GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1718

Short Title:  Beaufort/Beaver Damage Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Hardy; and Mercer.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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June 1, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ADD BEAUFORT COUNTY TO THE BEAVER DAMAGE CONTROL PROGRAM AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE BEAVER DAMAGE CONTROL 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, Section 27.3 of Chapter 769 of the 1993 Session Laws, Section 26.6 of Chapter 507 of the 1995 Session Laws, Section 27.15 of Chapter 18 of the Session Laws of the 1996 Second Extra Session, and Section 15.44 of S.L. 1997-443 reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Beaver Damage Control Advisory Board shall develop a program to control beaver damage on private and public lands. Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Craven, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson Counties shall participate in the 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 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 January 15, 1998, 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 March 15, 1998, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall present its plan in a report to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division."
Section 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, Section 27.3 of Chapter 769 of the 1993 Session Laws, Section 26.6 of Chapter 507 of the 1995 Session Laws, Section 27.15 of Chapter 18 of the Session Laws of the 1996 Second Extra Session, and Section 15.44 of S.L. 1997-443 reads as rewritten:
"(h)	Subsections (a) through (d) of this section expire June 30, 1999."
Section 3.  Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Wildlife Resources Commission for the 1998-99 fiscal year, up to the sum of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) shall be used to provide the State share necessary to continue the beaver damage control program, provided the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in federal funds is available for the 1998-99 fiscal year to provide the federal share.  These funds shall be matched by four thousand dollars ($4,000) of local funds for the 1998-99 fiscal year from each of the participating counties.  Counties participating in this program shall make a commitment of their local matching funds to the Wildlife Resources Commission no later than September 30, 1998.
Section 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.