BILL REQ. #:  H-4539.1 



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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2321
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State of Washington58th Legislature2004 Regular Session

By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Linville, Schoesler, Sump, Grant and Pearson; by request of Commissioner of Public Lands)

READ FIRST TIME 01/29/04.   



     AN ACT Relating to the clarification of certain definitions in Title 79 RCW and related public land statutes; amending RCW 43.30.700, 79.02.010, 79.02.040, 79.02.050, 79.02.160, 79.02.280, 79.02.290, 79.02.300, 79.02.340, 79.10.060, 79.10.100, 79.11.100, 79.13.380, 79.15.030, 79.15.055, 79.19.030, 79.22.300, 79.36.330, 79.36.355, 79.36.380, 79.36.390, 79.38.010, 79.38.020, 79.38.030, 79.38.050, 79.38.060, 79.64.020, and 79.70.040; reenacting and amending RCW 79.64.040; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

PART 1
TITLE 43 AMENDMENTS

Sec. 101   RCW 43.30.700 and 1986 c 100 s 50 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department may:
     (a) Inquire into the production, quality, and quantity of second growth timber to ascertain conditions for reforestation; and
     (b) Publish information pertaining to forestry and forest products which it considers of benefit to the people of the state.
     (2) The department shall:
     (a) Collect information through investigation by its employees, on forest lands owned by the state, including:
     (i) Condition of the lands;
     (ii) Forest fire damage;
     (iii) Illegal cutting, trespassing, or thefts; and
     (iv) The number of acres and the value of the timber that is cut and removed each year, to determine which state lands are valuable chiefly for growing timber;
     (b) Prepare maps of each timbered county showing state land therein; and
     (c) Protect ((state land)) forested public land, as defined in RCW 79.02.010, as much as is practical and feasible from fire, trespass, theft, and the illegal cutting of timber.
     (3) When the department considers it to be in the best interest of the state, it may cooperate with any agency of another state, the United States or any agency thereof, the Dominion of Canada or any agency or province thereof, and any county, town, corporation, individual, or Indian tribe within the state of Washington in:
     (a) Forest surveys;
     (b) Forest studies;
     (c) Forest products studies; and
     (d) Preparation of plans for the protection, management, and replacement of trees, wood lots, and timber tracts.

PART 2
TITLE 79 AMENDMENTS

Sec. 201   RCW 79.02.010 and 2003 c 334 s 301 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this title unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Aquatic lands" means all state-owned tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters as defined in chapter 79.90 RCW that are ((managed)) administered by the department.
     (2) "Board" means the board of natural resources.
     (3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public lands.
     (4) "Community and technical college forest reserve lands" means lands managed under RCW 79.02.420.
     (5) "Department" means the department of natural resources.
     (6) (("Improvements," when referring to state lands,)) "Improvements" means anything considered a fixture in law placed upon or attached to ((such)) lands administered by the department that has changed the value of the lands or any changes in the previous condition of the fixtures that changes the value of the lands.
     (7) "Land bank lands" means lands acquired under RCW 79.19.020.
     (8) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, cooperative, public or municipal corporation, or agency of a federal, state, or local governmental unit, however designated.
     (9) "Public lands" means lands of the state of Washington ((and includes lands belonging to or held in trust by the state, which are not devoted to or reserved for a particular use by law. They include)) administered by the department including but not limited to state lands, ((tidelands, shorelands, and harbor areas as defined in chapter 79.90 RCW, and the beds of navigable waters belonging to the)) state forest lands, and aquatic lands.
     (10) "State forest lands" means lands acquired under RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, and 79.22.020.
     (11) "State lands" includes:
     (a) School lands, that is, lands held in trust for the support of the common schools;
     (b) University lands, that is, lands held in trust for university purposes;
     (c) Agricultural college lands, that is, lands held in trust for the use and support of agricultural colleges;
     (d) Scientific school lands, that is, lands held in trust for the establishment and maintenance of a scientific school;
     (e) Normal school lands, that is, lands held in trust for state normal schools;
     (f) Capitol building lands, that is, lands held in trust for the purpose of erecting public buildings at the state capital for legislative, executive, and judicial purposes;
     (g) Institutional lands, that is, lands held in trust for state charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory institutions; and
     (h) ((All public lands of the state, except tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters)) Land bank, escheat, donations, and all other lands, except aquatic lands, administered by the department that are not devoted to or reserved for a particular use by law.
     (12) (("Valuable materials," when referring to state lands or state forest lands,)) "Valuable materials" means any product or material on the lands, such as forest products, forage or agricultural crops, stone, gravel, sand, peat, and all other materials of value except mineral, coal, petroleum, and gas as provided for under chapter 79.14 RCW.

