§ 143B‑135.182.  Division of North Carolina Aquariums – organization; powers and duties.

(a) The Division of North Carolina Aquariums shall be organized as prescribed by the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources and shall exercise the following powers and duties:

(1) Establish and maintain the North Carolina Aquariums.

(2) Administer the operations of the North Carolina Aquariums, such administrative duties to include, but not be limited to the following:

a. Adopt goals and objectives for the Aquariums and review and revise these goals and objectives periodically.

b. Review and approve requests for use of the Aquarium facilities and advise the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources on the most appropriate use consistent with the goals and objectives of the Aquariums.

c. Continually review and evaluate the types of projects and programs being carried out in the Aquarium facilities and determine if the operation of the facilities is in compliance with the established goals and objectives.

d. Recommend to the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources any policies and procedures needed to assure effective staff performance and proper liaison among Aquarium facilities in carrying out the overall purposes of the Aquarium programs.

e. Review Aquarium budget submissions to the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources.

f. Recruit and recommend to the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources candidates for the positions of directors of the Aquariums.

g. Create local advisory committees in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143B‑135.186.

(3) Notwithstanding Article 3A of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, G.S. 143‑49(4), or any other law pertaining to surplus State property, dispose of any exhibit, exhibit component, or object from the collections of the North Carolina Aquariums by sale, lease, donation, or trade. A sale, lease, donation, or trade under this subdivision shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted practices for zoos and aquariums that are accredited by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. After deducting the expenses attributable to the sale or lease, the net proceeds of any sale or lease shall be credited to the North Carolina Aquariums Fund.

(4) Assume any other powers and duties assigned to it by the Secretary.

(b) The Secretary may adopt any rules and procedures necessary to implement this section. (1985, c. 202, s. 3; 1991, c. 320, s. 3; 1993, c. 321, ss. 28(d), 28(e); 1997‑286, s. 3; 1997‑400, s. 6.3(b), (c); 1997‑443, ss. 11A.119(a), 11A.123; 1999‑49, s. 1; 2015‑241, s. 14.30(c), (g), (n), (w); 2023‑70, s. 2(g).)