reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 26 - Regional Public Transportation Authority. › § 160A-623 - Regional Transportation Authority registration tax.

§ 160A-623. Regional Transportation Authority registration tax.
In accordance with Article 51 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, an Authority organized under this Article may levy an annual license tax upon any motor vehicle with a tax situs within its territorial jurisdiction as defined by G.S. 160A-602. A tax levied under this section before the enactment of Article 51 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes is considered a tax levied under Article 51 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes. (1991, c. 666, s. 2; 1993, c. 382, s. 1; c. 485, s. 28; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 761, s. 34; 1997-417, s. 5.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 26 - Regional Public Transportation Authority. › § 160A-624 - Recommendation of additional revenue sources.

§ 160A-624. Recommendation of additional revenue sources.
The Authority may make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning additional revenue sources, including, but not limited to:
(1) Annual vehicle registration fees;
(2) Ad valorem taxes;
(3) Local land transfer taxes;
(4) Drivers license fees;
(5) Sales taxes on automobile parts and accessories; and
(6) Motor fuels taxes.
Any additional revenue sources for an Authority must be approved by the General Assembly. (1991, c. 666, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 26 - Regional Public Transportation Authority. › § 160A-625 - Reports to the General Assembly.

§ 160A-625. Reports to the General Assembly.
The Authority shall annually submit to the General Assembly, on or before February 1, its annual operating report, including a report of its administrative expenditures, and its audited financial report. In odd-numbered years, the report shall be submitted to the Senate and House Transportation Committees. In even-numbered years, the report shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee. (1993, c. 382, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 26 - Regional Public Transportation Authority. › § 160A-627 - Civil liability.

§ 160A-627. Civil liability.
Except as provided in G.S. 160A-626, the Authority shall be deemed a city for purposes of civil liability pursuant to G.S. 160A-485. Governmental immunity of the Authority is waived to a minimum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) per single accident or incident. The Authority shall maintain a minimum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) per single accident or incident of liability insurance. Participation in a local government risk pool pursuant to Article 23 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes shall be deemed to be the purchase of insurance for the purpose of this section. (2005-160, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-631 - Definitions.

§ 160A-631. Definitions.
As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Authority" means a Regional Transportation Authority as defined by subdivision (6) of this section.
(2) "Board of Trustees" means the governing board of the Authority, in which the general legislative powers of the Authority are vested.
(3) "Population" means the number of persons residing in respective areas as defined and enumerated in the most recent decennial federal census.
(4) "Public transportation" means transportation of passengers whether or not for hire by any means of conveyance, including, but not limited to, a street or elevated railway or guideway, subway, motor vehicle or motor bus, carpool or vanpool, either publicly or privately owned and operated, holding itself out to the general public for the transportation of persons within or working within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority, excluding charter, tour, or sight-seeing service.
(5) "Public transportation system" means, without limitation, a combination of real and personal property, structures, improvements, buildings, equipment, vehicle parking, or other facilities, railroads and railroad rights-of-way whether held in fee simple by quitclaim or easement, and rights-of-way, or any combination thereof, used or useful for the purposes of public transportation. "Public transportation system" however, does not include streets, roads, or highways except those for ingress and egress to vehicle parking.
(6) "Regional Transportation Authority," means a body corporate and politic organized in accordance with the provisions of this Article for the purposes, with the powers and subject to the restrictions hereinafter set forth.
(7) "Unit of local government" means any county, city, town or municipality of this State, and any other political subdivision, public corporation, Authority, or district in this State, which is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, own, and operate public transportation systems.
(8) "Unit of local government's chief administrative official" means the county manager, city manager, town manager, or other person, by whatever title he shall be known, in whom the responsibility for the unit of local government's administrative duties is vested. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-632 - Definition of territorial jurisdiction of Authority.

§ 160A-632. Definition of territorial jurisdiction of Authority.
An authority may be created for the area of any Metropolitan Planning Organization of the State that, at the time of creation of the authority, meets the following criteria, such area being the initial territorial jurisdiction of the Authority:
(1) The area consists of all or part of five counties, all five counties of which form a contiguous territory;
(2) At least two of those counties are contiguous to each other and each have a population of 250,000 or over; and
(3) The other three counties each have a population of 100,000 or over. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-633 - Creation of Authority.

