HB 101 — Jackson County/Trout Capital of NC.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2017 H 21 HOUSE BILL 101* Committee Substitute Favorable 4/20/17 Short Title:

JacksonLocal County/TroutFirefighter CapitalRelief ofFund NC.Eligibility.

Representatives Clampitt and Saine (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

State and Local Government II, if favorable, Appropriations February 15, 2017 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ADOPTINGTO JACKSONPROVIDE COUNTYTHAT ASANY THEDESTITUTE TROUTFIREFIGHTER CAPITALSERVING OFHONORABLY THEWITH STATEA OFCERTIFIED NORTHFIRE CAROLINA.DEPARTMENT MAY RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM A LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF FUND.

Whereas,The JacksonGeneral CountyAssembly is home to the nation's First Fly Fishing Trail with 15 designated public spaces for fly fishing mapping prime spots to catch brown, rainbow, and brook trout in the crystal clear streams of JacksonNorth County;Carolina enacts:

and Whereas, Jackson County has the longest contiguous stretch of waters that have been designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, comprised of three cities of the 13 in the State with the distinction, making up 25% of the State's designated waters, with numerous unnamed waters also comprising the richest, most diverse, productive trout fisheries in North Carolina;

and Whereas, the waters of Jackson County are excellent resources for trout fishing and other enjoyable aquatic pastimes, with over 4,600 miles of beautiful water, and are annually stocked with 92,800 fish each year, the most of any county in North Carolina;

and Whereas, Jackson County is the location for one of the three largest rainbow trout ever caught and recorded in North Carolina;

and Whereas, people from around the country travel to fish the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County, which is the largest body of water in the county, flowing some 40 miles from southeast to northwest;

and Whereas, the Tuckasegee River's splendid all-season tailwater fishery has the conditions which provide a superior habitat for invertebrate and other trout prey and is regularly stocked with brown, rainbow, and brook trout;

and Whereas, the all-season fishing available in the Tuckasegee River and on the Qualla Boundary provides a varied alternative from other fisheries in North Carolina, with winter fishing providing the opportunity for bigger catches during colder months;

and Whereas, the miles of streams in Jackson County support the area's only native species, the eastern brook trout, which has been preserved, protected, and restored on public lands by the Department of Natural Resources, the United States Forest Service, and by conservation-minded groups like Trout Unlimited and Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture;

and Whereas, a significant portion of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation resides in Jackson County, which is the home of the famous trophy trout waters of the Raven Fork River featured on the WNC Fly Fishing Trail;

and Whereas, Jackson County is home to several trout ponds and farms, and many local restaurants proudly feature trout on their menus, in a gracious and friendly community environment;

and *H101-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2017 Whereas, Jackson County is blessed with significant aquatic waters for fishing, boating, and outdoor adventure, which encourages second home destinations, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts to the lovely State of North Carolina;

Now, therefore, The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

ChapterG.S. 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§58-84-35(a) 145-49.reads as rewritten:

Official"§ trout58-84-35. capital of the State of North Carolina.

JacksonDisbursement County is adopted as the official trout capital of thefunds Stateby oftrustees. North Carolina." SECTION 2.

This(a) actThe isboard effectiveof whentrustees itshall becomeshave law.entire control of the funds derived from the provisions of this Article, and shall disburse the funds only for the following purposes:

Page... 2 House Bill 101*-Second Edition

(2a) To provide assistance, upon approval by the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association, to a destitute member firefighter who has served or is serving honorably for at least five years.with a certified fire department.

The determination of destitute shall be based on the inability of the firefighters, through no fault of their own, to provide basic provisions to themselves or their families.

Such basic provisions include, but are not limited to, assistance with housing, vehicle or commuting expenses, food, clothing, utilities, medical care, and funeral expenses.

...." SECTION 2.

This act becomes effective July 1, 2017, and applies to distributions to local firefighters' relief funds on or after that date.

*H101-v-1*