GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

H                                                                                                                                                    2

HOUSE BILL 1644

Committee Substitute Favorable 5/22/07

Short Title:     Future Uses of Dorothea Dix Hosp. Campus.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

April 19, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT regarding the future use of the dorothea Dix hospital property campus and support for mental health services.

Whereas, the land and improvements that comprise the Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Campus (Dix Campus) have been owned by the State of North Carolina for more than 150 years, and during that time, the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital has provided services to the State's citizens who suffer from severe mental illness; and

Whereas, many of the improvements located on the Dix Campus are included in the National Registry of Historic Places; and

Whereas, the Dix Campus has unique topography in that it includes extensive open space, is within one mile of the State capital, and overlooks downtown Raleigh; and

Whereas, the State may cease to use the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital when the new Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital becomes operational; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that if the State ceases to use the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital to provide mental health services, the land and improvements that constitute the Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Campus be utilized in the future as follows:

(1)       That the General Assembly examine the possibility of creating a park district on the Dorothea Dix Campus with local governments, such district to be financed with a combination of local public revenues and private contributions;

(2)       That the historic buildings located on the Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Campus be renovated and rehabilitated in a manner that is economically feasible and that supports the other objectives stated in this act; and

(3)       That the uses provided for in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section continue to support mental health services, including the generation of significant revenues for mental health services throughout the State.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.