SB161: Bill Text

Additionally, the DNR must pay before June 30 annually the municipal treasurer, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (bv), stats., $.20 for each acre of land in the municipality that is designated as MFL and for each acre of tribal land in the municipality that has been withdrawn from the MFL program under s. 77.885, stats., but for which payments under s. 77.84 (2), stats., are being made. [s. 77.85, stats.]

Each municipal treasurer must pay 20% of each payment received from the DNR or directly under ss. 77.84 (2) (a) and (am) (payment for closed land), 77.85 (state contribution for MFL acreage), and 77.876, stats. (noncompliance assessments), to the county treasurer and must deposit the remainder in the municipal treasury. The payment to the county treasurer for money received before November 1 of any year must be made on or before November 15 after its receipt. For money received on or after November 1 of any year, the payment to the county treasurer must be made on or before November 15 of the following year. [s. 77.89 (2) (a), stats.]

The municipal treasurer also must pay to the county treasurer all amounts received under s. 77.84 (2) (b) and (bm), stats. (payment for closed land). The county treasurer must, by June 30 of each year, pay all amounts received under this provision to the DNR. All amounts received from the DNR must be credited to the conservation fund and reserved for land acquisition, resource management activities, and grants for land acquisition for outdoor activities. [s. 77.89 (2) (b), stats.]

This bill modifies the distribution of moneys received by local units of government in connection with the MFL program. Under the bill, 20% of MFL payments for closed acreage received by a municipal treasurer would be paid to the DNR. Forty-eight percent of the closed acreage MFL payments received by a municipal treasurer (equivalent to 60% of the amount remaining after payment to the DNR) would be paid to the county. From the closed acreage payments received by a county, the county must spend at least five-sixths of the amount received to acquire by purchase, lease, easement, or other agreement land that will be open to the public for hunting and certain other recreational activities, unless at least 40% of the county's lands are open to the public. If the county meets the 40% threshold, the county may elect to expend some or all of the amount on activities to improve resource management, including forest growth, forest health, fish habitat, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection.

SB161, s. 1 Section 1 . 15.345 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,6,4 15.345 (7) Managed forest land review board. There is created in the department of natural resources a managed forest land review board consisting of the following members appointed for 3-year terms:

SB161,6,5 (a) One member who is a regional forester employed by the department.

SB161,6,7 (b) One member who is a forester who provides consultation services on forestry issues.

SB161,6,9 (c) One member who is a forester who represents the Society of American Foresters.

SB161,6,12 (d) 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.

SB161,6,13 (e) One member who is a county forest administrator.

SB161,6,15 (f) One member who is a member of a nonprofit conservation organization as defined in s. 23.0955 (1).

SB161,6,17 (g) One member who is a private, nonindustrial owner of a woodland that is enrolled in the managed forest land program under s. 77.82.

SB161, s. 2 Section 2. 20.370 (1) (cw) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,6,20 20.370 (1) (cw) Forestry — enterprise areas. From the revenues collected under s. 70.58, a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 77.896 (2) (a) and (b).

SB161, s. 3 Section 3. 77.81 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

SB161, s. 4 Section 4. 77.81 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,7,3 77.81 (5m) "Public access land" means any of the following:

SB161,7,4 (a) Department land, as defined in s. 23.0917 (1) (c).

SB161,7,5 (b) Federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

SB161,7,6 (c) Land owned by a county that is open to the public.

SB161,7,7 (d) Land that is open under s. 77.83 (2).

SB161, s. 5 Section 5. 77.81 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,7,9 77.81 (7) "Taxation district" has the meaning given under s. 70.114 (1) (e).

Note: Under s. 70.114 (1) (e), "taxation district" means a city, village or town, except that, if a city or village lies in more than one county, the portions of that city or village that lie within each county are separate taxation districts.

