S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: Section 13.13 of S.L. 2017-57 includes the following:

• Designates the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Collaboratory) as the entity to conduct the stakeholder process and study for the restoration of the shellfish industry required by the 2016 Appropriations Act and makes various technical changes to the study objectives and stakeholder group process.
• Directs the Collaboratory to prepare a Shellfish Mariculture Plan for the State that includes evaluation of best practices in other states and nations, analysis of siting strategies for shellfish mariculture operations, and recommendations for improvements to legal protections for mariculture operations, cultch planting, and strategies for control of shellfish pests.
• Further directs the Collaboratory, in consultation with various stakeholders, to develop conceptual plans and recommendations to promote the State's shellfish harvesting heritage, including the creation of a State Oyster Trail and a State Oyster Festival.

The Collaboratory is directed to present the plans and reports required by this provision to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the chairs of the corresponding budget committees no later than December 31, 2018 (note that S.L. 2017-197, Budget Technical Corrections, revised the Oyster Trail/Oyster Festival plan and recommendations reporting date to December 31, 2018).

This section became effective July 1, 2017.