GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 888*

Short Title:  N. C. Aquariums.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Bowman, N. J. Crawford; and Smith.
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Referred to:  Finance.
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April 18, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUMS COMMISSION AND AQUARIUM ENTRANCE FEES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 8B.  North Carolina Aquariums Commission.
"§ 143B-390.3.  North Carolina Aquariums Commission – creation.
There is hereby created the North Carolina Aquariums Commission.
"§ 143B-390.4.  North Carolina Aquariums Commission – organization, powers, and duties.
(a)	The Commission shall consist of 12 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Three members appointed by the Governor including one member designated by the Governor to serve as chair of the Commission,
(2)	Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordance with G.S. 120-121,
(3)	Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in accordance with G.S. 120-121, and
(4)	Three members appointed by the North Carolina Aquarium Society, Inc., each of whom resides in one of the counties where the North Carolina Aquariums are located: Carteret, Dare, and New Hanover.
(b)	Commission members shall serve for terms of four years, beginning July 1, 1992, and may be removed at any time by the appointing  authority.  If a vacancy on the Commission occurs, the appointing authority shall appoint a replacement to serve for the unexpired term.
(c)	The Commission shall meet upon the call of the chair.
(d)	The Secretary of Administration shall provide staff support for Commission activities and travel reimbursement for Commission members.
(e)	The Commission shall establish a schedule of uniform entrance fees for the North Carolina Aquariums and may revise that schedule from time to time.  The Commission shall recommend expenditures from the North Carolina Special Aquariums Fund, hereafter established.
(f)	The North Carolina Special Aquariums Fund, hereafter 'Fund', is hereby created, and shall be a special and nonreverting fund.  The Fund shall be used only for repair, maintenance, and educational exhibit construction at existing aquariums.  The Fund may also be used to match private funds that are raised for these purposes.
(g)	Beginning June 30, 1992, the Department of Administration shall retain, at the end of each fiscal year, unbudgeted entrance fee receipts from the North Carolina Aquariums and deposit the receipts into the Fund.  The Secretary of Administration may expend funds only upon the recommendation of the Commission and the approval of the Office of State Budget and Management.  The Department of Administration shall provide an annual report showing the use of aquarium entrance fees collected to the Office of State Budget and Management and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office."
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.