GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 697
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Short Title: Codify Lake Norman Marine Commission. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senators Sawyer and Alexander (Primary Sponsors). |
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Referred to: |
Rules and Operations of the Senate |
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March 26, 2025
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to codify the lake norman marine commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a) Chapter 77 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 6B.
"Lake Norman Marine Commission."
SECTION 1.(b) Chapter 1089 of the 1969 Session Laws, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 494 of the 1991 Session Laws and Section 1 of Chapter 797 of the 1991 Session Laws, is codified in Article 6B of Chapter 77 of the General Statutes, as enacted by subsection (a) of this section, as follows:
Section of 1969 Session Law G.S. Section
Section 1 G.S. 77‑89.1
Section 2 G.S. 77‑89.2
Section 3 G.S. 77‑89.3
Section 4 G.S. 77‑89.4
Section 5 G.S. 77‑89.5
Section 6 G.S. 77‑89.6
Section 7 G.S. 77‑89.7
Section 8, as amended G.S. 77‑89.8
Section 9 G.S. 77‑89.9
SECTION 1.(c) Article 6B of Chapter 77 of the General Statutes, as enacted by subsection (a) of this section and as amended by subsection (b) of this section, reads as rewritten:
"Article 6B.
"Lake Norman Marine Commission.
"§ 77‑89.1. Definitions.
Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the The following definitions apply in this Act:Article:
(1) Board: Board.
The board of commissioners of one of the four counties.
(2) Commission: Commission.
The Lake Norman Marine Commission or its governing board, as the case
may be.Commission.
(3) Commissioner: Member Commissioner.
A member of the governing board of the Commission.
(4) Four counties: Four
counties. Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg Counties.
(5) Joint resolution: resolution.
A resolution substantially identical in content adopted separately by the
board in each of the four counties.
(6) Lake Norman: Norman.
The impounded body of water along the Catawba River in the four counties
extending from the bridge crossing of Rural Road 1004 downstream to Cowans Ford
Dam.
(7) Shoreline area: area.
Except as modified by a joint resolution of the four counties, the area
within the four counties lying within one mile of the mean high water line of
Lake Norman. In addition, the shoreline area shall include This term
also includes all islands within Lake Norman and all peninsulas extending
into the waters of Lake Norman.
(8) Wildlife Commission: Resources
Commission. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.Commission
established under Article 24 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
"§ 77‑89.2. Creation of Commission authorized.
The counties of Catawba, Iredell,
Lincoln, and Mecklenburg are hereby authorized may by joint
resolution to create the Lake Norman Marine Commission. Upon its creation
creation, the Commission shall enjoy the powers and have the
duties has the powers, duties, and responsibilities conferred upon
it by the joint resolution, subject to the provisions of this Act. Article.
The provisions of any joint resolution may be modified, amended, or
rescinded by a subsequent joint resolution. A county may unilaterally withdraw
from participation as required by any joint resolution or the provisions of
this Act, Article, once the Commission has been created, and any
county may unilaterally withdraw from said commission the Commission at
the end of any budget period. Upon the effectuation of such the withdrawal,
the Commission is dissolved until reestablished under the provisions of this Act
Article or any successor act, and all property of the Commission
shall be distributed to or divided among the four counties and any other public
agency or agencies serving the Lake Norman area in a manner deemed equitable by
the four counties.
"§ 77‑89.3. Terms of members.
(a) Upon its creation, the Commission shall have has
a governing board of five commissioners. Except as otherwise provided for
the first five‑year period, each commissioner shall serve a five‑year
term, with commissioners to serve overlapping terms so that one commissioner
appointment is made each year. Upon creation of the Commission, the board of
Catawba County shall appoint two commissioners and the boards of the other
three counties shall appoint one each. These initial appointees shall serve
until September 30 following their appointment. Thereafter, appointments shall
be made each October 1 by the respective boards of the four counties as
follows:
(1) First year: Commissioner from Catawba, one‑year term; commissioner from Iredell, two‑year term; commissioner from Lincoln, three‑year term; commissioner from Mecklenburg, four‑year term; commissioner from Catawba, five‑year term.
(2) Second year: Commissioner from Iredell, five‑year term.
(3) Third year: Commissioner from Lincoln, five‑year term.
(4) Fourth year: Commissioner from Mecklenburg, five‑year term.
(5) Fifth year: Commissioner from Catawba, five‑year term.
(6) Sixth and succeeding
years: appointments for five‑year terms in rotation by county in the
order set out above.in this subsection.
