A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REMOVE MANDATORY FERRY TOLLING AND TO PROVIDE THE dEPARTMENT WITH EXPANDED AUTHORIZATION TO GENERATE RECEIPTS TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATION OF THE FERRY SYSTEM.
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.
(a)	Powers of Department. – 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. For purposes of this Article, the "ferry system" shall be defined as the ferry vessels and all associated equipment, land‑based facilities, and personnel required to operate the vessels on routes established by the Board of Transportation.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 the ferry system or to enter into contracts with persons, firms or corporations for the operation of the ferry system and to pay such reasonable sums that in the opinion of said Department of Transportation represent the fair value of the public service rendered.
(b)	Authority to Generate Certain Receipts. – The Department of Transportation, notwithstanding any other provision of law, may operate, or contract for the following receipt‑generating activities, and use the proceeds to promote, improve, repair, maintain, or operate the ferry system:
(1)	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, Internet access, and souvenirs publicizing the ferry system.
(2)	The sale of naming rights to any ferry vessel, ferry route, or ferry facility.
(3)	Advertising on or within any ferry vessel, including display advertising and advertising delivered to passengers through the use of video monitors, public address systems installed in passenger areas, and other electronic media."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.