AB276: Bill Text

LRB-1946/2

RNK:kmg:jf

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 276

April 18, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Seratti, Gielow, Ainsworth, Albers, Bies, Freese, Gunderson, Hines, Musser and Grothman, cosponsored by Senator Darling. Referred to Committee on Forestry.

AB276,1,2 An Act to amend 77.81 (4) and 77.88 (1) (a); and to create 77.88 (1) (am) of the statutes; relating to: allowing managed forest land to be located in cities.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Certain lands are designated as managed forest land under a program administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Under this program, the owner of land designated as managed forest land pays an annual acreage share instead of the property taxes that normally would be payable.

Under current law, the owner of a parcel of land may petition to have the parcel designated as managed forest land if the parcel meets certain requirements and is located in a town or village. Under the bill, the land may also be located in a city.

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:

AB276, s. 1 Section 1. 77.81 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB276,1,4 77.81 (4) "Municipality" means a town or, village, or city.

AB276, s. 2 Section 2. 77.88 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB276,2,7 77.88 (1) (a) The department may, at the request of the owner of managed forest land or of the governing body of the municipality in which any managed forest land is located, or at its own discretion, investigate to determine whether the designation as managed forest land should be withdrawn. The Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall notify the owner of the land and the mayor of the city, the chairperson of the town, or the president of the village in which the land is located of the investigation.

AB276, s. 3 Section 3. 77.88 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB276,2,11 77.88 (1) (am) If a city or village is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the department shall notify the president of the city council or village board of any investigation under par. (a).

AB276,2,12 (End)