A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources to expend existing moneys for capital improvement projects at North Carolina Aquarium satellite areas.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Whereas, the unemployment rate for North Carolina reached 8.7% in December 2008, the highest rate in more than 25 years; and
Whereas, the unemployment rates for December 2008 in Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Dare, Hyde, Martin, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties are all above the statewide average; and
Whereas, construction of the North Carolina Aquarium Pier at Nags Head will provide 555 on‑site jobs and 1,250 off‑site jobs and a benefit of more than $14,000,000 to North Carolina's economy; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Aquarium Pier at Nags Head will serve as a significant demonstration of building features and construction techniques for reducing environmental impacts for public buildings in the coastal region of North Carolina, including cisterns, solar panels, and wind turbines for on‑site clean power generation, and on‑site containment and treatment of stormwater runoff; Now, therefore,
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly authorizes capital projects related to the construction of the North Carolina Aquarium Pier at Nags Head by the Aquariums Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to be funded with receipts or from other non‑General Fund sources and at a cost in aggregate for all projects not to exceed twenty‑five million dollars ($25,000,000).
SECTION 2.  Funds transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources by Section 21.14 of S.L. 2006‑66 for a stormwater pilot project to clean up State‑maintained ocean outfalls and associated outlets and not used for that purpose shall be transferred to the North Carolina Aquariums Fund.
SECTION 3.  Should United States Public Law 111‑005, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Federal Act), provide funding for capital improvement projects described in Section 1 of this act, then those funds shall be used for the capital improvement projects before the funds transferred by Section 2 of this act.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.