GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1161

Short Title:  Fisheries Reform Act Appropriations.	(Public)

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Sponsors: House Environment Committee.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 24, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE FISHERIES REFORM ACT OF 1997.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of the State Auditor the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year to be used for expenses incurred in connection with a performance audit of the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, the Office of the State Auditor may hire consultants to assist in conducting the work required by this section.  If, in conducting the audit required by this section, the Office of the State Auditor incurs expenses prior to 1 July 1997, the Office of the State Auditor may pay or reimburse those expenses from funds appropriated by this section.  The performance audit report shall be delivered to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture no later than 1 March 1998.
Section 2.  There is appropriated to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of two hundred ninety-four thousand eight hundred forty-six dollars ($294,846) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred seventy-seven thousand three hundred forty-six dollars ($277,346) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to establish five positions and for administrative and other costs associated with development of Coastal Habitat Protection Plans.
Section 3.  There is appropriated to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of one million two hundred fifteen thousand four hundred sixty-seven dollars ($1,215,467) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of one million twenty-five thousand ninety-nine dollars ($1,025,099) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to establish 16 positions and for administrative and other costs associated with development of Fishery Management Plans.
Section 4.  There is appropriated to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of two hundred sixty-four thousand five hundred sixty-three dollars ($264,563) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred forty-seven thousand five hundred sixty-three dollars ($247,563) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for administrative and other expenses of the Marine Fisheries Commission and its advisory committees and to establish two positions to support the Marine Fisheries Commission.
Section 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of forty-six thousand eighty dollars ($46,080) for each year of the 1997-99 biennium to support the activities of the Fishery Management Plan Advisory Councils.
Section 6.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of sixty-seven thousand dollars ($67,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of sixty-seven thousand dollars ($67,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to be transferred to the Department of Justice to establish a position for an attorney to be assigned to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.  The attorney's duties shall include advising departmental law enforcement personnel on matters related to the enforcement and administration of criminal laws; assisting in the training of departmental law enforcement officers; acting as a liaison between departmental law enforcement officers and the State judicial system; and assisting in the prosecution of environmental, criminal enforcement cases when requested to do so by the district attorney of a local judicial district.
Section 7.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of one hundred sixteen thousand five hundred twenty dollars ($116,520) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of sixteen thousand five hundred twenty dollars ($16,520) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for constructing, equipping, and maintaining an oceangoing patrol vessel for use by the Division of Marine Fisheries in the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.
Section 8.  This act becomes effective 1 July 1997 if the corresponding substantive provisions of House Bill 1097, the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997, are enacted during 1997.