Sec. 202   RCW 79.02.040 and 2003 c 334 s 432 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department may review and reconsider any of its official acts relating to ((state)) public lands until such time as a lease, contract, or deed shall have been made, executed, and finally issued, and the department may recall any lease, contract, or deed issued for the purpose of correcting mistakes or errors, or supplying omissions.

Sec. 203   RCW 79.02.050 and 2003 c 334 s 365 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any sale, transfer, or lease ((of state lands)) in which the purchaser, transfer recipient, or lessee obtains the sale or lease by fraud or misrepresentation is void, and the contract of purchase or lease shall be of no effect. In the event of fraud, the contract, transferred property, or lease must be surrendered to the department, but the purchaser, transfer recipient, or lessee may not be refunded any money paid on account of the surrendered contract, transfer, or lease.
     (([(2)])) (2) In the event that a mistake is discovered in the sale or lease ((of state lands)), or in the sale of valuable materials ((on state lands)), the department may take action to correct the mistake in accordance with RCW 79.02.040 if maintaining the corrected contract, transfer, or lease is in the best interests of the affected trust or trusts.

Sec. 204   RCW 79.02.160 and 2003 c 334 s 308 are each amended to read as follows:
     In case any person interested in any tract of land heretofore selected by the territory of Washington or any officer, board, or agent thereof or by the state of Washington or any officer, board, or agent thereof or which may be hereafter selected by the state of Washington or the department, in pursuance to any grant of ((public)) lands made by the United States to the territory or state of Washington for any purpose or upon any trust whatever, the selection of which has failed or been rejected or shall fail or shall be rejected for any reason, shall request it, the department shall have the authority and power on behalf of the state to relinquish to the United States such tract of land.

Sec. 205   RCW 79.02.280 and 2003 c 334 s 377 are each amended to read as follows:
     All contracts of purchase((,)) or leases((, of state lands)) issued by the department shall be assignable in writing by the contract holder or lessee and the assignee shall be subject to and governed by the provisions of law applicable to the assignor and shall have the same rights in all respects as the original purchaser, or lessee, of the lands, provided the assignment is approved by the department and entered of record in its office.

Sec. 206   RCW 79.02.290 and 2003 c 334 s 363 are each amended to read as follows:
     Whenever the holder of a contract of purchase ((of any state lands,)) or the holder of any lease ((of any such lands)), except for mining of valuable minerals or coal, or extraction of petroleum or gas, shall surrender the same to the department with the request to have it divided into two or more contracts, or leases, the department may divide the same and issue new contracts, or leases, but no new contract, or lease, shall issue while there is due and unpaid any interest, rental, or taxes or assessments on the land held under such contract or lease, nor in any case where the department is of the opinion that the state's security would be impaired or endangered by the proposed division. For all such new contracts, or leases, a fee as provided under this chapter, shall be paid by the applicant.

