NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1969 SESSION

CHAPTER 840

SENATE BILL 472

AN ACT CREATING A TOBACCO MUSEUM AND ESTABLISHING A BOARD TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE THE MUSEUM.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

WHEREAS, tobacco is the most important crop, economically, grown in this State; and

WHEREAS, Rockingham, Nash and Edgecombe Counties have long been leaders in and important to the tobacco industry in this State; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1.  There is hereby created the Tobacco Museum Board, an agency of the State, composed of eighteen (18) members. The Director of the Department of Conservation and Development and the Director of the Department of Archives and History shall be ex officio members of the Board. The initial members of the Board shall be appointed by and serve for terms as follows: Three members shall be selected by the Rockingham County Historical Society, two of whom shall serve for terms of two years, and one of whom shall serve for the term of one year. Three members shall be selected by the Nash and Edgecombe County Historical Societies, two of whom shall serve for the term of one year and one of whom shall serve for the term of two years. Four members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, two of whom shall serve for terms of one year and two of whom shall serve for terms of two years. Four members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall serve for terms of one year and two of whom shall serve for terms of two years. Two members shall be appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall serve for one year and one of whom shall serve for two years. After the terms of the initial members of the Board expire, all members of the Board shall serve for terms of two years. Members of the Board shall be eligible to serve for successive terms and shall serve without pay and without expense allowance.

Sec. 2.  The Board shall select its own Chairman and Vice Chairman who shall serve for terms of one year. A quorum for any meeting of the Board shall be nine members.

Sec. 3.  It shall be the duty of the Board to establish, supervise, manage and maintain the Tobacco Museums. The Board may establish a reasonable fee for viewing the Museums which fees shall be used to defray the expenses of the Museums. To accomplish these purposes, the Board shall have authority to buy and sell real and personal property and to accept donations of real or personal property from any source. The Board shall not contract any debt in its purchase of real or personal property.

Sec. 4.  One of the Tobacco Museums shall be located within Rockingham County at a site to be determined by the Board, and shall emphasize the history and development of tobacco manufacturing. One of the Tobacco Museums shall be located in Nash or Edgecombe Counties at a site to be determined by the Board and shall emphasize the history and development of growing and marketing of tobacco.

Sec. 5.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 6.  This Act shall be effective July 1, 1969.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 30th day of June, 1969.