A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to prohibit the department of transportation from accepting federal funds for a high‑speed rail project without Explicit authorization from the General Assembly, and to provide a penalty for the Department of Transportation for noncompliance.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding G.S. 136‑44.36 or any other provision of law, the Department of Transportation shall not apply for, accept, or expend any grant funding from the federal government for any high‑speed rail project unless the project has been approved through an act of the General Assembly.
SECTION 2.  If the Department of Transportation accepts funds in contravention of Section 1 of this act, then, notwithstanding Section 5.6 of S.L. 2009‑451, as amended by Section 5.4 of S.L. 2010‑31, G.S. 136‑44.36, or any other provision of law, any funds received by the State from the federal government for high‑speed rail projects shall be deposited into the General Fund to be appropriated at the discretion of the General Assembly by a later act. Additionally, the Department of Transportation shall pay from the Highway Fund any penalties, interest, or other charges that result from its acceptance of funds in contravention of Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 3.  Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective March 1, 2011.