SB161, s. 6 Section 6. 77.82 (3e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,7,16 77.82 (3e) Large ownerships. (a) Notwithstanding the requirements for a proposed management plan under sub. (3), upon the request of an owner of managed forest land, the department may modify the requirements under sub. (3) (c) 4. to 7. for the owner's proposed managed forest plan if the owner's application for the designation of managed forest land under sub. (2) covers parcels of land totaling more than 1,000 acres and if the department considers all of the following:

SB161,7,18 1. Whether the owner of the land covered by the application owns other land designated as managed forest land or owns other land entered as forest crop land.

SB161,7,20 2. The number of counties in which the land covered by the application and any other land described in subd. 1. are located.

SB161,7,22 3. Whether the owner of the land covered by the application has made the proposed management plan available to the department for review.

SB161,8,5 4. Whether, if requested by the department, the owner of the land covered by the application has agreed in writing to provide information from the proposed management plan, a description of the proposed management plan, and an outline of a procedure for updating and amending the proposed management plan, to the department for review or audit.

SB161,8,9 5. Whether the owner of the land covered by the application has demonstrated to the department that he or she has consistently been receptive to competent technical assistance from the department or from a technical advisor designated by the department.

SB161,8,16 (b) 1. The department may not approve a proposed management plan as described under par. (a) unless the proposed management plan specifies an annual allowable timber harvest for the land covered by the proposed management plan. This paragraph does not apply to the approval of a proposed management plan that covers land that is prepared by an independent 3rd party who is certified by a recognized forestry organization that has expertise in the use of sustainable forestry practices.

SB161,8,19 2. The department shall promulgate rules that establish an annual allowable timber harvest for managed forest land covered by a management plan approved by the department under this subsection.

Note: This Section shifts the contents of s. NR 46.18 (4), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to modification of management plans, to the managed forest land subchapter of ch. 77, stats. The Section also requires modified management plans to include the establishment of an annual allowable harvest unless the lands are certified by an independent third party.

SB161, s. 7 Section 7. 77.82 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,9,6 77.82 (3m) Group managed forest plans. Notwithstanding the requirements for management plans under sub. (3), the department may, upon request, authorize 2 or more owners of managed forest land to designate land to be covered by a group management plan if the total designated land proposed to be covered by the group management plan exceeds 1,000 acres. The department shall promulgate rules that establish criteria, substantially similar to the criteria under sub. (3e) (a) 1. to 5., that the department must consider before approving group management plans under this subsection.

SB161, s. 8 Section 8. 77.82 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,9,12 77.82 (3r) Timber harvests. If the department requires an owner of managed forest land covered by a management plan under sub. (3) or (3e), or requires owners of managed forest land covered by a group management plan under sub. (3m), to harvest particular timber from the land within a specified time period, the specified time period may not be a period of less than 3 years.

SB161, s. 9 Section 9. 77.82 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,9,14 77.82 (4) (title) Additions Additional designations to managed forest land.

SB161, s. 10 Section 10. 77.82 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 77.82 (4) (a) and amended to read:

SB161,9,22 77.82 (4) (a) Orders on or after April 28, 2004. An owner of land that is designated as managed forest land under an order that takes effect on or after April 28, 2004, may file an application with the department to designate as managed forest land an additional parcel of land if the additional parcel is at least 3 acres in size and, is contiguous to any of that designated land. The, and complies with the other requirements in sub. (1).

SB161,9,25 (c) Fee; additional information. An application under par. (a) or (b) shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable $20 application recording fee unless a different amount for the fee is established by the department by rule at an amount equal to the average expense to the department of recording an order issued under this subchapter. The fee shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (cr). The application shall be filed on a department form and shall contain any additional information required by the department.

SB161, s. 11 Section 11. 77.82 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,10,14 77.82 (4) (b) Orders before April 28, 2004. Beginning on the day after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], an owner of land that is designated as managed forest land under an order that takes effect before April 28, 2004, may file an application with the department to designate as managed forest land an additional parcel of land if the additional parcel is at least 3 acres in size, is contiguous to any of that designated land, and complies with the other requirements in sub. (1). An additional parcel of land that is designated as managed forest land under this paragraph shall be subject to the taxes imposed under s. 77.84 (2) (am) and (bm).