§ 160A-633. Creation of Authority.
(a) The city councils of the four largest cities within an area for which an authority may be created as defined in G.S. 160A-632 may by resolution signify their determination to organize an authority under the provisions of this Article. Each of such resolutions shall be adopted after a public hearing thereon, notice of which hearing shall be given by publication at least once, not less than 10 days prior to the date fixed for such hearing, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county. Such notice shall contain a brief statement of the substance of the proposed resolution, shall set forth the proposed articles of incorporation of the Authority and shall state the time and place of the public hearing to be held thereof. No city shall be required to make any other publication of such resolution under the provisions of any other law.
(b) Each such resolution shall include articles of incorporation which shall set forth:
(1) The name of the authority;
(2) A statement that such authority is organized under this Article; and
(3) The names of the four organizing cities.
(c) A certified copy of each of such resolutions signifying the determination to organize an authority under the provisions of this Article shall be filed with the Secretary of State, together with proof of publication of the notice of hearing on each of such resolutions. If the Secretary of State finds that the resolutions, including the articles of incorporation, conform to the provisions of this Article and that the notices of hearing were properly published, he shall file such resolutions and proofs of publication in his office and shall issue a certificate of incorporation under the seal of the State and shall record the same in an appropriate book of record in his office. The issuance of such certificate of incorporation by the Secretary of State shall constitute the Authority, a public body and body politic and corporate of the State of North Carolina. Said certificate of incorporation shall be conclusive evidence of the fact that such authority has been duly created and established under the provisions of this Article.
(d) When the Authority has been duly organized and its officers elected as herein provided, the secretary of the Authority shall certify to the Secretary of State the names and addresses of such officers as well as the address of the principal office of the Authority.
(e) The Authority may become a Designated Recipient pursuant to the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-634 - Territorial jurisdiction and service area of the Authority.

§ 160A-634. Territorial jurisdiction and service area of the Authority.
(a) The territorial jurisdiction and service area of the Authority shall be as determined by the Board of Trustees consistent with its purpose, but shall initially consist of those areas included within the Metropolitan Planning Organization boundaries. With the consent by resolution of the affected board of county commissioners, the jurisdiction and area may be expanded to include contiguous areas, but the total jurisdiction and service area shall not exceed part or all of 12 counties. The jurisdiction and area include the entire area of the county if the Board of Trustees has been expanded to include the chair or other member of the board of commissioners of that county pursuant to G.S. 160A-635(a)(4).
(b) Except as provided by this Article, the jurisdiction of the Authority may include all local public passenger transportation operating within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority, but the Authority may not take over the operation of any existing public transportation without the consent of the owner.
(c) The Authority shall not have jurisdiction over public transportation subject to the jurisdiction of and regulated by the United States Department of Transportation, nor shall it have jurisdiction over intrastate public transportation classified as common carriers of passengers by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. (1997-393, s. 1; 1999-445, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-635 - Membership; officers; compensation.

§ 160A-635. Membership; officers; compensation.
(a) The governing body of an authority is the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall consist of:
(1) The mayor of the four cities within the service area that have the largest population, or a member of the city council designated by the city council to serve in the absence of the mayor.
(2) At least two, but not more than three, members of the Board of Transportation appointed by the Secretary of Transportation. Members appointed under this subdivision shall be (i) division members from a highway division or highway divisions located wholly or partially within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority, (ii) at-large members who represent or have an expertise in mass transit and reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority, or (iii) a combination of division members and at-large members meeting the requirements set forth in this subdivision.
(3) The chair of each Metropolitan Planning Organization or a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization designated by the Metropolitan Planning Organization in the territorial jurisdiction.
(4) The chair of the board of commissioners of any county within the territorial jurisdiction or a member of the board of commissioners designated by the board to serve in the absence of the chair, but only if the Board of Trustees by resolution has expanded the Board of Trustees to include the chair of the board of commissioners of that county and the board of commissioners of that county has consented by resolution.
(5) The chair of the principal airport authority or airport commission of each of the two most populous counties within the territorial jurisdiction, as determined by the most recent decennial federal census. The chair of the airport authority or airport commission may appoint a designee. The designee is not required to be a member of the airport authority or airport commission.
(b) The members appointed by the Secretary of Transportation shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
(c) Service on the Board of Trustees may be in addition to any other office which a person is entitled to hold. Each member of the Board of Trustees may hold elective public office as defined by G.S. 128-1.1(d).
(d) Members of the Board of Trustees shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority as defined by G.S. 160A-634.
(e) The Board of Trustees shall annually elect from its membership a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
(f) Members of the Board of Trustees shall receive the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) as compensation for attendance at each duly conducted meeting of the Authority. (1997-393, s. 1; 1999-445, s. 2; 2004-203, s. 56; 2005-322, s. 1; 2016-54, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-636 - Voting; action by the Board of Trustees.