(b) In the event of death of a commissioner,
resignation, incapacity or inability to serve, as determined by the board
appointing such the commissioner, or removal of the commissioner
for cause, as determined by the board appointing such the commissioner,
the board affected may appoint another commissioner to fill the
unexpired term.
"§ 77‑89.4. Compensation; budgetary and accounting procedures.
The joint resolution of the four
counties shall state the terms relating to the compensation to of
commissioners, if any, compensation of consultants and staff members
employed by the Commission, and reimbursement of expenses incurred by
commissioners, consultants, and employees. The Commission shall be is
governed by such any budgetary and accounting procedures as
may be specified by joint resolution.
"§ 77‑89.5. Organization and meetings.
Upon creation of the Commission,
its governing board shall meet at a time and place agreed upon by the boards of
the four counties concerned. counties. The commissioners shall
elect a chairman chair and such any other officers as
that they may choose. All officers shall serve one‑year
terms. The governing board shall adopt such rules and regulations as
it may deem necessary, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act Article
or of any joint resolution, for the proper discharge of its duties and for
the governance of the Commission. The chairman chair may appoint such
committees as may be that have been authorized by such
rules and regulations. regulation. The Commission shall meet
regularly at such any times and places as may be specified
in its rules and regulations or in any joint resolution. Special
meetings may be called as specified in the rules and regulations.
"§ 77‑89.6. Powers of Commission; administrative provision.
(a) Within the limits of
funds available to it and subject to the provisions of this Act Article
and of any joint resolution, the Commission may:may do all of the
following:
(1) Hire and Fix fix
the compensation of permanent and temporary employees and staff as it
may deem that are necessary in carrying out its duties.
(2) Contract with consultants
for such services as it may require.services.
(3) Contract with the State
of North Carolina or the Federal Government, federal government, or
any agency or department or subdivision thereof, for such property or
services as may be provided to or by such agencies, and carry out the
provisions of such contracts.or any other person.
(4) Contract with persons, firms, and corporations
generally as to all matters over which it has a proper concern, and carry out
the provisions of such contracts.
(5)(4) Lease, rent,
purchase, or otherwise obtain suitable quarters and office space for its
employees and staff, staff and lease, rent, purchase, or
otherwise obtain furniture, fixtures, aircraft, vessels, vehicles, firearms,
uniforms, and other supplies and equipment necessary or desirable for
carrying out the duties imposed in or under the authority of this Act.equipment.
(6)(5) Lease, rent,
purchase, construct, otherwise obtain, maintain, operate, repair, and replace,
either on its own or in cooperation with other public or private agencies or
individuals, any of the following: parks, shoreline and water recreational
areas, swimming pools and swimming areas, marinas, fishing piers, boat docks,
boating and fishing access areas, navigation aids, waterway markers, public
information signs and notices, and other items of real and personal property
designed to enhance public recreation, public safety in Lake Norman and its
shoreline area, or protection of property in the shoreline area.
(b) The Commission may
accept, receive, and disburse in furtherance of its functions any funds,
grants, services, or property made available by the Federal Government federal
government or its agencies or subdivisions, by the State Government or
its agencies or subdivisions, or by private and civic sources.
(c) The boards of the four
counties may appropriate funds to the Commission out of surplus funds or funds
derived from nontax sources. They may also appropriate funds out of tax
revenues and may also levy annually levy taxes for the payment of
such the appropriation as a special purpose, in addition to
any allowed by the Constitution.purpose.
(d) The Commission shall
be is subject to such any audit requirements as may
be specified in any joint resolution.
(e) In carrying out some
or all of its duties and in either in addition to or in lieu of exercising
various provisions of the above authorizations, the The Commission
may, with the agreement of the board of the county concerned, utilize personnel
and property of or assign responsibilities to any officer or employee of any of
the four counties. Such A contribution in kind, if
substantial, may kind may, with the agreement of the other three counties
counties, be deemed to substitute a substitute, in
whole or in part part, for the financial contribution required of
such the county in support of the Commission.
(f) Unless otherwise specified by joint resolution, each of the four counties shall annually contribute an equal financial contribution to the Commission in an amount appropriate to support the activities of the Commission in carrying out its duties.
"§ 77‑89.7. Filing and publication of joint resolutions.
(a) A copy of the joint resolution creating the Commission and of any joint resolution amending or repealing the joint resolution creating the Commission shall be filed with the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission. When the Executive Director receives resolutions that are in substance identical from all four counties concerned, the Executive Director shall within ten days so certify and distribute a certified single resolution text to the following:
(1) The Secretary of State.
