GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 992

Short Title:      Azalea Festival/Official Spring Celebration.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representative Davis. For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to:	State and Local Government II

May 24, 2018

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT adopting the north carolina azalea festival as the official celebration of spring in the state of north carolina and appropriating funds to promote the festival.

Whereas, the North Carolina Azalea Festival is held annually in Wilmington during April and has celebrated the season of spring continuously since 1948; and

Whereas, the mission of the North Carolina Azalea Festival is to be nationally recognized as a showcase for the community's rich array of artwork, gardens, history, and culture through recreational, educational, and family‑oriented events. The Festival encourages volunteerism and civic participation as it contributes to the region's economy and promotes the unique qualities of Wilmington's river‑to‑the‑sea community; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has an annual economic impact of over $50 million to Wilmington and the surrounding region; and

Whereas, every year, the North Carolina Azalea Festival brings in nationally recognized touring artists and guests to enjoy the southern charm and hospitality of Wilmington and the City's one million azaleas; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Azalea Festival is regularly selected as a Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Event in April; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has won numerous international awards through the International Festivals and Events Association; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Azalea Festival's volunteers won the Governor's Medallion for Volunteer Service in 2017 for their dedication to this annual springtime community event; and

Whereas, each year, the Governor of North Carolina proclaims the Azalea Festival dates in honor of the North Carolina Azalea Festival and commends its observance to all North Carolina citizens; and

Whereas, the North Carolina Azalea Festival should be adopted as the official celebration of spring in the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 145‑49.  Official celebration of spring.

The North Carolina Azalea Festival is adopted as the official celebration of spring in the State of North Carolina."

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the 2018‑2019 fiscal year in nonrecurring funds to promote the official celebration of spring as established in Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2018, and the remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.