§ 160A-636. Voting; action by the Board of Trustees.
(a) Quorum. – A majority of the membership of the Board of Trustees, excluding vacant seats, shall constitute a quorum. A member who has withdrawn from a meeting without being excused by majority vote of the remaining members present shall be counted as present for purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present. No member shall be excused from voting except upon matters involving the consideration of the member's own financial interest or official conduct or on matters on which the member is prohibited from voting under any other provision of law.
(b) Action. – An affirmative vote equal to a majority of all the members of the Board of Trustees not excused from voting on the question in issue shall be required to authorize or commit the expenditure of public funds, or make, ratify, or authorize any contract on behalf of the Authority. (1997-393, s. 1; 2016-54, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-638 - Purpose of the Authority.

§ 160A-638. Purpose of the Authority.
The purpose of the authority is to enhance the quality of life in its territorial jurisdiction by promoting the development of sound transportation systems which provide transportation choices, enhance mobility, accessibility, and safety, encourage economic development and sound growth patterns, and protect the man-made and natural environments of the region. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-639.1 - Duties of the chief administrative officer; appointment of clerk.

§ 160A-639.1. Duties of the chief administrative officer; appointment of clerk.
(a) Duties. – The chief administrative officer employed by the Authority in accordance with G.S. 160A-639 shall be responsible to the Board of Trustees for administering all matters placed in his or her charge by the Board of Trustees and shall have all of the following powers and duties:
(1) To hire, appoint, suspend, or remove any employee of the Authority, provided that nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as superseding or altering any other provision of law governing the suspension or removal of an employee of the Authority.
(2) To direct and supervise all employees of the Authority and the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies of the Authority, subject to the general direction and control of the Board of Trustees and except as otherwise provided by law.
(3) To attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees and recommend any measures he or she deems expedient.
(4) To see that all laws of the State are faithfully executed.
(5) To prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to the Board of Trustees.
(6) To annually submit to the Board of Trustees and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the Authority as of the end of the fiscal year.
(7) To make any other reports that the Board of Trustees may require concerning the operations of the Authority.
(8) To perform any other duties that may be required or authorized by the Board of Trustees.
(b) Clerk. – In addition to the duties set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the chief administrative officer shall designate an employee of the Authority as clerk, whose duties shall include all of the following:
(1) Provide notice of meetings of the Board of Trustees.
(2) Keep a journal of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees.
(3) Be the custodian of all Authority records.
(4) Perform any other duties that may be required by law or the Board of Trustees. (2016-54, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-640 - Authority of Utilities Commission not affected.

§ 160A-640. Authority of Utilities Commission not affected.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, nothing in this Article shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the power or authority of the North Carolina Utilities Commission or the right of appeal to the North Carolina Utilities Commission as provided by law.
(b) The North Carolina Utilities Commission shall not have jurisdiction over rates, fees, charges, routes, and schedules of an Authority for service within its territorial jurisdiction. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-642 - Funds.

§ 160A-642. Funds.
The establishment and operation of an Authority are governmental functions and constitute a public purpose, and the State of North Carolina and any unit of local government may appropriate funds to support the establishment and operation of the Authority. The State of North Carolina and any unit of local government may also dedicate, sell, convey, donate, or lease any of their interests in any property to the Authority. An Authority may apply for grants from the State of North Carolina, or from the United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof. The Department of Transportation may allocate to an Authority any funds appropriated for transportation, or any funds whose use is not restricted by law. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-644 - Effect on existing franchises and operations.

§ 160A-644. Effect on existing franchises and operations.
Creation of the Authority shall not have an effect on any existing franchises granted by any unit of local government; such existing franchises shall continue in full force and effect until legally terminated; further, all ordinances and resolutions of the unit of local government regulating local public transportation systems, bus operations, and taxicabs shall continue in full force and effect now and in the future, unless superseded by regulations of the Authority; such superseding, if any, may occur only on the basis of prior mutual agreement between the Authority and the respective unit of local government. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-645 - Termination.

