North Carolina § 106-820 - Title.

§ 106-820. Title.

This Article may be cited as the Horse Industry Promotion Act. History (1998-154, s. 1.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2007-323, s. 13.14A(a)-(d), provides: "(a) Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2007-2008 fiscal year shall be allocated to the Agricultural Advancement Consortium for the purpose of assessing the numbers, composition, and value of the equine industry in North Carolina, analyzing the direct and indirect impact of the industry on the State's economy, and developing a comprehensive plan to maximize the economic opportunities presented by the industry. "(b) The assessment of the equine industry shall provide data on both a statewide and countywide basis. The assessment shall include the following: "(1) A census of equines in the State, including numbers, breeds, and disciplines. "(2) The value of equines in the State. "(3) The number of equine owners. "(4) The number of equine operations. "(5) The size of equine operations. "(6) The total acreage devoted to equine operations. "(7) The value of equine-related assets. "(8) The number of equines and owners participating in various activities within the State. "(9) An analysis of the economic impact of the existing exhibition facilities including the Hunt Horse Complex, the Senator Bob Martin Horse Complex, the WNC Agricultural Center, and the Carolina Horse Park. "(10) An analysis of the programs, contributions, and industry support provided by the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and other equine programs, at both private and public education institutions including the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, Martin Community College, and St. Andrews College. "(11) An analysis of the economic impact of breeding, training, and other horse operations. "(12) An analysis of the economic impact of services provided to the equine industry including farrier, veterinary, design and planning, farm management and consulting, show management, and other services related to equines and equine operations. "(13) An analysis of the economic impact, including manufacturing, agricultural production and employment, and wholesale and retail sales, of the purchase of equines, feed and grain, hay, tack and other horse equipment, riding clothes, insurance, vehicles and trailers, farm and pasture inputs, capital improvements such as barns, sheds, and fencing, and real estate, including planned equestrian communities. "(14) An analysis of the economic impact of other recreational uses of equines, including trail riding, camping with horses, therapeutic riding programs, other recreational activities, and equine-related agritourism. "(15) An analysis of the impact of the equine industry on State and local governments including the generation of tax revenues. "(c) The Agricultural Advancement Consortium, in developing a plan to maximize the economic impact of the equine industry, shall: "(1) Evaluate existing equine-related facilities, programs, and services in the State and make recommendations for enhancing those facilities, programs, and services so as to maximize their economic impact on the State. "(2) Identify opportunities for the growth of the equine industry, including the production of feed crops, improved pasture, and high quality horse hays, attracting industry engaged in the production of horse-related products, equipment, and pharmaceuticals, the addition of exhibition and show facilities, including the development of a world-class equestrian park, and other horse-related programs, activities, and facilities, and evaluate the potential economic contribution to the State's economy of each of these potential undertakings. "(3) Evaluate the need to create an equine industry board tasked with the market development, education, publicity, research, and promotion of the North Carolina equine industry and other such measures it deems appropriate to promote the objectives, findings, and recommendations of the equine industry survey and analysis. "(4) Evaluate the laws, rules, and policies that impact equine owners and persons engaged in equine activities, including land-use policies, preservation of trails, use of State recreational facilities, and tax credits and make recommendations directed toward making North Carolina more attractive to equine operations and activities. "(d) The Agricultural Advancement Consortium may contract with other agencies of State government, any of the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, and private consultants as it deems necessary and advisable in its conduct of the assessment and plan development. The Agricultural Advancement Consortium shall complete its work within 12 months of the funds becoming available and shall file a report containing the results of the assessment of the equine industry and its plan for maximizing the economic impact of the equine industry with the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Committees." Session Laws 2007-323, s. 1.2, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2007'." Session Laws 2007-323, s. 32.3, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2007-323, s. 32.5 is a severability clause.