H.B. 785 - Land Conservation Fund; Purposes of Expenditures

• Redirects conveyance tax revenues in the land conservation fund to invasive species control and mitigation, reforestation, and sediment run-off mitigation instead of land acquisition.

• Requires that redirected revenues be expended primarily for salary and fringe benefit costs of employees hired by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, invasive species council, or contractors for these purposes.

• Separates fund usage between conveyance tax revenues (for the three conservation activities listed above) and other fund revenues (for land acquisition, debt service, administration, and operation/maintenance of acquired lands).

• Appropriates unspecified amounts from the land conservation fund for each of fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 for the specified conservation purposes.

• Expires June 30, 2013, making this a temporary two-year measure intended to create job opportunities in environmental conservation work.