AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE WESTERN PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE To ENTER INTO An AGREEMENT WITH BURKE COUNTY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 115D‑15.1(c), G.S. 143‑341(3)a., or any other provision of law pertaining to capital improvements, Western Piedmont Community College may enter into an agreement with Burke County to jointly renovate a building owned by Burke County that is located at 2128 South Sterling Street in Morganton. Western Piedmont Community College may use State grant funds for the renovation of the building. The renovated facility shall be known as the Foothills Allied Health and Sciences Higher Education Center.
Burke County shall lease a portion of the facility consisting of college classrooms, office space, and laboratories to Western Piedmont Community College for a period of 40 years. The remainder of the facility consisting of multipurpose space shall be maintained and operated by Burke County.
If at any time Burke County terminates the lease, the county shall reimburse to Western Piedmont Community College a prorated amount of the State grant funds used for the renovation.
SECTION 1.(b)  Except for G.S. 143‑128.2 and G.S. 143‑128.3, the provisions of Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes shall not apply to the renovation of the facility.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and expires December 31, 2011.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3rd day of May, 2007.

	_____________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives