A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the department of natural and cultural resources for projects at the fort fisher state historic site.
Whereas, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site is the most visited State Historic Site, attracting more than 900,000 visitors at the end of the last fiscal year; and
Whereas, many of Fort Fisher's visitors are school groups from New Hanover County; groups from summer camp programs such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Junior ROTC; nursing homes; military groups; families; and other tourists; and
Whereas, to accommodate the visitors at Fort Fisher, funds are needed to build a new visitor center, which will provide additional space for exhibits, a larger auditorium to handle several school groups at once, a multipurpose space for classrooms, storage facilities for archives, and rental space for additional income; and
Whereas, funds are also needed to expand Fort Fisher's earthworks exhibit, upgrade its parking lot, and build a new maintenance facility; and
Whereas, additional funds are needed to plan facilities for the Underwater Archaeology Branch to be located on the grounds of the Fort Fisher State Historic Site to preserve the State's maritime history; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Historical Resources, the sum of seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to complete various capital projects at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Historical Resources, Office of State Archaeology, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to plan facilities for the Underwater Archaeology Branch to be located on the grounds of the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.