SB161, s. 12 Section 12. 77.82 (4g) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,10,17 77.82 (4g) (title) Designation Grandfathered designations of additional managed forest land for certain owners.

SB161, s. 13 Section 13. 77.82 (4g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,10,25 77.82 (4g) (a) If an owner of land that is designated as managed forest land under an order that takes effect before April 28, 2004, wishes to have an additional parcel of land that is at least 10 acres in size and that satisfies the other requirements in sub. (1) designated as managed forest land, the owner may file an application with the department under sub. (2) for a new order covering the additional land. An application may not be filed pursuant to this paragraph after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].

SB161, s. 14 Section 14. 77.82 (4g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,11,11 77.82 (4g) (b) If an owner of land that is designated as managed forest land under an order that takes effect before April 28, 2004, wishes to have designated as managed forest land an additional parcel of land that is at least 3 acres in size, that does not satisfy the requirements in sub. (1), and that is contiguous to any of that designated land, the owner may withdraw the designated land from the original order and may file an application with the department under sub. (2) for a new order covering both the withdrawn land and the additional land. The withdrawal tax and the withdrawal fee under s. 77.88 (5) and (5m) do not apply to a withdrawal under this paragraph. An application may not be filed pursuant to this paragraph after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].

SB161, s. 15 Section 15. 77.82 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,11,21 77.82 (8) Order. If an application under sub. (2), (4m), or (12) is approved, the department shall issue an order designating the land as managed forest land for the time period specified in the application. If an application under sub. (4) (a) or (b) is approved, the department shall amend the original order to include the additional parcel. The department shall provide the applicant with a copy of the order or amended order and shall also file a copy with the department of revenue, the supervisor of assessments, and the clerk of each municipality in which the land is located, and shall record the order with the register of deeds in each county in which the land is located.

SB161, s. 16 Section 16. 77.83 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB161,12,2 77.83 (2) (am) Each owner of managed forest land may enter into a lease, or other agreement for consideration, to allow the land to be used for any purpose, including engaging in one or more recreational activities on the land, if the use does not conflict with any forest management objective contained in the management plan for the land and does not conflict with any sound forestry practice.

SB161, s. 17 Section 17. 77.83 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,12,7 77.83 (4) (b) Any person who enters into a lease or agreement under sub. (2) (am) that fails to comply with sub. (2) (am) shall forfeit an amount equal to the total amount of consideration received by the person as a result of violating sub. (2) (am) or $500, whichever is greater.

SB161, s. 18 Section 18. 77.84 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,12,14 77.84 (2) (am) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after April 28, 2004, and before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before January 31, an amount that is equal to 5 percent of the average statewide property tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par. (cm), for each acre of managed forest land.

SB161, s. 19 Section 19. 77.84 (2) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,12,22 77.84 (2) (bm) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after April 28, 2004, and before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], in addition to the payment under par. (am), each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before January 31, an amount that is equal to 20 percent of the average statewide property tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par. (cm), for each acre that is designated as closed under s. 77.83.

SB161, s. 20 Section 20. 77.84 (2) (d) and (e) of the statutes are created to read:

SB161,13,2 77.84 (2) (d) Except as provided in par. (e), for managed forest land orders that take effect on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer on or before January 31, an amount equal to the amount calculated under par. (am).

SB161,13,7 (e) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], each owner of managed forest land that is closed under s. 77.83 shall pay to each municipal treasurer on or before January 31, an amount equal to the greater of the sum of the amounts calculated under pars. (am) and (bm) or the sum of the following:

SB161,13,11 1. An amount equal to 5 percent of the full value of the managed forest land that is closed under s. 77.83, multiplied by the full value effective rate of taxation applicable to general property in the same taxation district as the managed forest land.

SB161,13,15 2. An amount equal to 20 percent of the full value of the managed forest land that is closed under s. 77.83, multiplied by the full value effective rate of taxation applicable to general property in the same taxation district as the managed forest land.

Note: This Section modifies the calculation of acreage shares for closed acreage under new managed forest land orders. Acreage that is open under new managed forest land orders would remain subject to the same acreage shares that apply to orders that take effect after April 28, 2004.

SB161, s. 21 Section 21 . 77.86 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 77.86 (1m), and 77.86 (1m) (c), as renumbered, is amended to read:

SB161,14,2 77.86 (1m) (c) If the proposed cutting conforms to the management plan and is consistent with sound forestry practices, the department shall approve the request. In determining whether a proposed cutting is consistent with sound forestry practices, the department may also consider, if consistent with the objectives of the owner, the effect of the proposed cutting on the management of forest resources, other than trees, including wildlife habitat, watersheds, aesthetics, and endangered and threatened plant and animal species.

SB161, s. 22 Section 22. 77.86 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,14,4 77.86 (1g) In this section:

SB161,14,5 (a) "Board" means the managed forest land review board.

SB161,14,9 (b) "Sound forestry practices" means forest cultural methods, including methods for timber cutting and for transporting timber, that the department determines are effective in propagating and improving the various timber types that are common in this state.

SB161, s. 23 Section 23. 77.86 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,14,14 77.86 (3) Time limit. All cutting specified in the notice under sub. (1) (1m) (b) shall be commenced within one year after the date the proposed cutting is approved. The owner shall report to the department the date on which the cutting is commenced.

SB161, s. 24 Section 24. 77.86 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB161,14,18 77.86 (5) (a) Any person who fails to file the notice required under sub. (1) (1m) (b), who fails to file a report as required under sub. (4), or who files a false report under sub. (4) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.

SB161, s. 25 Section 25 . 77.865 of the statutes is created to read:

SB161,14,20 77.865 Review. (1) In this section:

SB161,14,21 (a) "Board" means the managed forest land review board.

SB161,14,22 (b) "Sound forestry practices" has the meaning given in s. 77.86 (1g) (b).

SB161,15,2 (2) If the department decides that an owner of managed forest land is managing the land in a manner that the department determines is inconsistent with sound forestry practices, the owner may challenge that decision by requesting that the board review the decision.

SB161,15,5 (3) An owner who requests review of a department decision under sub. (2) shall submit a written request to the board within 30 days after the date on which the owner receives notice of the department's decision.

SB161,15,12 (4) Upon receiving a request from an owner under sub. (3), the board shall, within a reasonable time, review the department's decision, render an opinion on whether or not the owner's management of the managed forest land is consistent with sound forestry practices, and forward its opinion to the chief state forester. The chief state forester shall review the board's opinion and issue a decision, in writing, that states whether or not he or she concurs with the board's opinion. The chief state forester shall include in his or her decision sufficient facts to support the decision.

SB161,15,16 (5) If the chief state forester decides, after considering the board's opinion under sub. (4), that the owner's management of the managed forest land is consistent with sound forestry practices, the department shall adopt the decision of the chief state forester as the department's decision on the issue.

SB161,15,19 (6) An owner adversely affected by the decision of the chief state forester under sub. (5) shall have the right to a contested case hearing under s. 227.42 on the issues decided by the chief state forester.

SB161,15,22 (7) The department shall promulgate rules that establish additional procedures, including filing, review, and decision deadlines, with regard to an owner's challenge of a department decision under this section.

Note: Section 1 creates the managed forest land review board in DNR and specifies the membership of the board. Section 25 creates an optional procedure for MFL owners who are dissatisfied with a DNR decision regarding the practice of sound forestry to request review of the decision by the board. The board must review and decide upon the issues in the request and issue an opinion for review by the chief state forester. The chief state forester then determines whether to accept the board's recommendation and must issue a decision in writing. DNR is required to promulgate rules regarding the procedures for the board's review. An MFL owner retains the right to a contested case hearing on the issues decided under this procedure by the chief state forester.