AB788: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a 15-member council on forestry in the department of natural resources (DNR). Members of the council include: the chief state forester or his or her designee; four legislative members, one from each party and one from each house; and ten members who represent various forestry interests. These interests include ownership of private forest land, county forests, the paper and pulp industry, the lumber industry, the conservation of forest resources, and increasing the public's knowledge of forestry issues. These ten members are appointed by the governor, subject to senate confirmation. The council is authorized to advise the governor, legislature, DNR, and other state agencies on various topics as they affect forests located in this state. These topics include forest protection, reforestation and forestry genetics, urban forests, forestry research, and the marketing and use of forest products. The bill also requires that the council prepare a biennial report on the status of the state's forest resources and forest industry.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB788, s. 1 Section 1. 15.347 (18) of the statutes is created to read:

AB788,2,3 15.347 (18) Council on forestry. (a) There is created in the department of natural resources a council of forestry consisting of:

AB788,2,4 1. The chief state forester or his or her designee.

AB788,2,5 2. One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

AB788,2,6 3. One member of the senate, appointed by the senate minority leader.

AB788,2,7 4. One member of the assembly, appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

AB788,2,8 5. One member of the assembly, appointed by the assembly minority leader.

AB788,2,10 6. One member who represents the interests of owners of private forest land that is used to produce timber for industrial use.

AB788,2,12 7. One member who represents the interests of owners of private forest land that is not used to produce timber for industrial use.

AB788,2,14 8. One member who represents the interests of counties that have county forests within their boundaries.

AB788,2,15 9. One member who represents the interests of the paper and pulp industry.

AB788,2,16 10. One member who represents the interests of the lumber industry.

AB788,2,18 11. One member who represents the interests of nonprofit conservation organizations whose purposes include the conservation and use of forest resources.

AB788,2,20 12. One member who is a forester who engages in the practice of providing consultation services on forestry issues.

AB788,2,23 13. One member who represents the interests of schools of forestry within the state that have curricula in the management of forest resources that are accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

AB788,2,25 14. One member who represents the interests of persons who engage in programs to increase the public's knowledge and awareness of forestry issues.

AB788,3,2 15. One member who represents the interests of persons who are members of labor unions that are affiliated with the forestry industry.

AB788,3,4 (b) Each member specified in par. (a) 2. to 5. shall be appointed in the same manner as members of standing committees are appointed.

AB788,3,7 (c) Each member specified in par. (a) 6. to 15. shall be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve a 5-year term.

AB788,3,12 (d) The governor shall annually appoint a chairperson for the council from among its members before the first meeting of each year, and the chairperson, at the first meeting of each year, shall annually appoint the vice chairperson and secretary from among the council's members. Any of these appointees may be appointed for successive terms.

AB788,3,17 (e) The council shall meet 4 times each year and shall also meet on the call of the chairperson of the council or on the call of a majority of its members. Notwithstanding s. 15.09 (3), the council shall meet at such locations within this state as may be designated by the chairperson of the council or by a majority of its members.

AB788, s. 2 Section 2. 23.09 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB788,3,24 23.09 (3) (b) If the department and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System enter into an agreement to create a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a forest landscape ecologist, the department and the University of Wisconsin-Madison shall develop an annual work plan for the ecologist. In developing the annual work plan, the department shall consult with the governor's council on forestry created by executive order under s. 14.019.

AB788, s. 3 Section 3. 26.02 of the statutes is created to read:

AB788,4,4 26.02 Council on forestry. (1) Duties. The council on forestry shall advise the governor, the legislature, the department of natural resources, the department of commerce, and other state agencies, as determined to be appropriate by the council, on all of the following topics as they affect forests located in this state:

AB788,4,5 (a) The protection of forests from fire, insects, and disease.

AB788,4,6 (b) The practice of sustainable forestry, as defined in s. 28.04 (1) (e).

AB788,4,7 (c) Reforestation and forestry genetics.

AB788,4,8 (d) Management and protection of urban forests.

AB788,4,9 (e) Increasing the public's knowledge and awareness of forestry issues.

AB788,4,10 (f) Forestry research.

AB788,4,12 (g) Increasing the economic development of the forestry industry and employment in the forestry industry.

AB788,4,13 (h) Marketing and use of forest products.

AB788,4,14 (i) Legislation that impacts on the management of forest lands in this state.

AB788,4,15 (j) Staffing and funding needs for forestry programs conducted by the state.

AB788,4,18 (2) Report. (a) The council on forestry shall prepare a biennial report on the status of the state's forest resources and forestry industry. The report shall include a summary of each of the following:

AB788,4,19 1. The magnitude, nature, and extent of the forest resources in this state.

AB788,4,21 2. The current use in this state for forest products and the benefits that these forest products provide to the state.

AB788,4,23 3. The projected future demand for forest products and the projected benefits that these forest products will provide to the state in the future.

AB788,4,25 4. The types of owners and forms of ownership that apply to forests in this state, including the reasons why persons own forest land.

AB788,5,2 5. The success of existing incentives that are offered to stimulate the development of forest resources.

AB788,5,5 6. The possible economic opportunities in this state that may result if improved forest-product marketing, and increased business dealing in or use of forest products, occurs in this state.

AB788,5,7 7. Recommendations for increasing the economic development of the forestry industry and employment in the forestry industry.

AB788,5,9 8. The effect of state and local governmental laws and policy on forestry management and the location of markets for forest products.

AB788,5,12 9. Recommendations as to staffing and funding needs for forestry programs and other conservation programs related to forestry that are conducted by the state to support and enhance the development of forest resources.

AB788,5,14 10. Recommendations as to the need to increase the public's knowledge and awareness of forestry issues.

AB788,5,19 (b) The council on forestry shall submit the report under this subsection no later than June 1 of each odd-numbered year for distribution to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). The first report shall be submitted no later than June 1, 2005. Each report shall cover the 24-month period ending on the December 31 immediately preceding the date of the report.

AB788, s. 4 Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB788,6,2 (1) Notwithstanding the length of term specified in section 15.347 (18) (c) of the statutes, as created in this act, of the members first appointed to the council on forestry under section 15.347 (18) (a) 6. to 15. of the statutes, as created by this act, the governor shall designate 3 members to serve for terms expiring on July 1, 2005, 2 members to serve for terms expiring on July 1, 2006, 3 members to serve for terms expiring on July 1, 2007, and 2 members to serve for terms expiring on July 1, 2008.

AB788,6,3 (End)