A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT To appropriate funds to purchase an emergency generator for constable laboratory.
Whereas, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Constable Laboratory is the State's only food laboratory and is responsible for conducting analyses of food samples for the presence of E.coli, samonella, pesticide and antibiotic residues, heavy metals, and other pathogens and contaminants; and
Whereas, Constable Laboratory tested over 44,000 food samples in 2007 with equipment valued at over $5 million; and
Whereas, Constable Laboratory has experienced at least 10 power outages since March 2007, causing damage to equipment, loss of supplies and samples, and lost work time; and
Whereas, the engineering firm hired by the Department to review the systems at Constable Laboratory has determined that an 800 kilowatt generator would be needed to carry the loads required by laboratory operations; and
Whereas, the cost of purchasing and installing an 800 kilowatt generator for Constable Laboratory is $536,221; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services the sum of five hundred thirty-six thousand two hundred twenty-one dollars ($536,221); for fiscal year 2008, for the purchase and installation of an 800 kilowatt generator for Constable Laboratory.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.