AN ACT to study THE HOLDING OF BULLION AND VIRTUAL CURRENCY AND THEIR POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND whether to establish A north carolina bullion depository FOR SUCH ASSETS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of State Treasurer shall conduct a study that examines (i) the process of acquiring, securely storing, insuring, and liquidating any investment metal bullion as defined in G.S. 105‑164.13(69), such as gold, and virtual currency as defined in G.S. 53‑208.42(20), such as Bitcoin, that may be held on behalf of the State, (ii) the expected impact of allocating a portion of the General Fund to investment metal bullion and virtual currency to hedge against inflation and systemic credit risks, reduce overall portfolio volatility, and increase portfolio returns over time, and (iii) the costs, benefits, and security of utilizing a privately managed depository or another state's depository or creating a State‑administered depository in North Carolina to serve as the custodian, guardian, and administrator of certain investment metal bullion and virtual currency that may be transferred to or otherwise acquired by this State or an agency, a political subdivision, or another instrumentality of this State and to provide a repository for investors to use for such assets. The Department of State Treasurer shall report on the results of the study, along with any legislative or other recommendations, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations by January 1, 2024.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of State Treasurer the nonrecurring sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year to conduct the study required by this act.

SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2023. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.