(2) The Director of the Department of Local Affairs.
(3)(2) The clerk to the
board of county commissioners of each of the four counties.
(4)(3) The clerk of
superior court of each of the four counties.
Upon
request, the Executive Director shall also send a certified single copy of any
and all applicable joint resolutions to the chairman chair of the
Commission.
(b) Unless a joint
resolution specifies a later date, it shall take takes effect
when the Executive Director's certified text has been submitted to the
Secretary of State for filing. Certifications of the Executive Director under
the seal of the Commission as to the text or amended text of any joint
resolution and of the date or dates of submission to the Secretary of
State shall be are admissible in evidence in any court.
Certifications by any clerk of superior court of the text of any certified
resolution filed with him the clerk by the Executive Director shall
also be are also admissible in evidence evidence, and
the Executive Director's submission of the resolution for filing to the clerk shall
constitute constitutes prima facie evidence that such the resolution
was on the date of submission also submitted for filing with the Secretary of
State. Except for the certificate of a clerk as to receipt and date of
submission, no evidence may shall be admitted in court concerning
the submission of the certified text of any resolution by the Executive
Director to any person other than the Secretary of State.
"§ 77‑89.8. Regulatory authority.
(a) Except as limited in subsection
(b) below, by subsection (c) of this section, by restrictions in any
joint resolution, and or by other supervening provisions
of law, the Commission may make regulations applicable to Lake Norman and its
shoreline area concerning all matters relating to or affecting public
recreation and water safety. These regulations may shall not
conflict with or supersede provisions of general or special Acts or of
regulations of State agencies promulgated under the authority of general law. State
law. In lieu of or in addition to passing regulations supplementary to
State law and regulations concerning the operation of vessels on Lake Norman, these
regulations, the Commission may, after public notice, request that the
Wildlife Resources Commission pass local regulations rules on
this subject in accordance with the procedure established in G.S. 75A‑15.
(b) Violation of any
regulation of the Commission commanding or prohibiting an act shall be a
misdemeanor is punishable by a fine civil penalty not
to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per violation.
(c) The regulations
promulgated under this Section take effect upon passage or upon such dates as
may be stipulated in the regulations except that no regulation may No regulation
adopted under this section shall be enforced unless adequate notice of the
regulation has been posted in or on Lake Norman or its shoreline area. Adequate
notice as to a regulation affecting only a particular location may be by a
sign, uniform waterway marker, posted notice, or other effective method of
communicating the essential provisions of the regulation in the immediate
vicinity of the location in question. Where location. If a
regulation applies generally as to Lake Norman or its shoreline area, or
both, there must shall be a posting of notices, signs, or markers
communicating the its essential provisions in at least three
different places throughout the area.
(d) A copy of each regulation
promulgated under this Section must adopted under this section shall be
filed by the Commission with the following persons:
(1) The Secretary of State,
in accordance with G.S. 143-195 to - 198.State.
(2) The clerk of superior
court of each of the four counties, in accordance with G.S. 143-198.1.counties.
(3) The Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
(4) The Director of the Department of Local Affairs.
(e) Any official designated
in subsection (d) above of this section may issue certified
copies of regulations filed with him under the seal of his office. Such the
official. The certified copies may be received in evidence in any proceeding.
(f) Publication and filing
of regulations promulgated under this Section as required above is adopted
under this section are for informational purposes and shall not be are
not a prerequisite to their validity if they in fact have been duly
promulgated, adopted, the public has been notified as to the
substance of the regulations, their substance, a copy of the text of
all regulations is in fact available to any person who that may
be affected, and no party to any proceeding has been prejudiced by any defect that
may exist with respect to publication and filing. Rules and regulations promulgated
Regulations adopted by the Commission under the provisions of other
sections of this Act Article relating to internal governance of
the Commission need not are not required to be filed or
published. Where If posting of any sign, notice, or marker or the
making of other communication is essential to the validity of a regulation
duly promulgated, regulation, it shall be is presumed
in any proceeding that proper notice was given and maintained and the burden shall
lie lies upon the party asserting to the contrary to prove lack of
adequate notice of any the regulation.
(g) Under authorization of a joint resolution, and
subject to the limitations of this section, the Commission may regulate
personal watercraft operation in Lake Norman and from its shoreline.shoreline
area.
"§ 77‑89.9. Enforcement.
