H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 14.30: Consolidate All State Attractions within Department of Cultural Resources to Create the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Sec. 14.30 of S.L. 2015-241, as amended by Sec. 5.4 of S.L. 2015-268 and Sec. 54 of S.L. 2015-264, reorganizes the Department of Cultural Resources (DCR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) by transferring the following divisions, programs, councils, and committees from DENR to DCR:

• Division of Parks and Recreation.
• State Parks System.
• North Carolina Aquariums Division.
• North Carolina Zoological Park.
• Museum of Natural Sciences.
• Clean Water Management Trust Fund.
• The Natural Heritage Program within DENR's Office of Land and Water Stewardship.
• North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority.
• North Carolina Trails Committee.
• North Carolina Zoological Park Council.
• Advisory Committee for the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences.
• Clean Water Management Trust Fund Board of Trustees.

DCR is renamed the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), and DENR is renamed the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The Secretary of DEQ must inventory and compile all written and stated policies related to the attractions and programs transferred under this section and provide that compilation to the Secretary of DNCR.

The Office of State Budget and Management must make an interim report by January 1, 2016, and a final report by April 1, 2016, to the General Assembly regarding its progress in implementing the reorganization, including the movement of position and funds and suggestions for additional changes needed to statutes amended or recodified by this section.

This section became effective July 1, 2015.