military flyover and 19-gun salute for Perdue also are expected. Outgoing Gov. Mike Easley, Hunt and former Gov. Jim Holshouser are scheduled to attend.

PARADE AND OPEN HOUSE: The inaugural parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. and travel up Fayetteville Street north toward the old Capitol building. The Executive Mansion, located at 200 N. Blount St., will be open to the public from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

PRAYER SERVICE: An Inaugural Service for Prayer and Worship will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the historically black First Baptist Church on Capitol Square in downtown Raleigh. The event is open to the public.

HAVING A BALL: The Junior League of Raleigh again will host the Inaugural Ball on Friday night from 9 p.m.-midnight at the new Raleigh Convention Center. A Gala Presentation for ball participants begins at 8 p.m. and features performers Branford Marsalis, Eric Church and Vienna Teng, among others. Tickets for the ball and gala are $125 and can still be purchased one hour before Friday’s event. The governor-elect’s reception is sold out. For information, go to http://www.ncgovernorsball.com or call 919-783-8863.

WHO’S PAYING: The state has a $250,000 budget for putting on the inauguration, excluding events organized by the Junior League of Raleigh. The actual expenses for these events will fall well below that amount, said Tim Crowley, a spokesman for Perdue’s inauguration. The ball and other Junior League festivities are sponsored by corporations, outside groups and individuals. Net proceeds from the League events will go to the League’s new Center for Community Leadership to benefit nonprofits statewide.