A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow the duplin county tourism authority to construct and maintain a visitor center at the rest area at exit 364 on  interstate 40 at the nc HIGHWAY 24 interchange.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 136‑102.9. Tourism authority visitor centers in State‑owned rest areas.
(a)	Authorization. – A local tourism authority is authorized to construct and maintain visitor centers in State‑owned rest areas operated by the Department within the city or county represented by the tourism authority.
(b)	Costs. – A local tourism authority shall be solely responsible for all construction and maintenance costs of the visitor centers constructed pursuant to this section.
(c)	Facility Standards. – All plans for use and construction shall be approved by the Department prior to construction to ensure accessibility to both the rest area and the visitor center, compliance with State and federal environmental laws, and the safety and security of the motoring public.
(d)	Inspections. – The local tourism authority shall allow an inspection of the premises of a visitor center by a law enforcement officer with subject‑matter and territorial jurisdiction to investigate criminal activity to ensure the safety of the motoring public.
(e)	Abandonment. – If a local tourism authority abandons the property of the visitor center for a period exceeding six months, all property rights in the building shall vest in the State of North Carolina, and the tourism authority shall be responsible for any costs of repair, upkeep, maintenance, or demolition and removal of debris from the tourism center."
SECTION 2.  This act applies to rest areas in Duplin County only.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.