§ 160A-645. Termination.
The Board of Trustees may terminate the existence of the Authority at any time when it has no outstanding indebtedness. In the event of such termination, all property and assets of the Authority not otherwise encumbered shall automatically become the property of the State of North Carolina, and the State of North Carolina shall succeed to all rights, obligations, and liabilities of the Authority. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-647 - Bonds and notes authorized.

§ 160A-647. Bonds and notes authorized.
In addition to the powers granted by this Article, the Authority may issue bonds and notes pursuant to the provisions of The State and Local Government Revenue Bond Act, Article 5 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, for the purpose of financing public transportation systems or any part thereof and to refund such bonds and notes, whether or not in advance of their maturity or earliest redemption date. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-648 - Equipment trust certificates.

§ 160A-648. Equipment trust certificates.
In addition to the powers here and before granted, the Authority shall have continuing power to purchase equipment, and in connection therewith execute agreements, leases with or without option to purchase, or equipment trust certificates. All money required to be paid by the Authority under the provisions of such agreements, leases with or without option to purchase, and equipment trust certificates shall be payable solely from the fares, fees, rentals, charges, revenues, and earnings of the Authority, monies derived from the sale of any surplus property of the Authority and gifts, grants, and contributions from any source whatever. Payment for such equipment or rentals therefore, may be made in installments; the deferred installments may be evidenced by equipment trust certificates payable solely from the aforesaid revenues or receipts, and title to such equipment may or may not vest in the Authority until the equipment trust certificates are paid. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-649 - Power of eminent domain.

§ 160A-649. Power of eminent domain.
(a) The Authority shall have continuing power to acquire, by gift, grant, devise, exchange, purchase, lease with or without option to purchase, or any other lawful method, including, but not limited to, the power of eminent domain, the fee or any lesser interest in real or personal property for use by the Authority.
(b) Exercise of the power of eminent domain by the Authority shall be in accordance with Chapter 40A of the General Statutes. (1997-393, s. 1; 2011-284, s. 122.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-650 - Tax exemption.

§ 160A-650. Tax exemption.
The property of the Authority, both real and personal, its acts, activities, and income shall be exempt from any tax or tax obligation; in the event of any lease of Authority property, or other arrangement which amounts to a leasehold interest, to a private party, this exemption shall not apply to the value of such leasehold interest nor shall it apply to the income of the lessee. Otherwise, however, for the purpose of taxation, when property of the Authority is leased to private parties solely for the purpose of the Authority, the acts and activities of the lessee shall be considered as the acts and activities of the Authority and the exemption. The interest on bonds or obligations issued by the Authority shall be exempt from State taxes. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 27 - Regional Transportation Authority. › § 160A-651 - Removal and relocation of utility structures.

§ 160A-651. Removal and relocation of utility structures.
(a) The Authority shall have the power to require any public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation owning or operating any installations, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities in, upon, under, over, across or along any ways on which the Authority has the right to own, construct, operate, or maintain its public transportation system, to relocate such installation, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities from their locations, or, in the sole discretion of the affected public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation, to remove such installations, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities from their locations.
(b) If the owner or operator thereof fails or refuses to relocate them, the Authority may proceed to do so.
(c) The Authority shall provide any necessary new locations and necessary real estate interests for such relocation, and for that purpose the power of eminent domain as provided in G.S. 160A-649 may be exercised provided the new locations shall not be in, on or above, a public highway; the Authority may also acquire the necessary new locations by purchase or otherwise.
(d) Any affected public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation shall be compensated for any real estate interest taken in a manner consistent with G.S. 160A-649, subject to the right of the Authority to reduce the compensation due by the value of any property exchanged under this section.
(e) The method and procedures of a particular adjustment to the facilities of a public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation shall be covered by an agreement between the Authority and the affected party or parties.
(f) The Authority shall reimburse the public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation, for the cost of relocations or removals which shall be the entire amount paid or incurred by the utility properly attributable thereto after deducting the cost of any increase in the service capacity of the new installations, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities and any salvage value derived from the old installations, structures, equipment, apparatus or appliances. (1997-393, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-661 - Purpose; definitions.

