GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1284

Short Title:  NE Reg. Econ. Dev. Commission.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Martin of Pitt.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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July 5, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 158 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 158-8.2. Creation of Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission.
(a)	There is created the Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission to facilitate economic development and tourism development in Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington 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 17 members appointed as follows:
(1)	Five members shall be appointed by the Governor, including one developer of northeastern North Carolina, one banker, one county commissioner from Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank, or Perquimans Counties, and one county commissioner from Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, or Martin Counties;
(2)	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, including one developer of northeastern North Carolina, one banker, and one county commissioner from Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, or Washington Counties;
(3)	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, including one developer of northeastern North Carolina, one banker, and one county commissioner from Halifax, Hertford, Gates, or Northampton Counties;
(4)	The Secretary of Commerce or a designee; and
(5)	The Secretary of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, or a designee.
Any person appointed to the Commission in a categorical appointment as a county commissioner may hold such office in addition to the offices permitted by G.S 128-1.1.
(c)	The appointing authority shall designate two of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section, one of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section, two of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of this section, and two of the initial appointees pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of this section 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.
(d)	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.
(e)	The Commission shall appoint an economic development advisory board made up of no more than seven members to advise and assist the Commission in adopting and implementing an economic development program.  The Commission shall also appoint a tourism advisory board made up of no more than seven members to advise and assist the Commission in adopting and implementing a tourism development program.  Members of the Commission may serve on these advisory boards.
(f)	In addition to the powers and duties granted to economic development commissions in this Article, the Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission shall:
(1)	Adopt and implement an economic development program, with the assistance of the economic development advisory board, as follows:
a.	Survey northeastern North Carolina and determine the assets, liabilities, and resources that the region contributes to the economic development process.
b.	Enhance economic development activities that use the area's natural resources.
c.	Develop and evaluate alternatives for northeastern North Carolina economic development.
d.	Develop a preferred economic development plan for the region and establish strategies for implementing the plan.
e.	Conduct feasibility studies to determine the nature and placement of economic developments for maximum economic impact.
f.	Identify potential sites for economic development.
g.	Carry out other activities to develop and promote economic development.
(2)	Adopt and implement a tourism development program, with the advice and assistance of the tourism advisory board, as follows:
a.	Adopt, implement, and update a water-based tourism development strategy.
b.	Provide assistance to developers with requirements for tourism development, as deemed necessary by the Commission.
c.	Conduct feasibility studies to determine the nature and placement of tourism developments for maximum economic impact.
d.	Identify sites for tourism development.
e.	Carry out other activities to develop and promote water-based tourism.
(3)	Coordinate activities with and enter into contracts with any nonprofit corporation created to assist the Commission in carrying out its powers and duties.
(4)	Report to the General Assembly by March 31 each year on the work of the Commission.
(g)	The Governor shall appoint and set the salary of a Director of Economic Development who shall coordinate the Commission's activities with regard to the economic development program.  The Governor shall appoint and set the salary of a Director of Tourism who shall coordinate the Commission's activities with regard to the tourism program.
Within the limits of funds available, the Commission may hire and fix the compensation of any other personnel necessary to its operations, contract with consultants for any services as it may require, and contract with the State of North Carolina or the federal government, or any agency or department thereof, for any services as may be provided by those agencies.  The Commission may carry out the provisions of any contracts as it may enter.
Within the limits of funds available, the Commission may lease, rent, or purchase, or otherwise obtain suitable quarters and office space for its staff, and may lease, rent, or purchase necessary furniture, fixtures, and other equipment.
(h)	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.  Members of the advisory boards who are State employees shall receive travel expenses as provided in G.S. 138-6 for participating in meetings and other official activities authorized by the Commission.  Other members of the advisory boards shall receive per diem and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 138-5 for participating in meetings and other official activities authorized by the Commission."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 120-123 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(60)	The Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, as established by G.S. 158-8.2."
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year for the activities of the Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission. These funds shall not revert at the end of each fiscal year.
Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.