A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for improvements at the north carolina zoological park.
Whereas, funding is needed for improvements at the North Carolina Zoological Park to protect the State's investment in an aging facility, increase the Zoo's impact on children's education and teacher development, improve visitor experience, and address higher animal welfare standards, while also generating additional revenue and bringing an increased economic return to the Zoo and the State; and
Whereas, State‑requested engineering reports have indicated that it is cost prohibitive to repair the current African Pavilion and the building has an extremely limited life; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Zoological Society is committed to raising funds to match State funding on the basis of $1.00 of non‑State funds for every $1.00 of the State funds over the six‑ to eight‑year period of phased construction; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year. These funds will be needed over a six-to-eight year period and shall be used as follows:
(1)	$1,000,000 for the initial planning for the replacement of the African Pavilion and the surrounding supporting exhibits.
(2)	$19,000,000 to design and construct a complex of linked exhibits replacing the current decaying African Pavilion and including facilities for gorillas and other primates.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.