§ 160A-661. Purpose; definitions.
(a) The purpose of a district created under this Article is to enhance the quality of life in its territorial jurisdiction by promoting the development of natural gas systems to enhance the economic development of the area.
(b) The following definitions apply in this Article:
(1) Board of Trustees. – The governing board of the district in which the general legislative powers of the district are vested.
(2) District. – A regional natural gas district.
(3) Natural gas system. – A gas production, storage, transmission and distribution system, or any part or parts thereof.
(4) Regional natural gas district. – A public body and body politic and corporate of the State of North Carolina organized in accordance with the provisions of this Article exercising public and essential governmental functions to provide for the preservation and promotion of the public welfare for the purposes, with the powers, and subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article.
(5) Unit of local government. – Any county, city, town, or municipality of this State, and any other political subdivision, public corporation, or district in this State, that is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, own, or operate natural gas systems.
(6) Unit of local government's chief administrative official. – The county manager, city manager, town manager, or other person, by whatever title known, in whom the responsibility for the unit of local government's administrative duties is vested. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-662 - Territorial jurisdiction and service area of district.

§ 160A-662. Territorial jurisdiction and service area of district.
(a) A district may be created for one or more entire counties that are totally unserved with natural gas and in which a specific natural gas project has not been approved by the Utilities Commission at the time of creation of the district. A letter from the Utilities Commission to this effect shall conclusively establish that the area is totally unserved and that a project has not been approved. This area is the territorial jurisdiction and the service area of the district.
(b) The creation of a district does not confer on the district the exclusive right to provide natural gas service in that territorial jurisdiction. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-664 - Membership; officers; compensation.

§ 160A-664. Membership; officers; compensation.
(a) The governing body of a district is the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall consist of members as provided in the articles of incorporation.
(b) Service on the Board of Trustees may be in addition to any other office which a person is entitled to hold. Each voting member of the Board of Trustees may hold elective public office as defined by G.S. 128-1.1(d).
(c) Members of the Board of Trustees shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the district as defined by G.S. 160A-662.
(d) The Board of Trustees shall annually elect from its membership a Chair and a Vice-Chair and shall annually elect a Secretary and a Treasurer.
(e) Members of the Board of Trustees shall receive a sum not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) as compensation for attendance at each duly conducted meeting of the district. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-669 - Funds.

§ 160A-669. Funds.
The establishment and operation of a district is a public purpose, and the State of North Carolina and any unit of local government may appropriate funds to support the establishment and operation of the district. The State of North Carolina and any unit of local government may also dedicate, sell, convey, donate, or lease any of their interests in any property to the district. A district may apply for grants from the State of North Carolina, or from the United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof. The Department of Commerce may allocate to a district any funds appropriated for natural gas. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-670 - Effect on existing franchises and operations.

§ 160A-670. Effect on existing franchises and operations.
Creation of the district does not affect any existing franchises granted by any unit of local government. Those existing franchises shall continue in full force and effect until legally terminated, and all ordinances and resolutions of the unit of local government regulating local natural gas systems shall continue in full force and effect unless superseded by rules of the district. This superseding, if any, may occur only on the basis of prior mutual agreement between the district and the respective unit of local government. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-671 - Termination of district.

§ 160A-671. Termination of district.
The Board of Trustees, after providing for the continued availability of natural gas service to its customers, if any, may terminate the existence of the district at any time when it has no outstanding indebtedness. The Board of Trustees shall file notification of the termination with the Secretary of State. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-672 - Joinder of county or city.

§ 160A-672. Joinder of county or city.
(a) Whenever a district has been organized under the provisions of this Article, a county as defined in G.S. 160A-662(a) or a city within that county, or a city that did not join in the organization of a district but is geographically located within the district may, with the consent of the district as evidenced by a resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees of the district, join the district.
(b) A county or city desiring to join an existing district shall signify its desire by resolution adopted after a public hearing thereon, notice of which hearing shall be given in the manner and at the time provided in G.S. 160A-663. Such notice shall contain a brief statement of the substance of said resolution and shall state the time and place of the public hearing.
(c) A certified copy of each resolution signifying the desire of a county or city to join an existing district, together with proof of publication of the notice of hearing on the resolution, and a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the district consenting to the joining shall be filed with the Secretary of State. If the Secretary of State finds that the resolutions conform to the provisions of this Article and that the notices of hearing were properly published, the Secretary of State shall file such resolutions and proofs of publication in the office of the Secretary of State, shall issue a certificate of joinder, and shall record the certificate in the appropriate book of record. The issuance of the certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the joinder of the county or city to the district. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-673 - Bonds and notes authorized.

