GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 521

Short Title:  Beaver Control Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representative Redwine.

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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March 22, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE BEAVER DAMAGE CONTROL PILOT PROGRAM.
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 and by Section 27.3 of Chapter 769 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, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Onslow, Pender, Pitt, Robeson,  Sampson, Vance, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson 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.
No later than September 30, 1994 and again upon the conclusion of the pilot program on June 30, 1997, the Board shall issue a report to the Wildlife Resources Commission on the program to date, including recommendations on the feasibility of continuing the program in participating counties and the desirability of expanding the program into other counties.  The Wildlife Resources Commission shall prepare a plan to implement a statewide program to control beaver damage on private and public lands.  No later than January 1, 1995, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall present its plan in a report to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources."
Sec. 2.  Subsection (h) of Section 69 of Chapter 1044 of the 1991 Session Laws, as amended by Section 111 of Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws and by Section 27.3 of Chapter 769 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"(h)	Subsections (a) through (d) of this section expire June 30, 1997."
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Resources Commission the sum of three hundred two thousand five hundred dollars ($302,500) for the 1995-96 fiscal year and the sum of three hundred two thousand five hundred dollars ($302,500) for the 1996-97 fiscal year to provide the State share necessary to continue the beaver damage control pilot program established by Section 69 of Chapter 1044 of the 1991 Session Laws, as amended by Section 111 of Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws and Section 27.3 of the 1993 Session Laws, in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Onslow, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Vance, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson Counties, provided the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in federal funds is available in each fiscal year to provide the federal share.  These funds shall be matched by four thousand dollars ($4,000) of local funds in each fiscal year from each of the 18 participating counties.
Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.