§ 143-254.7.  Appropriation and emergency power to combat Chronic Wasting Disease; report.

(a) Emergency Appropriation. - If the Commission determines that an outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease in the State constitutes a significant threat to deer and other cervid species, the Commission may declare a wildlife emergency. Upon declaration of the wildlife emergency, the Commission shall request needed additional funding for immediate investigation, containment, and eradication of the outbreak from the Contingency and Emergency Fund to the Council of State for approval following the process set forth in G.S. 143C-4-4(c). The approved funds will be allocated by the State Controller to a special fund called the Chronic Wasting Disease Emergency Response Fund (CWD Response Fund). Funds allocated to the CWD Response Fund are appropriated to the Wildlife Resources Commission for the purposes for which the funds are requested and approved. The Commission shall request any federal funds available to combat Chronic Wasting Disease in cervids, and any such funds obtained will be used to offset State funds appropriated under this section to the extent allowed by applicable law. The Commission will inform the Office of State Budget and Management of the amount of State funds offset by federal funds, and the Office of State Budget and Management shall direct the State Controller to transfer these funds from the CWD Response Fund to the Contingency and Emergency Fund upon receipt of the federal funds.

(b) Report. - No later than September 15 of each year in which the Commission receives State funds to combat, monitor, or contain an outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease appropriated either under this section or in any other enactment of the General Assembly, the Director shall submit a report on the activities conducted with the funds during the prior fiscal year to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Fiscal Research Division. The report shall include the following with respect to each Chronic Wasting Disease initiative or activity funded during the previous fiscal year:

(1) Identification of the source of the funds used for the initiative or activity.

(2) The goals and outcomes for the initiative or activity.

(3) A description of the measures used or data collected to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the initiative or activity in reaching its desired goals and outcomes.

(4) The performance of each initiative or activity with respect to the identified goals and outcomes. (2021-160, s. 7(a); 2022-74, s. 15.1.)