Identical to H 1100, filed 5/15/14.

Enacts new Part 2L to Article 10 of GS Chapter 143B. Enacts new GS 143B-437.110, creating the nine member Nature and Heritage Tourism Advisory Board (Advisory Board), located in the Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development of the Department of Commerce but exercising its authority independently of that Department.  Requires appointed members to have knowledge and experience of the nature and heritage tourism industry. Three members are to be appointed by the Governor, three by the Speaker of the House, and three by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.  Sets out terms of office, filling of vacancies, quorum threshold, staffing and expenses, and meeting times. Establishes the Advisory Board’s powers, including making recommendations on methods for increasing nature and heritage tourism in the state and methods on advertising the state’s nature and heritage tourism industry.

Directs the Department of Commerce, with the Department of Cultural Resources, the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to develop a guidebook on the State’s nature and heritage tourism sites. Sets out requirements for the guidebook and requires that it be available for free by October 1, 2015.

Appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce for the 2014-15 fiscal year to hire a consultant to perform specified tasks. Directs state agencies to cooperate with the consultant. Requires consultant to submit report to specified agencies by October 1, 2015. Report cannot contain recommendations to sell State properties or change the present use or character of State historic and cultural sites.  Requires report to at least address whether costs savings can be realized by allowing private entities to operate certain sites, and whether imposing certain cost saving measures should be adopted.

Effective July 1, 2014.