GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 850

Short Title:  Natural Resources/Tourism Dept.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives R. Hunter; N. Crawford, R. Thompson, Beall, Redwine, Fletcher, Colton, Diamont, and H. Hunter.
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Referred to:  Basic Resources.
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March 27, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
“ARTICLE 12.
"Department of Natural Resources and Tourism.
"§ 143B-601.  Department of Natural Resources and Tourism.
	There is hereby created and constituted a department known as the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism with the organization, powers, and duties defined in this Chapter.
"§ 143B-602.  Duties.
	It shall be the duty of the Department:
	(1)	To provide for the management and protection of the State's forests, parks, and recreation areas and the North Carolina Zoological Park;
	(2)	To provide for the management and protection of the State's wildlife resources; and
(3)	To provide for the promotion of travel and tourism.
"§ 143B-603. Functions.
	The Department of Natural Resources and Tourism, except as otherwise provided by Article 1 of this Chapter or by the Constitution of North Carolina, shall include:
	(1)	All of the executive functions of the State in relation to the State's forests, parks, and recreation areas;
(2)	All of the executive functions of the State in relation to the North Carolina Zoological Park;
(3)	All of the executive functions of the State in relation to wildlife resources;
(4)	All of the executive functions of the State in relation to travel, tourism, and welcome centers; and
	(5)	All other functions, powers, duties and obligations as are conferred by this Chapter, delegated or assigned by the Governor or conferred by the Constitution and laws of this State.
"§ 143B-604. Head.
	The Secretary of Natural Resources and Tourism shall be the head of the Department.
"§ 143B-605.  Organization.
	The Department of Natural Resources and Tourism shall be organized initially to include:
	(1)	The Wildlife Resources Commission;
	(2)	The Forestry Council;
	(3)	The Parks and Recreation Council;
	(4)	The North Carolina Zoological Park Council;
	(5)	The North Carolina Trails Committee; and
(6)	The North Carolina National Park, Parkway, and Forests Development Council, and
such divisions as may be established under the provisions of Article 1 of this Chapter.
"§ 143B-606.  Transfers to Department of Natural Resources and Tourism.
	(a) The Division of Forest Resources, the Division of Parks and Recreation, the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the North Carolina Zoological Park of the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development are transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism, including their statutory authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds.  They shall have the same relationship to the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism as they had to the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development.
(b)	The Division of Travel and Tourism, including the welcome centers, are transferred from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism, including their statutory authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds.  They shall have the same relationship to the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism as they had to the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development."
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.