GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1504*

Short Title:  Onslow Beaver Damage Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Smith; and Alphin.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 24, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO EXPAND THE BEAVER DAMAGE CONTROL PROGRAM TO ONSLOW COUNTY AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE EXPANSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Subsection (b) of Section 69 of Chapter 1044 of the 1991 Session Laws, as amended by Section 111 of Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Beaver Damage Control Advisory Board shall develop a pilot program to control beaver damage on private and public lands.  Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Pender, Onslow, Robeson, and Sampson Counties shall participate in the pilot program.  The Beaver Damage Control Advisory Board shall act in an advisory capacity to the Wildlife Resources Commission in the implementation of the program.  In developing the program, the Board shall:
(1) 	Orient the program primarily toward public health and safety and toward landowner assistance, providing some relief to landowners through beaver control and management rather than eradication;
(2)	Develop a priority system for responding to complaints about beaver damage;
(3)	Develop a system for documenting all activities associated with beaver damage control, so as to facilitate evaluation of the program;
(4)	Provide educational activities as a part of the program, such as printed materials, on-site instructions, and local workshops;
(5)	Provide for the hiring of personnel necessary to implement beaver damage control activities, administer the pilot program, and set salaries of personnel;
(6)	Evaluate the costs and benefits of the program that might be applicable elsewhere in North Carolina.
Upon the conclusion of the pilot program on December 1, 1994, the Board shall issue a report to the Wildlife Resources Commission on the results of the program, including recommendations on the feasibility of continuing the program in participating counties and the desirability of expanding the program into other counties."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Resources Commission the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to provide the State share necessary to expand the beaver damage control pilot program established in Section 69 of Chapter 1044 of the 1991 Session Laws to Onslow County.  These funds shall be matched by four thousand dollars ($4,000) of local funds from Onslow County.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.