North Carolina SB 1224: Study Reorg. of Zoo/Issuance of Bonds.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2007
S 1
SENATE BILL 1224

Short Title: Study Reorg. of Zoo/Issuance of Bonds. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Brunstetter; Apodaca, Atwater, Garrou, Stevens, and Tillman.
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate.
March 26, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO CREATE THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK FUNDING AND 2
ORGANIZATION STUDY COMMISSION. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Commission Established. – The Zoological Park Funding and 5
Organization Commission is hereby established. 6
SECTION 2. Membership. –The Commission shall consist of 18 members 7
as follows: 8
(1) Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. 9
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 10
Representatives. 11
(3) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, or the 12
Secretary's designee. 13
(4) The Director of the Zoological Park, or the Director's designee. 14
(5) The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee. 15
(6) The Executive Director of the Division of Tourism, Film and Sports 16
Development of the Department of Commerce, or the Executive 17
Director's designee. 18
(7) The Chair of the Zoo Society Board, or the Chair's designee. 19
(8) Two additional representatives of the Zoo Society Board, who may be 20
comprised of current or former members, appointed by the Chair of the 21
Zoo Society Board. 22
(9) A representative from another major zoological park located in the 23
United States, appointed by the Director of the Zoological Park in 24
consultation with the Chair of the Zoo Society Board. 25
(10) The Chair of the Board of Commissioners of Randolph County, or the 26
Chair's designee. 27
(11) Three representatives from the public at large appointed by the 28
Governor. 29

General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2007
Page 2 Senate Bill 1224-First Edition
SECTION 3. Cochairs. – The Commission shall have two cochairs, one 1
designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one designated by the 2
Speaker of the House of Representatives from among their respective appointees. The 3
Commission shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. 4
SECTION 4. Quorum. – A quorum of the Commission shall consist of 10 5
members. 6
SECTION 5. Vacancies. – Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled 7
by the original appointing authority. 8
SECTION 6. Purpose and Duties. – The Commission shall study (i) funding 9
issues associated with the Zoological Park, including current and expected capital and 10
operational needs, current sources of revenue, and potential funding mechanisms, such 11
as issuance of tax-exempt bonds; and (ii) the current organizational structure of the 12
Zoological Park, and other potential organizational structures, including, but not limited 13
to, reorganization as an authority, as a private nonprofit corporation, or other entity to 14
determine which organizational structure would most effectively achieve the mission of 15
the Zoological Park. 16
SECTION 7. Expenses of Members. – Members of the Commission shall 17
receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 18
138-5, or 138-6, as appropriate. 19
SECTION 8. Staff. – Upon the prior approval of the Legislative Services 20
Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to the 21
Commission to aid in its work. 22
SECTION 9. Consultants. – The Commission may hire consultants to assist 23
with the study as provided in G.S. 120-32.02(b). 24
SECTION 10. Meetings. – The Commission may meet in the Legislative 25
Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative 26
Services Commission. 27
SECTION 11. Report. – The Commission shall report its findings and 28
recommendations to the General Assembly and the Environmental Review Commission 29
on or before 1 March 2008, at which time the Commission shall terminate. 30
SECTION 12. Funding. – From funds appropriated to the General 31
Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the purpose of 32
conducting the study provided for in this act. 33
SECTION 13. Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law. 34