A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide funding for the waterfront Access and the marine industry fund.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  In addition to the special indebtedness issued and incurred pursuant to Section 29.14(a) of S.L. 2007‑373, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Marine Fisheries, the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), for fiscal year 2008-2009, to be credited to the Waterfront Access and the Marine Industry Fund. The Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries shall establish a program by which these additional funds for the Waterfront Access and the Marine Industry Fund may be used. The Director may consult with representatives of the commercial fishing industry and other marine industries and with State, local, or nonprofit agencies that have expertise in waterfront access issues and property acquisitions. The Director may establish a committee to review potential property acquisitions and capital and infrastructure improvements.
SECTION 2.  Prior to the expenditure of any funds appropriated by this act, the Division shall report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Seafood and Aquaculture. The Division also shall report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Seafood and Aquaculture on the use of these funds on a quarterly basis until the funding expires.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.