A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to Authorize the legislative research commission to study the feasibility and advisability of providing a tax credit for the installation of innovative, low impact development stormwater management systems.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study the feasibility and advisability of providing a tax credit for the installation of innovative, low impact development stormwater management systems. As used in this section, a "low impact development stormwater management system" is a system designed to reduce or filter stormwater runoff and includes (i) infiltration systems such as infiltration trenches, infiltration drainfields, dry wells, bioretention basins, and level spreaders, (ii) filtering systems such as filter strips, exfiltration trenches, and wetlands, (iii) alternate conveyance systems such as vegetated channels and grassed swales, and (iv) rainwater catchment systems such as rain barrels and cisterns. In the study, the Commission may consider all of the following:
(1)	What activities and constructions should be considered low impact development stormwater management systems, considering guidelines, regulations, and laws in this State, in other states, and at the federal level.
(2)	Whether low impact development stormwater management systems are beneficial to the State and in what ways the systems are beneficial.
(3)	Whether a tax credit for constructing low impact development stormwater management systems would more effectively address stormwater management than regulatory changes.
(4)	What type of a tax credit would be required to encourage the State's residents to participate in alternative stormwater management techniques.
(5)	Any other issues the Commission considers relevant to this topic.
SECTION 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may make an interim report to the 2009 General Assembly, Regular Session 2010, and shall make its final report to the 2011 General Assembly.
SECTION 3.  The Legislative Services Officer shall allocate funds appropriated to the General Assembly for the expenditures of the Legislative Services Commission in conducting this study.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.