A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT appropriating funds for regional infrastructure inventories to promote economic development, community development, and more efficient infrastructure investments in regions across the state.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year and the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to fund a systematic inventory of existing and planned infrastructure improvements in order to promote economic development, community development, and more efficient infrastructure investments in regions across the State. Examples of infrastructure that may be inventoried with these funds include transportation facilities, schools, parks, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other community facilities. The Department of Commerce shall award these funds for local coordination of the inventory upon the joint application of the respective Regional Councils of Governments and Regional Economic Development Partnerships representing any of the 17 planning regions of the State. Funds shall be awarded in the same manner as other funding for Councils of Governments managed by the Department of Commerce.
SECTION 1.(b)  In order to provide for the most efficient inventory, the Regional Councils of Governments and the Regional Economic Development Partnerships shall coordinate with the Rural Economic Development Center regarding data on water and sewer infrastructure being collected for the Water 2030 Plan.
SECTION 1.(c)  At the conclusion of the project period, the Department of Commerce and each funding recipient shall submit a final report summarizing the work accomplished, how the data products are being used, and what amount of recurring funds would be required to keep the inventories updated.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.