GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1466

Short Title:  Western Econ. Dev. Commission Created. 	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Nesbitt, Colton, Crawford, Jenkins, Ramsey, Beall, Jack Hunt, Lutz, R. Hunter; and Ives.
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Referred to:  State Government.
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May 17, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ITS ACTIVITIES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 158 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 158-8.1. Creation of Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission.
(a)	There is created the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission to serve Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties.  The Commission shall be located administratively in the Department of Commerce but shall exercise its statutory powers and duties independently of the Department of Commerce.
(b)	The Commission shall consist of 15 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Three members shall be appointed by the Governor;
(2)	Two members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(3)	Five members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in accordance with G.S. 120-121; and
(4)	Five members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordance with G.S. 120-121.
(c)	The appointing authority shall designate two of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(1), one of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(2), two of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(3), and two of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(4) to  serve for terms ending June 30, 1995;  the remainder of the initial appointees shall  serve for terms ending June 30, 1997.  Their successors shall serve for four-year terms ending on June 30 quadrennially thereafter.
Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Commission shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.  Vacancies in appointments made by the General Assembly shall be in accordance with G.S. 120-122.
(d)	Members of the Commission who are State employees shall receive travel expenses as provided in G.S. 138-6.  Other Commission members shall receive per diem and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 138-5.
(e)	In addition to the powers and duties granted to economic development commissions in this Article, the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission shall:
(1)	Survey Western North Carolina and determine the assets, liabilities, and resources that the region contribute to the economic development process.
(2)	Develop and evaluate alternatives for Western North Carolina economic development.
(3)	Develop a preferred economic development plan for the region and establish strategies for implementing the plan.
(4)	Coordinate activities with and enter into contracts with any nonprofit corporation created to assist the Commission in carrying out its powers and duties.
(5)	Report to the General Assembly by March 31 each year on the work of the Commission."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to  the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000)  for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year for the activities of the Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission.  These funds shall not revert at the end of each fiscal year.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.