A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the state highway patrol aircraft operations.
Whereas, the current aircraft used by the State Highway Patrol are military surplus aircraft over 30 years old and are not capable of meeting the mission requirements that are imposed on the Aircraft Operations Section of the State Highway Patrol; and
Whereas, in recent years the State has been heavily impacted by hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters and several people have lost their lives as a result of these natural disasters; and
Whereas, the purchase of new aircraft for the State Highway Patrol would allow the Aircraft Operations Section of the State Highway Patrol to rescue more people during natural disasters, to carry personnel, equipment, and supplies to areas of the State impacted by natural disaster, and to respond more quickly and efficiently to the needs of the citizens of the State during a natural disaster or when a person is missing; and
Whereas, the lives of the State Highway Patrol pilots are at risk by operating aircraft that is over 30 years old; Now, therefore, 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Of the funds available to the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety for the 2005‑2007 biennium for the Highway Patrol, the Department shall use the sum of six million seven hundred thousand dollars ($6,700,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year and the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year for aircraft operations for the State Highway Patrol.  The funds shall be used to purchase four new aircraft, to hire 24 sworn personnel and six nonsworn personnel, and to provide services, training, equipment, and supplies, including aviation fuel and aircraft parts, for the aircraft operations of the State Highway Patrol.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.