GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1002

Short Title:  Sandhills Regional Eco. Development.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Hobbs, Conder, and Plyler.

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Referred to:  Commerce

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May 4, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF THE SANDHILLS REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. (a) The governing bodies of the following counties may, in accordance with G.S. 158-8, create a regional economic development commission to serve the sandhills region of the State:  Anson, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Scotland, and Stanly, and any other county assigned to the newly created commission by the Department of Commerce as authorized by law.  In addition to the powers and duties granted to economic development commissions under Article 2 of Chapter 158 of the General Statutes, the commission created pursuant to this section shall do the following:
(1)	Survey the sandhills region of North Carolina and determine the assets, liabilities, and resources that the region contributes to the economic development process;
(2)	Develop and evaluate alternatives for economic development in the sandhills region;
(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; and
(5)	Report to the General Assembly by March 31 each year on the work of the Commission.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if a regional economic development commission created pursuant to this section meets the requirements for regional commissions created under the Department of Commerce Regional Economic Development Expansion Program, then the commission shall be eligible to receive State funds appropriated to the Department of Commerce for allocation to regional commissions established under the Regional Economic Development Expansion Program.
Sec. 2.  If a regional economic development commission for the sandhills region is created pursuant to Section 1 of this act and includes Hoke, Richmond, or Scotland Counties, then funds allocated, unencumbered, and unexpended for economic development activities in Hoke, Richmond, or Scotland County during the period when the county was part of the Southeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission shall be transferred with the applicable county and used for economic development activities of the county under the regional economic development commission created pursuant to Section 1 of this act.
Sec. 3. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if any one or more of the counties electing to participate in the regional economic development commission created under Section 1 of this act is statutorily delegated a participating county in a regional economic development commission established pursuant to G.S. 158-8.1, 158-8.2, or 158-8.3, then the county is deemed to be removed from the commission created pursuant to G.S. 158-8.1, 158-8.2, or 158-8.3, as applicable, effective on the date the regional economic development commission created pursuant to Section 1 of this act becomes a legal entity.
Sec. 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.