General assembly of north carolina

SECTION 13.9A.(a) All functions, powers, duties, and obligations previously vested in the Wine and Grape Growers Council within the Division of Travel and Tourism of the Department of Commerce are transferred to and vested in the Markets Division of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by a Type I transfer, as defined in G.S. 143A 6.

SECTION 13.9A.(b) Part 2J of Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is recodified as Article 62A of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, and the reserved sections of redesignated Article 62 of Chapter 106 are redesignated as sections of Article 62A and read as rewritten:

"Part 2JArticle 62A. Wine and Grape Growers Council.

"§ 143B 437.90.§ 106 755.1. North Carolina Wine and Grape Growers Council – Creation; powers and duties.

There is created the North Carolina Wine and Grape Growers Council of the Department of Commerce. Agriculture and Consumer Services. The North Carolina Wine and Grape Growers Council shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To identify and implement methods for improving North Carolina's rank as a wine producing State;

(2) To assure orderly growth and development of North Carolina's grape and wine industry;

(3) To achieve public awareness of the quality of North Carolina grapes and wine;

(4) To coordinate the interaction of North Carolina's grape and wine industry with other segments of the State's economy such as tourism, retail trade, and horticulture;

(5) To conduct methods of quality assurance of North Carolina's grape and wine industry to create a sound foundation for further growth;

(6) To assist in the coordination of the activities of the various State agencies and other organizations contributing to the development of the grape and wine industry;

(7) To receive and disburse funds;

(8) To enter into contracts for the purpose of developing new or improved markets or marketing methods for wine and grape products;

(9) To contract for research services to improve viticultural and enological practices in North Carolina;

(10) To enter into agreements with any local, state, or national organizations or agency engaged in education for the purpose of disseminating information on wine or other viticultural projects;

(11) To enter into contracts with commercial entities for the purpose of developing marketing, advertising, and other promotional programs designed to promote the orderly growth of the North Carolina grape and wine industry;

(12) To acquire any licenses or permits necessary for performance of the duties of the Council; and

(13) To develop a State Viticulture Plan that identifies problems and constraints of the viticultural industry, proposes solutions to those problems and delineates planning mechanisms for the orderly growth of the industry.

(14) By September 1 of each year, to report to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, and the Fiscal Research Division on the activities of the Council, the status of the wine and grape industry in North Carolina and the United States, progress on the development and implementation of the State Viticulture Plan, and any contracts or agreements entered into by the Council for research, education, or marketing.

"§ 143B 437.91.§ 106 755.2. North Carolina Wine and Grape Growers Council – Composition; terms; reimbursement.

(a) The North Carolina Wine and Grape Growers Council shall consist of 10 members who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce Commissioner of Agriculture as provided in this section. The members of the Council shall be divided into an advisory committee for the Vinifera Group and an advisory committee for the Muscadines Group for the purpose of performing the powers and duties prescribed in G.S. 143B 437.90 and for the purpose of promoting North Carolina wineries and tourism related to the wineries.

(b) Each advisory committee shall consist of five members, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce Commissioner of Agriculture to serve two year terms, which shall be staggered. The members appointed shall be chosen from among individuals who have education or experience in the wine industry or in the field of tourism. No member of an advisory committee may serve for more than two consecutive terms. Initial terms shall commence September 1, 2011.

(c) Each advisory committee shall meet at least twice each calendar year during which time each committee shall discuss issues related to the Council's powers and duties, including ways in which to promote and advertise North Carolina wineries and ways in which to improve, use, and distribute State maps showing winery locations. The Vinifera Group shall meet at the NC Shelton Badgett Viticulture Center at Surry Community College, and the Muscadines Group shall meet at Duplin Community College. After each meeting, each advisory committee shall report to the Secretary of Commerce Commissioner of Agriculture with its recommendations. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, committee members shall receive no salary, per diem, subsistence, travel reimbursement, or other stipend or reimbursement as a result of serving on their respective committees.

(d) Each advisory committee shall elect from the membership of each committee a chair and vice chair. Vacancies resulting from the resignation of a member or otherwise shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made, and the term shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. A majority of the members of each committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at meetings of each committee shall be necessary for action to be taken by the committee."
COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS

SECTION 13.10. Section 14.12A(a) of S.L. 2011 145 is repealed.

GRASSROOTS SCIENCE PROGRAM

SECTION 13.11. Section 14.11 of S.L. 2011 145 is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows:

"SECTION 14.11.(b1) Any reductions in funds in the 2012 2013 fiscal year shall be taken on a pro rata basis from the museums listed in subsection (b) of this section."
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS ALLOCATIONS

SECTION 13.12. Section 14.13 of S.L. 2011 145, as amended by Section 37 of S.L. 2011 391, reads as rewritten:

"REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS ALLOCATIONS

"SECTION 14.13.(a) Funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Commerce for regional economic development commissions shall be allocated to the following commissions in accordance with subsection (b) of this section: Western North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Southeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, Piedmont Triad Partnership, Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, North Carolina's Eastern Region Economic Development Partnership, and Carolinas Partnership, Inc.

"SECTION 14.13.(b) Funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be allocated to each regional economic development commission as follows:

(1) First, the Department shall establish each commission's allocation by determining the sum of allocations to each county that is a member of that commission. Each county's allocation shall be determined by dividing the county's development factor by the sum of the development factors for eligible counties and multiplying the resulting percentage by the amount of the appropriation. As used in this subdivision, the term "development factor" means a county's development factor as calculated under G.S. 143B 437.08; and

(2) Next, the Department shall subtract from funds allocated to the North Carolina's Eastern Region Economic Development Partnership the sum of one hundred seventy four thousand eight hundred ninety dollars ($174,890) one hundred sixty one thousand eight hundred sixty one dollars ($161,861) in the 2011 2012 2012 2013 fiscal year, which sum represents (i) the total interest earnings in the prior fiscal year on the estimated balance of the seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) appropriated to the Global TransPark Development Zone in Section 6 of Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws and (ii) the total interest earnings in the prior fiscal year on loans made from the seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) appropriated to the Global TransPark Development Zone in Section 6 of Chapter 561 of the 1993 Session Laws; and

(3) Next, the Department shall redistribute the sum of one hundred seventy four thousand eight hundred ninety dollars ($174,890) one hundred sixty one thousand eight hundred sixty one dollars ($161,861) in the 2011 2012 2012 2013 fiscal year to the seven regional economic development commissions named in subsection (a) of this section. Each commission's share of this redistribution shall be determined according to the development factor formula set out in subdivision (1) of this subsection. This redistribution shall be in addition to each commission's allocation determined under subdivision (1) of this subsection.

"SECTION 14.13.(c) No more than one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) in State funds shall be used for the annual salary of any one employee of a regional economic development commission.

"SECTION 14.13.(d) The General Assembly finds that successful economic development requires the collaboration of the State, regions of the State, counties, and municipalities. Therefore, the regional economic development commissions are encouraged to seek supplemental funding from their county and municipal partners to continue and enhance their efforts to attract and retain business in the State."

BIOFUELS CENTER OF NORTH CAROLINA