GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 62

Short Title:        Pamlico and Neuse River Ferries/No Tolling.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representative Speciale (Primary Sponsor). For a complete list of Sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly Web Site.
Referred to:	Transportation, if favorable, Finance.

February 5, 2013

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to exempt the Bayview/Aurora and Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach Ferries from tolling.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 136-82 reads as rewritten:

"§ 136-82.  Department of Transportation to establish and maintain ferries.

The Department of Transportation is vested with authority to provide for the establishment and maintenance of ferries connecting the parts of the State highway system, whenever in its discretion the public good may so require, and shall collect tolls, as established by the Board of Transportation, on the ferry routes. The Board of Transportation shall establish tolls for all ferry routes, except for the Ocracoke/Hatteras Ferry and the Knotts Island Ferry.the Bayview/Aurora Ferry and the Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach Ferry.

To accomplish the purpose of this section said Department of Transportation is authorized to acquire, own, lease, charter or otherwise control all necessary vessels, boats, terminals or other facilities required for the proper operation of such ferries or to enter into contracts with persons, firms or corporations for the operation thereof and to pay therefor such reasonable sums as may in the opinion of said Department of Transportation represent the fair value of the public service rendered.

The Department of Transportation, notwithstanding any other provision of law, may operate, or contract for the operation of, concessions on the ferries and at ferry facilities to provide to passengers on the ferries food, drink, and other refreshments, personal comfort items, and souvenirs publicizing the ferry system."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2013.