By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate,
No. 478) of Stephen M. Brewer and Michael R. Knapik for
legislation relative to the forest products trust fund.
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate,
No. 478) of Stephen M. Brewer and Michael R. Knapik for
legislation relative to the forest products trust fund.
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 58 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out section 17C and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 17C. (a) A Forest Products Trust Fund shall be established on the books of the Commonwealth. This fund shall be used to disburse payments to cities and towns within whose boundaries exist state-owned forest land under the care and control of the bureau of forestry within the division of state parks and recreation. The commissioner of conservation and recreation shall develop forest management plans for such forest lands.
Such plans shall be approved by the stewardship council as provided in section 2F of chapter 21.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all revenues derived from the removal and sale of forest products on land owned by the commonwealth and under the care and control of the bureau of forestry within the division of state parks and recreation shall be deposited in the Forest Products Trust Fund. All removals and sales of forest products shall be consistent with the forest management plans required in this section.
(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 1/3 of the revenue deposited in the Forest Products Trust Fund shall be disbursed annually to those municipalities within whose boundaries the removal of forest products occurs. The remaining revenue deposited in the fund may be expended by the bureau of forestry within the division of state parks and recreation in the following fiscal year, without further appropriation, for the purpose of forest management on lands under its care and control. The term “forest management” shall include, but not be limited to, planning, wildlife habitat management and rehabilitation; fuel management; implementing silvicultural practices; conducting inventories; mapping; improving the quantity, quality and marketability of forest products on lands under the care and control of the bureau, access thereto and necessary infrastructure, including the construction, repair and maintenance of roads, culverts and bridges and the purchase of equipment and vehicles.