(a) Where If a
joint resolution so provides, all law enforcement officers (or such any
officers as may be designated in the joint resolution) with
territorial jurisdiction as to any part of Lake Norman or its shoreline area
shall, area, within the limitations of their subject matter
jurisdiction, have the authority of peace officers in enforcing the laws over
all of Lake Norman and its shoreline area.
(b) Where If a
joint resolution so provides, the Commission may hire special officers to
patrol and enforce the laws on Lake Norman and its shoreline area. Such These
special officers shall have and exercise all the powers of
peace officers generally within the area in question and this area. These
special officers shall take the oaths oath of a law enforcement
officer and be are subject to all provisions of law relating
to law enforcement officers.
(c) Unless a joint
resolution provides to the contrary, all courts in the four counties, within
the limits of their subject matter jurisdiction, shall have concurrent
jurisdiction as to all criminal offenses arising within the boundaries of Lake
Norman and its shoreline area.
(d) Where If a
law enforcement officer with jurisdiction over any part of Lake Norman or its
shoreline area is performing duties relating to the enforcement of the laws on
Lake Norman or in its shoreline area, he shall have such the officer
also has any extra‑territorial jurisdiction as may be that
is necessary to perform such these duties. These duties
include investigations any of the following:
(1) Investigations of crimes an officer
reasonably believes have been, or are about to be, committed within the area
in question; traversing area.
(2) Traversing by reasonable routes from one
portion of such the area to another although across territory not
within the boundaries of Lake Norman and its shoreline area; conducting portion
even if the route is not contained within the area.
(3) Conducting prisoners in custody to such a
court or detention facilities as may be authorized by law, although this
may involve going outside the area in question; execution facility even
if the court or facility is not within the area.
(4) Execution of process connected with any
criminal offense alleged to have been committed within the boundaries in
question, except that such process may not be executed by virtue of this
provision area. This subdivision, however, does not apply beyond the
boundaries of the four continuing counties;counties.
(5) Continuing pursuit of and arresting any
violator or suspected violator as to which whose grounds for
arrest arose within the area in question. Where area.
(e) If any law
enforcement officers are given additional territorial jurisdiction under the
provisions of this Section, this section, this shall be act
is deemed an extension of the duties of the office held and no officer
shall take any additional oath or title of office."
SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 77‑113 reads as rewritten:
"§ 77‑113. Membership; terms of office; eligibility for appointment; meetings.
(a) The Catawba/Wateree River Basin Advisory Commission shall be composed of 15 members as follows:
(10) One person to represent
the following commissions, appointed jointly by the three chief executive
officers chairs of the commissions: the Lake Wylie Marine Commission
established pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 77 of the General Statutes, the
Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission established pursuant to Article 6 of
Chapter 77 of the General Statutes, and the Lake Norman Marine Commission
established pursuant to Chapter 1089 of the 1969 Session Laws.Article
6B of Chapter 77 of the General Statutes.
(c) Each member appointed to
the commissions pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsections (a) and (b)
of this section shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority so long
as the member remains a Representative or Senator. Each member appointed to the
commissions pursuant to subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsections (a) and (b) of
this section shall serve as provided by the General Assembly of South Carolina.
Each member appointed to the commissions pursuant to subdivisions (7) through
(9) of subsection (a) and subdivisions (8) through (10) of subsection (b) of
this section shall serve for so long as the member continues in the qualifying
position or, if the member is a designee, at the pleasure of the designating
authority. Each member appointed to the commissions pursuant to subdivisions
(6) and (10) of subsection (a) and subdivisions (7) and (11) of subsection (b)
of this section shall serve a term of two years and may be reappointed to serve
no more than three consecutive full terms or 84 consecutive months, whichever
is greater. The term of a person appointed to the commission pursuant to
subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire expires
on 1 January of even‑numbered years. The term of a person appointed
to the commission pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of this section
shall expire expires on 1 January of odd‑numbered years.
The term of a member who is appointed to the commissions pursuant to subdivisions
(5) and (11) of subsection (a) and subdivisions (5) and (6) of subsection (b)
of this section shall serve as provided by the General Assembly of South
Carolina. An appointment to fill a vacancy on the commissions shall be for the
unexpired portion of the term. A vacancy on the commissions shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment. Members of the commissions who are
appointed from or reside in North Carolina may be removed by the Governor of
North Carolina for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance, as provided in
G.S. 143B‑13.
(f) Each commission shall
meet upon the call of the Chair. A majority of each commission shall
constitute constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
."
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.