AN ACT to appropriate funds to the department of natural and cultural resources for projects at the fort fisher state historic site.

Whereas, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site is the most visited State Historic Site; and

Whereas, many of Fort Fisher's visitors are school groups from New Hanover County; groups from summer camp programs, such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Junior ROTC; nursing homes; military groups; families; and other tourists; and

Whereas, to accommodate the visitors at Fort Fisher, funds are needed to build a new visitor center, which will provide additional space for exhibits, a larger auditorium to handle several school groups at once, a multipurpose space for classrooms, storage facilities for archives, and rental space for additional income; and

Whereas, funds are also needed to expand Fort Fisher's earthworks exhibit, upgrade its parking lot, and build a new maintenance facility; and

Whereas, additional funds are needed to plan facilities for the Underwater Archaeology Branch to be located on the grounds of the Fort Fisher State Historic Site to preserve the State's maritime history; and

Whereas, funding for the last installment of eight million dollars for the 2019‑2021 fiscal year was included in the State's budget for the 2019‑2021 fiscal biennium; however, the State's budget was vetoed, the funds were not received by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History, and the projects could not proceed; and

Whereas, because of the delay, the cost of various capital projects at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site has increased; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History, the sum of nine million five hundred thousand dollars ($9,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year to complete various capital projects at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Historical Resources, Office of State Archaeology, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year to plan facilities for the Underwater Archaeology Branch to be located on the grounds of the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.