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IN SB0610
Bill
Status
1/15/2019
Primary Sponsor
John Ruckelshaus
Click for details
AI Summary
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Establishes the Indiana State Forest Commission with 11 members including 2 gubernatorial appointees as co-chairs, 4 legislators, and representatives from logging, conservation, hunting/fishing, outdoor recreation, forestry, and forest products industries
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Requires the commission to develop a 100-year management plan for state forests beginning in 2022, with a final report due before October 1, 2021
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Mandates all state forest land be assigned to one of three priority use categories: (A) game and nongame recreational use including hunting and wildlife habitat, (B) high quality commercial lumber production, or (C) unmanaged natural succession for native species
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Requires the Natural Resources Commission to adopt rules implementing the priority use percentages, review implementation every 7 years, and consider revising land category percentages every 3 years
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Commission expires June 30, 2022; Indiana Finance Authority provides staff support; all meetings must be open to the public with broad opportunity for public comment on rulemaking
Legislative Description
State forest commission and management plan. Establishes a state forest commission. Specifies the membership of the commission. Requires the commission to meet in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and to issue a written report establishing a plan for the management of the state forests for the 100 year period beginning in 2022. Provides that the commission's plan must contain certain recommendations and must embody certain principles. Requires the state forest commission to set forth in its report the subjects discussed and issues raised concerning which the general assembly may choose to pass legislation. Requires the natural resources commission to adopt rules incorporating the state forest commission's determination about the percentage of state forest land falling within each of the three "priority use" categories. Requires the natural resources commission, every seven years, to conduct a review of the implementation of the state forest commission's plan and to adopt rules to revise the plan, as appropriate.
Last Action
Senator Tomes added as coauthor
2/4/2019