NC S388

Transfers the Division of Forest Resources from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services effective July 1, 2011, as a Type I transfer.

Transfers the Forestry Council from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a Type II transfer, with the council providing advisory functions to the Commissioner of Agriculture regarding forest protection and management.

Recodifies forestry-related statutes from Chapter 113 and Chapter 113A of the General Statutes into Chapter 106, including provisions for state forest acquisition and management, forest fire prevention and control, forest pest and disease management, prescribed burning, and forest development programs.

Updates statutory references throughout the General Statutes to reflect the departmental transfer, replacing references to the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources with the Commissioner of Agriculture in forestry-related matters.

Maintains all existing forest management functions, forest development funding mechanisms, primary forest product assessments, and state forest operations under the new departmental structure.