§ 143-254.8.  Feral Swine Group.

(a) There is authorized and housed administratively within the Wildlife Resources Commission the Feral Swine Working Group. The Working Group shall consist of 10 members, as follows:

(1) The Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or the Executive Director's designee, who shall serve as cochair.

(2) The Commissioner of Agriculture or the Commissioner's designee, who shall serve as cochair.

(3) The Forest Supervisor of the United States Forest Service or the Forest Supervisor's designee.

(4) The State Director of the Wildlife Services Division of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture or the State Director's designee.

(5) A representative of the North Carolina Pork Council.

(6) A representative of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association.

(7) A representative of the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association.

(8) The President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or the President's designee.

(9) A representative of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

(10) A representative of the North Carolina Forestry Association.

(b) The Feral Swine Working Group shall develop a statewide plan to control feral swine damage on private and public lands. The Feral Swine Working Group shall act in an advisory capacity to the Wildlife Resources Commission. In developing the plan, the Working Group shall do all of the following:

(1) Orient the plan primarily toward public health and safety and toward landowner assistance, providing some relief to landowners through feral swine control, management, and eradication.

(2) Develop a system for sharing data and information as well as documenting all activities associated with feral swine damage control efforts, so as to facilitate evaluation of efforts.

(3) Provide educational activities as a part of the program, such as printed materials, on-site instructions, and local workshops.

(4) Provide for the hiring of personnel necessary to implement feral swine damage control activities, administer the program, and set salaries of personnel.

(c) No later than January 1 of each year, the Working Group shall issue a report to the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division on the results of the program during the preceding year.

(d) The Wildlife Resources Commission shall implement the plan and may enter a cooperative agreement with the Wildlife Services Division of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other relevant agencies or organizations to accomplish the plan.  (2026-11, s. 2(a)-(d).)