Bill Information:

AN ACT TO (1) PERMIT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO CONTRACT WITH A NORTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS; (2) MODIFY THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; (3) CREATE COLLABORATION FOR PROSPERITY ZONES; (4) REQUIRE CERTAIN LIAISONS IN EACH COLLABORATION FOR PROSPERITY ZONE; (5) STUDY COMMISSION ON INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION FOR PROSPERITY; (6) MODIFY REPEAL OF CERTAIN REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS; (7) AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ISSUE PERMITS ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2015, FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE USE OF HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING TREATMENTS FOR THAT PURPOSE; AND (8) PROVIDE A TAX FOR THE SEVERANCE OF ENERGY MINERALS FROM THE SOIL OR WATER OF THE STATE, REPEAL OUTDATED OIL AND GAS TAX STATUTES, AND AUTHORIZE THE SUSPENSION OF PERMITS FOR FAILURE TO FILE A RETURN FOR SEVERANCE TAXES.