AB9: Bill Text

LRB-1163/1

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2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 9

January 18, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Ainsworth, Friske, Albers, Freese, Gunderson, Hahn, Hines, Hundertmark, LeMahieu, Meyer, Musser, Ott, Owens, Petrowski, Townsend, Vrakas and Nerison, cosponsored by Senators Kedzie, Grothman and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Forestry.

AB9,1,2 An Act to amend 28.11 (5) (a) of the statutes; relating to: the plan period for county forest land use plans.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a county board may enact an ordinance designating a committee to manage lands designated as county forests in that county. A comprehensive county forest land use plan must be prepared for the county forest land by that committee. The plan must include land use designations, land acquisition, forest protection, annual allowable timber harvests, recreational developments, projects to be undertaken during the plan period, and other information. The plan must be prepared for a 10-year period and must be revised when the plan period expires.

This bill requires that each county forest land use plan be prepared for a 15-year period rather than a 10-year period. It also requires that the plan be revised every 15 years. The bill specifies that if the plan is not revised, the plan remains in effect until it is revised and the revised plan takes effect.

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:

AB9, s. 1 Section 1. 28.11 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB9,2,20 28.11 (5) (a) A On or before December 31, 2005, a comprehensive county forest land use plan shall be prepared for a 10-year 15-year period by the county forestry committee with the assistance of technical personnel from the department and other interested agencies, and shall be approved by the county board and the department. The plan shall include land use designations, land acquisition, forest protection, annual allowable timber harvests, recreational developments, fish and wildlife management activities, roads, silvicultural operations and operating policies and procedures; it shall include a complete inventory of the county forest and shall be documented with maps, records and priorities showing in detail the various projects to be undertaken during the plan period. The plan may include an application for aids under s. 23.09 (17m). The application will be considered an annual application for these aids during the 10-year 15-year period of the plan. The initial plan shall be completed within 2 years from October 2, 1963 and may be revised as changing conditions require and shall be revised upon expiration of the plan period. Upon the expiration of the initial 15-year plan period, and upon expiration of each subsequent 15-year plan period, the plan shall be revised and shall be in effect for another 15-year period. If a plan under this paragraph is not revised upon expiration of the 15-year plan period, or if a plan under s. 28.11 (5) (a), 2003 stats., is not revised on or before December 31, 2005, that plan shall remain in effect until such time as that plan is revised and the revised plan takes effect.

AB9,2,21 (End)