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municipality that has been withdrawn from the MFL program under s. 77.885, stats., but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 1Section 1 . 15.345 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,6,42 15.345 (7) Managed forest land review board. There is created in the
3department of natural resources a managed forest land review board consisting of
4the following members appointed for 3-year terms:
SB161,6,55 (a) One member who is a regional forester employed by the department.
SB161,6,76 (b) One member who is a forester who provides consultation services on forestry
7issues.
SB161,6,98 (c) One member who is a forester who represents the Society of American
9Foresters.
SB161,6,1210 (d) One member who represents the interests of schools of forestry within the
11state that have curricula in the management of forest resources that are accredited
12by the Society of American Foresters.
SB161,6,1313 (e) One member who is a county forest administrator.
SB161,6,1514 (f) One member who is a member of a nonprofit conservation organization as
15defined in s. 23.0955 (1).
SB161,6,1716 (g) One member who is a private, nonindustrial owner of a woodland that is
17enrolled in the managed forest land program under s. 77.82.
SB161, s. 2 18Section 2. 20.370 (1) (cw) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,6,2019 20.370 (1) (cw) Forestry — enterprise areas. From the revenues collected under
20s. 70.58, a sum sufficient to make the payments under s. 77.896 (2) (a) and (b).
SB161, s. 3
1Section 3. 77.81 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
SB161, s. 4 2Section 4. 77.81 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,7,33 77.81 (5m) "Public access land" means any of the following:
SB161,7,44 (a) Department land, as defined in s. 23.0917 (1) (c).
SB161,7,55 (b) Federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SB161,7,66 (c) Land owned by a county that is open to the public.
SB161,7,77 (d) Land that is open under s. 77.83 (2).
SB161, s. 5 8Section 5. 77.81 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,7,99 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 10Section 6. 77.82 (3e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,7,1611 77.82 (3e) Large ownerships. (a) Notwithstanding the requirements for a
12proposed management plan under sub. (3), upon the request of an owner of managed
13forest land, the department may modify the requirements under sub. (3) (c) 4. to 7.
14for the owner's proposed managed forest plan if the owner's application for the
15designation of managed forest land under sub. (2) covers parcels of land totaling
16more than 1,000 acres and if the department considers all of the following:
SB161,7,1817 1. Whether the owner of the land covered by the application owns other land
18designated as managed forest land or owns other land entered as forest crop land.
SB161,7,2019 2. The number of counties in which the land covered by the application and any
20other land described in subd. 1. are located.
SB161,7,2221 3. Whether the owner of the land covered by the application has made the
22proposed management plan available to the department for review.
SB161,8,5
14. Whether, if requested by the department, the owner of the land covered by
2the application has agreed in writing to provide information from the proposed
3management plan, a description of the proposed management plan, and an outline
4of a procedure for updating and amending the proposed management plan, to the
5department for review or audit.
SB161,8,96 5. Whether the owner of the land covered by the application has demonstrated
7to the department that he or she has consistently been receptive to competent
8technical assistance from the department or from a technical advisor designated by
9the department.
SB161,8,1610 (b) 1. The department may not approve a proposed management plan as
11described under par. (a) unless the proposed management plan specifies an annual
12allowable timber harvest for the land covered by the proposed management plan.
13This paragraph does not apply to the approval of a proposed management plan that
14covers land that is prepared by an independent 3rd party who is certified by a
15recognized forestry organization that has expertise in the use of sustainable forestry
16practices.
SB161,8,1917 2. The department shall promulgate rules that establish an annual allowable
18timber harvest for managed forest land covered by a management plan approved by
19the 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 20Section 7. 77.82 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,9,621 77.82 (3m) Group managed forest plans. Notwithstanding the requirements
22for management plans under sub. (3), the department may, upon request, authorize

12 or more owners of managed forest land to designate land to be covered by a group
2management plan if the total designated land proposed to be covered by the group
3management plan exceeds 1,000 acres. The department shall promulgate rules that
4establish criteria, substantially similar to the criteria under sub. (3e) (a) 1. to 5., that
5the department must consider before approving group management plans under this
6subsection.
SB161, s. 8 7Section 8. 77.82 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,9,128 77.82 (3r) Timber harvests. If the department requires an owner of managed
9forest land covered by a management plan under sub. (3) or (3e), or requires owners
10of managed forest land covered by a group management plan under sub. (3m), to
11harvest particular timber from the land within a specified time period, the specified
12time period may not be a period of less than 3 years.
SB161, s. 9 13Section 9. 77.82 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,9,1414 77.82 (4) (title) Additions Additional designations to managed forest land.
SB161, s. 10 15Section 10. 77.82 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 77.82 (4) (a) and amended
16to read:
SB161,9,2217 77.82 (4) (a) Orders on or after April 28, 2004. An owner of land that is
18designated as managed forest land under an order that takes effect on or after April
1928, 2004, may file an application with the department to designate as managed forest
20land an additional parcel of land if the additional parcel is at least 3 acres in size and,
21is contiguous to any of that designated land. The, and complies with the other
22requirements in sub. (1).
SB161,9,25 23(c) Fee; additional information. An application under par. (a) or (b) shall be
24accompanied by a nonrefundable $20 application recording fee unless a different
25amount for the fee is established by the department by rule at an amount equal to