§ 160A-673. Bonds and notes authorized.
The district may issue revenue bonds and revenue bond anticipation notes pursuant to the provisions of the State and Local Government Revenue Bond Act, Article 5 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, and Article 9 of Chapter 159 for the purposes provided in this Article. If and to the extent any provisions of Articles 5 and 9 of Chapter 159 are inconsistent with the provisions of this Article, the provisions of this Article shall be controlling. A district may proceed with the issuance of bonds and notes under Articles 5 and 9 of Chapter 159 notwithstanding that, to the extent of any inconsistency only, the district complies with the provisions of this Article and not the provisions of Articles 5 and 9 of Chapter 159. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-674 - Acquisition, power of eminent domain.

§ 160A-674. Acquisition, power of eminent domain.
(a) The district shall have continuing power to acquire, by gift, grant, devise, exchange, purchase, lease with or without option to purchase, or any other lawful method including, but not limited to, the power of eminent domain, the fee or any lesser interest in real or personal property for use by the district.
(b) Exercise of the power of eminent domain by the district shall be as a private condemnor in accordance with Chapter 40A of the General Statutes. Notwithstanding Chapter 40A of the General Statutes, before final judgment may be entered in any action of condemnation initiated by the district, the district shall furnish proof that the board of commissioners of the county where the land is located has consented by resolution or ordinance to the taking. (1997-426, s. 2; 2011-284, s. 123.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-675 - Tax exemption.

§ 160A-675. Tax exemption.
A district, and its property, bonds and notes, and income, are exempt from property taxes and income taxes to the same extent as if it were a city. A district is subject to gross receipts tax under G.S. 105-116. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 28 - Regional Natural Gas District. › § 160A-676 - Authority to fix and enforce rates.

§ 160A-676. Authority to fix and enforce rates.
(a) A district may establish and revise from time to time schedules of rents, rates, fees, charges, and penalties made applicable throughout the district for the gas services. Schedules of rents, rates, fees, charges, or penalties may vary according to classes of service. Before it establishes or revises a schedule of rents, rates, fees, charges, or penalties, the district Board of Trustees shall hold a public hearing on the matter. A notice of the hearing shall be given at least once in a newspaper having general circulation in the area, not less than seven days before the public hearing.
(b) A district may collect delinquent accounts by any remedy provided by law for collecting and enforcing private debts. A district may also discontinue service to any customer whose account remains delinquent for more than 30 days. When service is discontinued for delinquency, it shall be unlawful for any person other than a duly authorized agent or employee of the district to do any act that results in a resumption of services. If a delinquent customer is not the owner of the premises to which the services are delivered, the payment of the delinquent account may not be required before providing services at the request of a new and different tenant or occupant of the premises, but this restriction shall not apply when the premises are occupied by two or more tenants whose services are measured by the same meter.
(c) Rents, rates, fees, charges, and penalties for services shall be legal obligations of the person contracting for them and shall in no case be a lien upon the property or premises served.
(d) Rents, rates, fees, charges, and penalties for services shall be legal obligations of the owner of the premises served when the property or premises are leased or rented to more than one tenant and services rendered to more than one tenant are measured by the same meter. (1997-426, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-680 - Title and purpose.

§ 160A-680. Title and purpose.
This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Ferry Transportation Authority Act." The purpose of this Article is to authorize creation of an Authority to provide reliable and safe public ferry transportation services in its service area. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-681 - Definitions.

§ 160A-681. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article:
(1) Authority. – The Ferry Transportation Authority.
(2) Board of Trustees. – The governing board of the Authority.
(3) Ferry Transportation Authority. – A public body corporate and politic organized in accordance with the provisions of this Article for the purposes, with the powers, and subject to the restrictions hereinafter set forth.
(4) Ferry transportation service. – Transportation of passengers or freight by any means of conveyance, including a ferry, barge, vehicle, or tram.
(5) Ferry transportation system. – A combination of real and personal property, structures, improvements, buildings, equipment, maritime vessels, vehicles, vehicle parking, trams, shuttle buses, docks, terminals, and other facilities necessary for the maintenance and operation of a ferry transportation service. The term does not include public streets, roads, or highways.
(6) Unit of local government. – A county, city, town, or municipality of this State, and any other political subdivision, public corporation, authority, or district in this State, that is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, own, or operate a ferry transportation system.
(7) Unit of local government's chief administrative official. – The county manager, city manager, town manager, or other person in whom the responsibility for the unit of local government's administrative duties is vested.
(8) Vessel. – Watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation of passengers or freight on water. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-682 - Service area of Authority.

