A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the department of environment and natural resources for regional councils of government to develop and implement a water resource management program.
Whereas, North Carolina's regional councils provide local governments in every part of the State with regional means to address water quality issues that stretch beyond any local government's boundaries; and
Whereas, safe and reliable water is critical to every community's economic development potential, as well as to existing citizens and businesses; and
Whereas, all water supply and water quality issues cross local boundaries, calling for regional coordination to assure that water remains safe and available; and
Whereas, regional councils are in a unique position to help local governments deal collectively with water resource issues, identifying solutions that are tailored to conditions and water needs in each region, especially those struggling to meet infrastructure and environmental challenges; and
Whereas, regional councils, by working in concert with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, can bring local governments together to address critical water supply and water quality at a regional scale; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the sum of one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year. Of the funds appropriated by this section, the sum of eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) shall be allocated each fiscal year to each of the State's 17 regional councils of government to be used by each regional council of government to develop and implement a nonregulatory water resource management program through the voluntary cooperation of local governments, water users, other stakeholders, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  The funds allocated to a regional council of government by this section shall be paid in two equal installments. The first payment shall be made upon presentation by the regional council of government of its plan of work for the fiscal year as required by Section 3 of this act.  The second payment shall be made upon the submission by the regional council of government of the report required by Section 3 of this act.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources may use up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000) of the funds appropriated by this act for each fiscal year for the costs of administering this act.
SECTION 2.  In developing and implementing the water resource management program required under Section 1 of this act, each regional council of government shall carry out a plan of work that may include the following:
(1)	Development of one or more multi‑jurisdictional water resource management plans in cooperation with local governments and key water user stakeholders, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, based on the water resource needs, geographic and hydrologic features in the region, including both surface and groundwater resources as appropriate to the region.
(2)	Convening coalitions of local governments and major water users in the respective regions to set strategies for sustaining water resources necessary to support sound economic development.
(3)	Implementation of multi‑jurisdictional projects and activities that address water quantity and water quality problems identified in water resource management plans.
(4)	Identification of opportunities for connections between water systems and wastewater system providers to achieve efficiencies and make systems more drought resistant.
SECTION 3.  Each regional council of government that receives funds under this act shall present to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Fiscal Research Division the council's plan of work, goals, objectives, and proposed expenditures for the fiscal year on or before 1 September of that fiscal year.  Each regional council of government that receives funds under this act shall submit to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Fiscal Research Division a report on the council's accomplishments and the council's actual expenditures of funds appropriated by this act during the fiscal year on or before 1 March of that fiscal year.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective 1 July 2007.