A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for shellfish cultivation leases in areas containing submerged aquatic vegetation.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 113‑202(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Secretary may delete any part of an area proposed for lease or may condition a lease to protect the public interest with respect to the factors enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary may not grant a new lease in an area heavily used for recreational purposes. The Secretary shall not exclude any area from leasing solely on the basis that the area contains submerged aquatic vegetation and shall make specific findings based on the standards set forth in subsection (a) of this section prior to reaching a decision not to grant or renew a lease for shellfish cultivation for any area containing submerged aquatic vegetation."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015, and applies to any new shellfish cultivation leases or renewals of existing shellfish cultivation leases issued on or after that date.