AN ACT to create a study commission to develop a plan to attract Family amusement parks to the state.

Whereas, some state governments have recently begun to prioritize culture war politics over economic development; and

Whereas, North Carolina has proven to be a stable and vibrant environment for businesses, both large and small, to flourish; and

Whereas, the state government of North Carolina and its elected leaders from both political parties have prioritized economic development for the benefit of its citizens; and

Whereas, North Carolina seeks to further strengthen its tourism and entertainment industries by welcoming businesses considering relocation; and

Whereas, Bob Iger, the chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company, called actions taken by the state government of Florida anti‑business, on April 3, 2023; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Commission Created. – The North Carolina Family Amusement Park Study Commission (the Commission) is created.

SECTION 2.  Purpose. – The purpose of the Commission is to develop strategies that encourage family amusement parks (family parks) to locate in tier one counties by:

(1)        Studying and consulting major family parks outside of the State to determine (i) the amount of interest among family parks to expand into the State, (ii) the priorities of family parks when considering an expansion into a new state, and (iii) any other information relevant to developing a plan that recruits family parks and encourages them to expand into the State.

(2)        Coordinating with relevant State and local governments and agencies, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of Transportation, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, to develop strategic economic incentive plans designed to encourage family parks to expand or relocate into the State.

SECTION 3.  Membership. – The Commission shall consist of 11 members. The Governor shall appoint five members to the Commission, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members, the Secretary of Commerce shall appoint one member, and the Secretary of Transportation shall appoint one member. In the event a vacancy occurs on the Commission, the appointing authority that appointed the member that created the vacancy shall appoint a replacement.

SECTION 4.  Expenses of Members. – Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.

SECTION 5.  Cochairs; Meetings. – The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair of the Commission from among the respective appointees. The Commission shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or in the Legislative Office Building.

SECTION 6.  Staff. – The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The Senate's and the House of Representatives' Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.

SECTION 7.  Powers. – The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120-19.4. All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission with any information in the possession or available to them.

SECTION 8.  Report. – The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations by July 1, 2024, to the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee. The report may include draft legislation to implement its recommendations, along with an analysis of the fiscal impact of each recommendation. The Commission shall terminate upon filing its report.

SECTION 9.  Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Family Amusement Park Study Commission the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year for the cost of the Commission performing its work under this act.

SECTION 10.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.