NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1002

HOUSE BILL 70

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR AN ANIMAL DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY IN NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, the 14 counties in northwestern North Carolina contain 27 percent (27%) of the cattle population and 36 percent (36%) of the chicken population of the State; and

Whereas, these percentages have increased over the five years for which statistics are available; and

Whereas, approximately three percent (3%) of the State swine population is in these counties; and

Whereas, these counties are currently served by a branch laboratory at North Wilkesboro which is equipped only for the diagnostic diseases of poultry; and

Whereas, the nearest all-species facility laboratory is in Asheville and is not readily accessible because of the mountainous terrain; and

Whereas, the people of the northwestern 14 counties need an animal disease diagnostic laboratory located in the area; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 1981-82 fiscal year for the purpose of purchasing land for building and equipping an animal disease diagnostic laboratory in northwestern North Carolina.

Sec. 2. The County of Surry is authorized to acquire and transfer to the State pursuant to G.S. 160A-274 a tract of land located in Surry County in the vicinity of the Town of Elkin, at the intersection of Interstate 77 and N.C. 268, for the purpose of establishing an animal diagnostic laboratory for the northwestern counties of the State on the site.

Sec. 3. This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 9th day of October, 1981.