§ 160A-682. Service area of Authority.
The boundaries of the service area of the Authority shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, consistent with the purpose of the Authority. The service area of an authority created pursuant to this Article may include, but cannot exceed, all of the following:
(1) The area of a tidal river, and adjoining estuaries, in the vicinity of a municipality that is only accessible by vessel.
(2) Terminals, parking, maintenance facilities, facilities utilized for tram and bus service, and other related facilities in or in the vicinity of the same tidal river and a municipality that is only accessible by vessel.
(3) Terminals, parking, maintenance facilities, facilities utilized for tram and bus service, and other related facilities in or in the vicinity of the same tidal river and a municipality in which the mainland terminal used to provide ferry transportation service is located. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-683 - Creation of Authority.

§ 160A-683. Creation of Authority.
(a) Resolution of Creation. – An Authority may be organized under the provisions of this Article upon the adoption of a resolution to create such an Authority by each of the following:
(1) The elected board of a municipality only accessible by vessel.
(2) The elected board of a municipality where any mainland terminal of the Authority is located.
(3) The board of commissioners of the county where the Authority is located.
(b) Public Hearing. – A resolution to form an Authority under this Article shall be adopted after a public hearing. Notice of the public hearing must be given at least once, not less than 10 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county. The notice must contain a brief statement of the substance of the proposed resolution, the proposed articles of incorporation of the Authority, and the time and place of the public hearing.
(c) Articles of Incorporation. – A resolution to form an Authority under this Article must include articles of incorporation that set forth all of the following:
(1) The name of the Authority.
(2) A statement that the Authority is organized under this Article.
(3) The name of each organizing entity.
(d) Certificate of Incorporation. – A certified copy of each resolution organizing an Authority under the provisions of this Article shall be filed with the Secretary of State, together with proof of publication of the notice of hearing. If the Secretary of State finds that each resolution, including the articles of incorporation, conform to the provisions of this Article and that the notice of hearing was properly published, then the Secretary must issue a certificate of incorporation under the seal of the State and record the same in an appropriate book of record. The issuance of the certificate of incorporation by the Secretary of State shall constitute the Authority, a public body and body politic and corporate of the State of North Carolina. The certificate of incorporation is conclusive evidence of the fact that the Authority has been duly created and established under the provisions of this Article.
(e) Officers. – When the Authority has been duly organized and its officers elected, the secretary of the Authority shall certify to the Secretary of State the names and addresses of the officers as well as the address of the principal office of the Authority. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-686 - Rates, fees, charges, routes, and schedules.

§ 160A-686. Rates, fees, charges, routes, and schedules.
(a) Notice. – The Board of Trustees must give at least 30 days' public notice of any change to rates, fees, charges, routes, or schedules, except as necessitated by an emergency situation. The Board of Trustees must report any change to rates, fees, charges, routes, or schedules to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.
(b) Regulation. – Notwithstanding G.S. 62-3(23)a.3. and 4., the North Carolina Utilities Commission shall not have jurisdiction over the provision of ferry transportation service within the Authority's service area. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-687 - Competition.

§ 160A-687. Competition.
(a) Prohibition. – No equipment of the Authority may be used for charter, tour, or sight-seeing service, except as provided by this section.
(b) Charter Services. – Equipment of the Authority may be used for occasional charter service events, if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The use of the equipment for the charter service is approved in writing by the Board of Trustees.
(2) The revenues received by the Authority from the provision of the charter service exceed fully allocated expenses.
(3) The charter service does not adversely affect regularly scheduled ferry transportation services provided by the Authority. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-688 - Power of eminent domain.

§ 160A-688. Power of eminent domain.
The Authority shall have continuing power to acquire, by gift, grant, devise, exchange, purchase, lease with or without option to purchase, or any other lawful method, including the power of eminent domain, the fee or any lesser interest in real or personal property for use by the Authority. Exercise of the power of eminent domain by the Authority shall be in accordance with Chapter 40A of the General Statutes. (2017-120, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns › Article 29 - Ferry Transportation Authority. › § 160A-689 - Termination.

§ 160A-689. Termination.
The Board of Trustees may terminate the existence of the Authority at any time when it has no outstanding indebtedness. In the event of such termination, all property and assets of the Authority not otherwise encumbered shall automatically become the property of the State of North Carolina, and the State of North Carolina shall succeed to all rights, obligations, and liabilities of the Authority. (2017-120, s. 1.)