SB 433 Summary

• Secretary of Department of Natural and Cultural Resources may adopt rules governing the North Carolina Zoological Park operation and may acquire, dispose of, and develop park property in accordance with American Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards.

• Seven specific violations of state park rules became infractions with $25 maximum penalty instead of Class 3 misdemeanors, effective December 1, 2019, including improper parking, skateboarding in prohibited areas, bathing animals, swimming in undesignated areas, glass items on beaches, boats in swimming areas, and fishing in nondesignated areas.

• Specific tracts of land at William B. Umstead State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, and Chimney Rock State Park were removed from the State Nature and Historic Preserve and deleted from the State Parks System, with restrictions limiting their sale or exchange only to fund park expansion.

• Department of Environmental Quality funds for coastal beach and dredging needs assessment may be used for dredge material management plans, and coastal storm damage mitigation funds may be used for any county under federal disaster declaration after January 1, 2016.

• State lease approval threshold increased from $25,000 to $40,000 annually, Department may partner with nonprofits to establish satellite museums, and septic tank site suitability determinations clarified pending related legislation.