Bill Text: CA SB144 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Forest resources: management.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-06-15 - To Com. on NAT. RES. [SB144 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB144-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 144	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 21, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 18, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pavley

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2009

   An act to add Section 4556 to the Public Resources Code, relating
to forest resources.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 144, as amended, Pavley. Forest resources: management.
   The Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 prohibits a person
from conducting timber operations unless a timber harvesting plan
prepared by a registered professional forester has been submitted for
the timber operations to the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection, and approved. The act requires a person who owns
timberlands that are to be devoted to uses other than the growing of
timber to file an application for conversion with the State Board of
Forestry and Fire Protection.
   The California Forest Legacy Program Act of 2007 establishes the
California Forest Legacy Program to conserve private forest lands by
authorizing the department to acquire conservation easements of
eligible properties according to specified criteria.
   This bill would require the department, in order to further the
goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and to
enhance the capability of forest lands to sequester carbon, to
develop options and incentives for the management of private forests
pursuant to the criteria established under the California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006, to establish, in consultation with the
State Air Resources Board,  a  scientific
standardized  baseline upon which   baselines at
the regional and state scales  to project future scenarios of
carbon emissions and sequestration, and to develop, in consultation
with the State Air Resources Board and the Department of Fish and
Game, regulations that establish mitigation requirements for forest
land conversions. The bill would require the department to impose a
fee on an applicant for conversion that fully offsets the department'
s costs for implementing the above requirement as it relates to
conversion. 
   The bill also would state that it is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation to develop a planning watershed-scale timber
harvesting permit in order to facilitate long-term planning, improve
information that is available to the public and reviewing agencies,
ensure meaningful cumulative impact assessments, and provide a more
cost-efficient permitting program for applicants. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation to develop a planning watershed-scale timber
harvesting permit in order to facilitate long-term planning, improve
information that is available to the public and reviewing agencies,
ensure meaningful cumulative impact assessments, and provide a more
cost-efficient permitting program for applicants. 
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.   Section 4556 is
added to the Public Resources Code, to read:
   4556.  (a) In order to further the goals of the California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section
38500) of the Health and Safety Code),
    and to enhance the capability of forest lands, as defined in
subdivision (g) of Section 12220, to sequester carbon, the department
shall do all of the following:
   (1) Develop options and incentives for the conservation and
management of private forest lands pursuant to the criteria
established under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
(Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and
Safety Code).
   (2) Establish, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board,
 a  scientific standardized  baseline upon
which   baselines at the regional and state scales 
to project future scenarios of carbon emissions and sequestration.
   (3) Develop, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board
and the Department of Fish and Game, regulations that establish a
full mitigation requirement for the carbon stock and sequestration
losses due to forest land conversions.
   (b) The department shall impose a fee on an applicant for
conversion that fully offsets the department's costs for implementing
this section as it relates to conversion.