1the average expense to the department of recording an order issued under this
2subchapter. The fee shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the
3appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (cr). The application shall be filed on a department
4form and shall contain any additional information required by the department.
SB161, s. 11 5Section 11. 77.82 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,10,146 77.82 (4) (b) Orders before April 28, 2004. Beginning on the day after the
7effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], an owner of land that is
8designated as managed forest land under an order that takes effect before April 28,
92004, may file an application with the department to designate as managed forest
10land an additional parcel of land if the additional parcel is at least 3 acres in size, is
11contiguous to any of that designated land, and complies with the other requirements
12in sub. (1). An additional parcel of land that is designated as managed forest land
13under this paragraph shall be subject to the taxes imposed under s. 77.84 (2) (am)
14and (bm).
SB161, s. 12 15Section 12. 77.82 (4g) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,10,1716 77.82 (4g) (title) Designation Grandfathered designations of additional
17managed forest land
for certain owners.
SB161, s. 13 18Section 13. 77.82 (4g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,10,2519 77.82 (4g) (a) If an owner of land that is designated as managed forest land
20under an order that takes effect before April 28, 2004, wishes to have an additional
21parcel of land that is at least 10 acres in size and that satisfies the other requirements
22in sub. (1) designated as managed forest land, the owner may file an application with
23the department under sub. (2) for a new order covering the additional land. An
24application may not be filed pursuant to this paragraph after the effective date of this
25paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
SB161, s. 14
1Section 14. 77.82 (4g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,11,112 77.82 (4g) (b) If an owner of land that is designated as managed forest land
3under an order that takes effect before April 28, 2004, wishes to have designated as
4managed forest land an additional parcel of land that is at least 3 acres in size, that
5does not satisfy the requirements in sub. (1), and that is contiguous to any of that
6designated land, the owner may withdraw the designated land from the original
7order and may file an application with the department under sub. (2) for a new order
8covering both the withdrawn land and the additional land. The withdrawal tax and
9the withdrawal fee under s. 77.88 (5) and (5m) do not apply to a withdrawal under
10this paragraph. An application may not be filed pursuant to this paragraph after the
11effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
SB161, s. 15 12Section 15. 77.82 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,11,2113 77.82 (8) Order. If an application under sub. (2), (4m), or (12) is approved, the
14department shall issue an order designating the land as managed forest land for the
15time period specified in the application. If an application under sub. (4) (a) or (b) is
16approved, the department shall amend the original order to include the additional
17parcel. The department shall provide the applicant with a copy of the order or
18amended order and shall also file a copy with the department of revenue, the
19supervisor of assessments, and the clerk of each municipality in which the land is
20located, and shall record the order with the register of deeds in each county in which
21the land is located.
SB161, s. 16 22Section 16. 77.83 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB161,12,223 77.83 (2) (am) Each owner of managed forest land may enter into a lease, or
24other agreement for consideration, to allow the land to be used for any purpose,
25including engaging in one or more recreational activities on the land, if the use does

1not conflict with any forest management objective contained in the management
2plan for the land and does not conflict with any sound forestry practice.
SB161, s. 17 3Section 17. 77.83 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,12,74 77.83 (4) (b) Any person who enters into a lease or agreement under sub. (2)
5(am) that
fails to comply with sub. (2) (am) shall forfeit an amount equal to the total
6amount of consideration received by the person as a result of violating sub. (2) (am)
7or $500, whichever is greater.
SB161, s. 18 8Section 18. 77.84 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,12,149 77.84 (2) (am) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after April
1028, 2004, and before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], each
11owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before
12January 31, an amount that is equal to 5 percent of the average statewide property
13tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par.
14(cm), for each acre of managed forest land.
SB161, s. 19 15Section 19. 77.84 (2) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,12,2216 77.84 (2) (bm) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after April
1728, 2004, and before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], in
18addition to the payment under par. (am), each owner of managed forest land shall
19pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before January 31, an amount that is equal
20to 20 percent of the average statewide property tax per acre of property classified
21under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par. (cm), for each acre that is
22designated as closed under s. 77.83.
SB161, s. 20 23Section 20. 77.84 (2) (d) and (e) of the statutes are created to read:
SB161,13,224 77.84 (2) (d) Except as provided in par. (e), for managed forest land orders that
25take effect on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], each

1owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer on or before
2January 31, an amount equal to the amount calculated under par. (am).
SB161,13,73 (e) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after the effective date
4of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], each owner of managed forest land that is
5closed under s. 77.83 shall pay to each municipal treasurer on or before January 31,
6an amount equal to the greater of the sum of the amounts calculated under pars. (am)
7and (bm) or the sum of the following:
SB161,13,118 1. An amount equal to 5 percent of the full value of the managed forest land that
9is closed under s. 77.83, multiplied by the full value effective rate of taxation
10applicable to general property in the same taxation district as the managed forest
11land.
SB161,13,1512 2. An amount equal to 20 percent of the full value of the managed forest land
13that is closed under s. 77.83, multiplied by the full value effective rate of taxation
14applicable to general property in the same taxation district as the managed forest
15land.
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 16Section 21 . 77.86 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 77.86 (1m), and 77.86 (1m)
17(c), as renumbered, is amended to read:
SB161,14,218 77.86 (1m) (c) If the proposed cutting conforms to the management plan and
19is consistent with sound forestry practices, the department shall approve the
20request. In determining whether a proposed cutting is consistent with sound forestry
21practices, the department may also consider, if consistent with the objectives of the
22owner, the effect of the proposed cutting on the management of forest resources, other

1than trees, including wildlife habitat, watersheds, aesthetics, and endangered and
2threatened plant and animal species.
SB161, s. 22 3Section 22. 77.86 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,14,44 77.86 (1g) In this section:
SB161,14,55 (a) "Board" means the managed forest land review board.
SB161,14,96 (b) "Sound forestry practices" means forest cultural methods, including
7methods for timber cutting and for transporting timber, that the department
8determines are effective in propagating and improving the various timber types that
9are common in this state.
SB161, s. 23 10Section 23. 77.86 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,14,1411 77.86 (3) Time limit. All cutting specified in the notice under sub. (1) (1m) (b)
12shall be commenced within one year after the date the proposed cutting is approved.
13The owner shall report to the department the date on which the cutting is
14commenced.
SB161, s. 24 15Section 24. 77.86 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB161,14,1816 77.86 (5) (a) Any person who fails to file the notice required under sub. (1) (1m)
17(b), who fails to file a report as required under sub. (4), or who files a false report
18under sub. (4) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.
SB161, s. 25 19Section 25 . 77.865 of the statutes is created to read:
SB161,14,20 2077.865 Review. (1) In this section:
SB161,14,2121 (a) "Board" means the managed forest land review board.
SB161,14,2222 (b) "Sound forestry practices" has the meaning given in s. 77.86 (1g) (b).
SB161,15,2 23(2) If the department decides that an owner of managed forest land is
24managing the land in a manner that the department determines is inconsistent with

1sound forestry practices, the owner may challenge that decision by requesting that
2the board review the decision.
SB161,15,5 3(3) An owner who requests review of a department decision under sub. (2) shall
4submit a written request to the board within 30 days after the date on which the
5owner receives notice of the department's decision.
SB161,15,12 6(4) Upon receiving a request from an owner under sub. (3), the board shall,
7within a reasonable time, review the department's decision, render an opinion on
8whether or not the owner's management of the managed forest land is consistent
9with sound forestry practices, and forward its opinion to the chief state forester. The
10chief state forester shall review the board's opinion and issue a decision, in writing,
11that states whether or not he or she concurs with the board's opinion. The chief state
12forester shall include in his or her decision sufficient facts to support the decision.
SB161,15,16 13(5) If the chief state forester decides, after considering the board's opinion
14under sub. (4), that the owner's management of the managed forest land is consistent
15with sound forestry practices, the department shall adopt the decision of the chief
16state forester as the department's decision on the issue.
SB161,15,19 17(6) An owner adversely affected by the decision of the chief state forester under
18sub. (5) shall have the right to a contested case hearing under s. 227.42 on the issues
19decided by the chief state forester.
SB161,15,22 20(7) The department shall promulgate rules that establish additional
21procedures, including filing, review, and decision deadlines, with regard to an
22owner'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.
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