Bill Summary for H 1002 (2015-2016)
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View NCGA Bill Details | 2015-2016 Session |
AN ACT TO PROVIDE STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY WITHIN THE STATE FERRY SYSTEM BY RESTORING STATE CONTROL TO THE SETTING OF FERRY TOLLS AND PROVIDING STATE FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STATE FERRY SYSTEMIntro. by Tine, L. Johnson, Torbett, Shepard.
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Bill summary
House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.
Amends GS 136-82 as follows. Adds that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to acquire, own, lease, charter or otherwise control all necessary vessels, boats, terminals or other facilities required for the proper operation of the ferries or to enter into contracts with persons, firms, or corporations for the operation thereof and to pay reasonable sums that DOT believes represents the fair value of the public service rendered. Also requires that DOT credit the proceeds of the receipt-generated activities specified in (f) to a reserve account with the Highway Fund for the State Ferry System (was, the proceeds were to be used exclusively for prioritized North Carolina Ferry System ferry passenger vessel replacement projects in the Division within which the proceeds are earned). Requires that the proceeds and funds credited to the reserve account be used for improvements to the State Ferry System, which includes the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of marine vessels used for support and the transport of persons or vehicles between Ferry System terminals, and the replacement and rehabilitation of infrastructure allowing connection to Ferry System terminals. States the General Assembly's intent to modernize the Ferry System fleet of marine vessels and requires DOT to dispose of a marine vessel that reaches the end of its useful life in a timely fashion. Requires the proceeds from the disposition of such a marine vessel to be credited to the reserve account. Requires DOT to report to the chairs of the House Committee on Transportation Appropriations and the Senate Appropriation Committee on the Department of Transportation before acquiring or constructing a marine vessel. If the General Assembly is not in session at the time that the report is to be submitted, requires that the report be made to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee instead. Specifies what is to be included in the report. Requires the DOT Ferry Division to provide a quarterly report, beginning October 1, 2016, to the specified legislative entities (which vary depending on whether the General Assembly is in session) on any update to its capital improvement plan, any actions taken in deviation from the current plan, the status of authorized projects, and any obligations and expenses for the reserve accounts. Makes additional clarifying and technical changes.
Makes conforming changes to GS 143B-350, removing ferries from the Equipment Fund.
Repeals GS 136-189.10(2)(h), thereby removing the replacement of state-maintained ferry vessels from those included in Division needs projects.
Requires that any funds remaining in the reserve accounts described in now deleted GS 136-82(d) as of the effective date of the act be used for any costs associated with the initiation of passenger-only ferry service on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route (was, used for the rehabilitation and replacement of vessels and infrastructure at the North Carolina State Shipyard and the system terminals).
Authorizes DOT to adopt temporary rules to administer the act.
Deletes the appropriation made in the previous edition and instead appropriates $13,376,250 in recurring funds for 2016-17 from the Highway Fund to DOT to be allocated to the reserve account for the State Ferry System.
Changes the act's long title.