Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

FILED SENATE
                                                                                        Jan 26, 2023
                         GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                 S.B. 22
                                     SESSION 2023           PRINCIPAL CLERK
     S                                                                   D
                               SENATE BILL DRS35011-LG-2
     Short Title:   Rename Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council.                                  (Public)
     Sponsors:      Senators Johnson, Perry, and Britt (Primary Sponsors).
     Referred to:
                                    A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT TO CHANGE THE NAMES OF THE OUTDOOR HERITAGE ADVISORY
     COUNCIL AND THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTDOOR HERITAGE TRUST FUND AND
     TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF GRANTS AND PROGRAMMING TO PROMOTE
     YOUTH OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
            SECTION 1. Part 36 of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes reads as
 rewritten:
    "Part 36. Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council.North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement
                                            Commission.
 "§ 143B-344.60. Outdoor heritage advisory council.North Carolina Youth Outdoor
            Engagement Commission.
     (a)    The Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement
 Commission (hereinafter "Commission") is established within the North Carolina Wildlife
 Resources Commission for organizational and budgetary purposes only. The Council
 Commission shall exercise all of its statutory powers independent of control by the Executive
 Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Council Commission shall (i) advise State
 agencies and the General Assembly on the promotion of outdoor recreational activities,
 including, but not limited to, hiking, horseback riding, boating, sport shooting and archery, bird
 watching and wildlife watching, camping, swimming, hunting, trapping, and fishing in order to
 preserve North Carolina's outdoor heritage for future generations.generations and (ii) use grants
 and programming to promote the outdoor recreational activities described in this subsection.
     (b)    The Council Commission shall consist of 13 members, appointed as follows:
            (1)      Four members appointed by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation
                     of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
            (2)      Four members appointed by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation
                     of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
            (3)      Three members appointed by the Governor.
            (4)      One member appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
            (5)      One member appointed by the chair of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
     All members of the Council Commission shall have knowledge and experience in outdoor
 recreational activities and have a demonstrated interest in promoting outdoor heritage.
     (c)    The terms of the initial members of the Council Commission shall commence October
 1, 2015. Of the Governor's initial appointments, one member shall be designated to serve a term
 of three years, one member shall be designated to serve a term of two years, and one member
 shall be designated to serve a term of one year. Of the initial appointments by the President Pro
                                    *DRS35011-LG-2*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                    Session 2023
 Tempore of the Senate, one member shall be designated to serve a term of three years, one
 member shall be designated to serve a term of two years, and one member shall be designated to
 serve a term of one year. Of the initial appointments by the Speaker of the House of
 Representatives, one member shall be designated to serve a term of three years, one member shall
 be designated to serve a term of two years, and one member shall be designated to serve a term
 of one year. The members appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and the chair of the
 Wildlife Resources Commission shall each serve an initial term of four years. After the initial
 appointees' terms have expired, all members shall be appointed for a term of four years.
      Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council Commission created by the resignation,
 dismissal, death, or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.
      (d)     The initial chair of the Council Commission shall be designated by the Governor from
 the Council Commission members. Subsequent chairs shall be elected by the Council
 Commission for terms of two years.
      (e)     The Council Commission shall meet quarterly and at other times at the call of the
 chair. A majority of members of the Council Commission shall constitute a quorum.
      (f)     Council Commission members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the
 performance of their duties in accordance with G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6, as applicable. The
 reimbursements authorized by this subsection may be provided from the North Carolina Outdoor
 Heritage Trust Fund for Youth Outdoor Heritage Promotion.Youth Outdoor Engagement Fund.
      (g)     The Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission shall provide clerical
 and other assistance as needed, including, but not limited to, office space, transportation support,
 and support for equipment and information technology needs of the Council.Commission.
      (h)     The Council Commission shall be exempt from Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the
 General Statutes but may use the services of the Department of Administration in procuring
 goods and services for the Council.Commission.
 "§ 143B-344.62. Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council North Carolina Youth Outdoor
              Engagement Commission – executive director; staff.
      The Council Commission may, subject to appropriations or other funds that accrue to it,
 employ an executive director to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities and business of the
 Council. Commission. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
 Commission. The executive director, also subject to appropriations or other funds that accrue to
 the Council, Commission, may hire additional staff and consultants to assist in the discharge of
 the executive director's responsibilities, as determined by the Council.Commission.
 "§ 143B-344.64. Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council North Carolina Youth Outdoor
              Engagement Commission – report.
      On or before December 1, 2019, and at least annually thereafter, the Council Commission
 shall submit a report to the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture
 and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division regarding its activities,
 initiatives, partnerships, and use of donated and appropriated funds."
              SECTION 2. G.S. 126-5(c1)(36) reads as rewritten:
              "(36) Employees of the Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council.North Carolina Youth
                      Outdoor Engagement Commission."
              SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.
     Page 2                                                                           DRS35011-LG-2
Statutes affected: 
Filed: 126-5
Edition 1: 126-5
Ratified: 126-5
SL 2023-51: 126-5