GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	2 

SENATE BILL 110
Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee Substitute Adopted 2/26/97

Short Title:  Establish Environmental Cabinet.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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February 13, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENTAL CABINET WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 7 of Chapter 143B is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 4C.  Governor's Environmental Cabinet.
"§ 143B-285.30.  Environmental Cabinet created.
(a)	Creation. – The Environmental Cabinet is created.  The Environmental Cabinet shall be located administratively within, and shall exercise its powers within existing resources of, the Office of the Governor.  However, the Environmental Cabinet shall exercise its statutory powers independently of the Office of the Governor.
(b)	Membership; Meetings. – The Environmental Cabinet shall consist of the Governor, who shall serve as Chair, the Secretary of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, and the Chairs of each of the following Commissions:  The Coastal Resources Commission, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Marine Fisheries Commission.  The Environmental Cabinet shall invite representatives of the business community, environmentalists, agriculture, marine fisheries, and others to participate in its deliberations.  The Environmental Cabinet shall meet at least quarterly.
(c)	Duties. – The Environmental Cabinet shall be a nonvoting body that develops and recommends action to take a comprehensive view of protecting the environment, including:
(1)	Enhancing communication and cooperation among and between the Coastal Resources Commission, the Environnmental Management Commission, the Marine Fisheries Commission, and their respective divisions in the Department.
(2)	Informing the three Commissions of rules adopted and other action taken by each Commission to ensure consistency among the Commissions.
(3)	Coordinating rule making and other responsibilities to make the Department more efficient with respect to overlapping responsibilities including, but not limited to, water quality, habitat protection, and permit issuance.
(4)	Studying the consolidation of commissions.
(5)	Establishing a strategy to develop teamwork within the Department to better manage the environment by reducing duplication in agency responsibilities and by simplifying the permitting process.
(6)	Studying other issues referred to it by the Governor or the General Assembly.
(d)	Staff. – The Office of the Governor, in coordination with the existing staff of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, shall provide staff to the Environmental Cabinet.
(e)	Reporting. – The  Environmental Cabinet shall report semiannually beginning September 1 of each year to the Environmental Review Commission and the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture on the duties set forth in this section."
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.  The Environmental Cabinet shall make its first report on or before September 1, 1997.