GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 246*

Short Title:  Amend Natural Heritage Trust Fund.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Mitchell; Weatherly and Nichols.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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February 17, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPROVE AND EXTEND THE PROTECTION OF THE STATE'S NATURAL LANDS BY EXTENDING THE AUTHORIZED EXPENDITURES FROM THE NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST FUND AND BY ALLOWING QUALIFIED PRIVATE NONPROFIT LAND TRUST ORGANIZATIONS TO HOLD TITLE TO ACQUIRED LANDS, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 113-77.9(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The Trustees may authorize expenditures from the Fund to pay for the inventory, the conservation and protection planning, or the identification and education of owners of natural areas by the Secretary's Natural Heritage Program conducted pursuant to Chapter 113A, Article 9A, of the General Statutes."
Section 2.  G.S. 113-77.9(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	The Department of Administration may, pursuant to G.S. 143-341, acquire by purchase, gift, or devise all lands selected by the Trustees for acquisition pursuant to this Article. Title to any land acquired pursuant to this Article shall be vested in the State or in private nonprofit land trust organizations qualified pursuant to G.S. 105-151.12 and G.S. 105-130.34 and certified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  State agencies with management responsibilities for lands acquired pursuant to this Article may enter into management agreements in the form of leases with counties, cities, towns, or these qualified private nonprofit land trust organizations to aid in managing the lands, and such lease agreements shall be executed by the Department of Administration pursuant to G.S. 143-341."
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.