GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 596

Short Title:  NCSU Forestry Geneticist Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Kerr.

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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April 6, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR A FORESTRY GENETICIST POSITION AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES.
Whereas North Carolina has 2,400 Christmas tree growers with 30,000 acres currently in production, harvesting 5,500,000 trees annually, with a total value of $165,000,000; and
Whereas, the Christmas tree industry has created 2,300 full-time jobs and 16,100 seasonal jobs in rural areas where employment opportunities in other industries are limited; and
Whereas, in 1992, North Carolina Christmas tree sales represented approximately 14% of the national market, to grow to 25% if the production of high quality trees can be produced profitably; and
Whereas, the key to the production of high quality, high value Christmas trees is the use of the best genetic stock available; and
Whereas, the work to produce this stock requires the full-time, long-range work of a trained forestry geneticist; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 1995-96 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 1996-97 fiscal year for the Cooperative Extension Service at North Carolina State University to establish and maintain a forestry geneticist position, technician, graduate student, and support dedicated to the development and use of the best genetic stock from the North Carolina Christmas tree industry.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.