A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO require the department of TRANSPORTATION to pay the nonbetterment relocation cost for moving a county‑owned gas line located on a department of TRANSPORTATION right‑of‑way if the gas line must be moved due to a department of TRANSPORTATION construction project.
Whereas, Bladen County is an economically distressed rural county; and
Whereas, Bladen County has a per capita income of $14,735; and
Whereas, Bladen County has worked diligently to attract industry to insure employment and opportunity for all of its citizens; and 
Whereas, in furtherance of this goal, Bladen County purchased a natural gas pipeline to encourage economic development in the County; and
Whereas, the Department of Transportation must now move the County‑owned natural gas pipeline to complete a highway project; and 
Whereas, the relocation of the natural gas pipeline will detrimentally impact Bladen County's limited financial resources; and 
Whereas, the Department of Transportation is currently required to pay the relocation cost for utilities of similarly situated small municipalities with limited resources; Now, therefore, 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 136-27.2. Relocation of county-owned natural gas lines located on Department of Transportation right-of-way.
The Department of Transportation shall pay the nonbetterment cost for the relocation of county-owned natural gas lines, located within the existing State highway right-of-way, that the Department needs to relocate due to a State highway improvement project."
SECTION 2.  The Department of Transportation is directed to use monies appropriated to the Department to relocate county‑owned natural gas lines located on Department of Transportation right‑of‑way.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.