Bill Summary for H 1073 (2017-2018)
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View NCGA Bill Details | 2017-2018 Session |
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE ON NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESS.Intro. by Strickland, Dixon, J. Bell, Brenden Jones.
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Bill summary
Includes whereas clauses.
Establishes the 17-member Blue Ribbon Task Force on Natural Gas Infrastructure and Access (Task Force) to review statutorily established funds available for development of natural gas infrastructure to enhance economic development and to make recommendations on whether funding changes are needed and whether additional funds are needed. Also requires the Task Force to examine any financial barriers to expansion or development of natural gas infrastructure and methods to incentivize extension of natural gas service. Sets out 15 issues that the Task Force must consider, at a minimum, including historic funding levels for the specified funds and historic expenditures from the funds, areas of the State in which additional natural gas infrastructure is needed to promote economic development, whether projects involving the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) should be considered infrastructure to enhance economic development eligible for receipt of moneys from the specified funds or eligible for receipt of moneys from any additional fund that may be recommended for establishment by the Task Force, and whether county governments should be given authority to issue bonds for development of natural gas infrastructure to promote economic development within their jurisdictions.
Sets out Task Force membership requirements, with five members of the House of Representatives recommended by the Speaker and five members of the Senate recommended by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, with each required to included a member of the minority party.
Provides for the naming of co-chairs and the provision of staff. Provides that if the Task Force contracts for a consultant, the consultant must not be a State employee or under contract with the State to provide services.
Requires the Task Force to consult with the departments of Commerce and Transportation, the Utilities Commission, the Local Government Commission, and the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Allows meetings to begin on or after July 1, 2018. Requires a final report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy on or before December 1, 2018, by filing a copy of the report with the Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy, and the Legislative Library. Terminates the Task Force on the earlier of December 1, 2019, or upon the filing of its final report.
Appropriates $10,000 in recurring funds for 2018-19 from the unappropriated balance remaining in the General Fund to support the Task Force.