Sec. 207   RCW 79.02.300 and 2003 c 334 s 435 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Every person who, without authorization, uses or occupies public lands, removes any valuable material as defined in RCW ((79.01.038)) 79.02.010 from public lands, or causes waste or damage to public lands, or injures publicly owned personal property or publicly owned improvements to real property on public lands, is liable to the state for treble the amount of the damages. However, liability shall be for single damages if the department determines, or the person proves upon trial, that the person, at time of the unauthorized act or acts, did not know, or have reason to know, that he or she lacked authorization. Damages recoverable under this section include, but are not limited to, the market value of the use, occupancy, or things removed, had the use, occupancy, or removal been authorized; and any damages caused by injury to the land, publicly owned personal property or publicly owned improvement, including the costs of restoration. In addition, the person is liable for reimbursing the state for its reasonable costs, including but not limited to, its administrative costs, survey costs to the extent they are not included in damages awarded for restoration costs, and its reasonable attorneys' fees and other legal costs.
     (2) This section does not apply in any case where liability for damages is provided under RCW 64.12.030, 4.24.630, 79.02.320, or 79.02.340.
     (3) The department is authorized and directed to investigate all trespasses and wastes upon, and damages to, public lands of the state, and to cause prosecutions for, and/or actions for the recovery of the same to be commenced as is provided by law.

Sec. 208   RCW 79.02.340 and 2003 c 334 s 504 are each amended to read as follows:
     It shall be unlawful for any person to enter upon ((any of the state)) public lands((, including all land under the jurisdiction of the department,)) or upon any private land without the permission of the owner thereof and to cut, break, or remove therefrom for commercial purposes any evergreen trees, commonly known as Christmas trees, including fir, hemlock, spruce, and pine trees. Any person cutting, breaking, or removing or causing to be cut, broken, or removed, or who cuts down, cuts off, breaks, tops, or destroys any of such Christmas trees shall be liable to the state, or to the private owner thereof, for payment for such trees at a price of one dollar each if payment is made immediately upon demand. Should it be necessary to institute civil action to recover the value of such trees, the state in the case of ((state)) public lands, or the owner in case of private lands, may exact treble damages on the basis of three dollars per tree for each tree so cut or removed.

Sec. 209   RCW 79.10.060 and 2003 c 334 s 544 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department may comply with county or municipal zoning ordinances, laws, rules, or regulations affecting the use of ((state)) public lands ((under the jurisdiction of the department)) where such regulations are consistent with the treatment of similar private lands.

Sec. 210   RCW 79.10.100 and 2003 c 334 s 534 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature hereby directs that a multiple use concept be utilized by the department in the ((management and)) administration of ((state-owned)) public lands ((under the jurisdiction of the department)) where such a concept is in the best interests of the state and the general welfare of the citizens thereof, and is consistent with the applicable ((trust)) provisions of the various lands involved.

Sec. 211   RCW 79.11.100 and 2003 c 334 s 328 are each amended to read as follows:
     In no case shall any lands granted to the state be offered for sale under this chapter unless the same shall have been appraised by the board within ninety days prior to the date fixed for the sale. A purchaser of state lands may not rely upon the appraisal prepared by the department or made by the board for purposes of deciding whether to make a purchase from the department. All purchasers are required to make their own independent appraisals.

Sec. 212   RCW 79.13.380 and 2003 c 334 s 491 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department has the power, and it is its duty, to adopt, from time to time, reasonable rules for the grazing of livestock on such tracts and areas of the indemnity or lieu ((public)) lands of the state contiguous to national forests and suitable for grazing purposes, as have been, or shall be, obtained from the United States under the provisions of RCW 79.02.120.

Sec. 213   RCW 79.15.030 and 2003 c 334 s 339 are each amended to read as follows:
     All sales of valuable materials ((upon state lands and state forest lands)) shall be made subject to the right, power, and authority of the department to prescribe rules or procedures governing the manner of the sale and removal of the valuable materials. Such procedures shall be binding when contained within a purchaser's contract for valuable materials and apply to the purchaser's successors in interest and shall be enforced by the department.

Sec. 214   RCW 79.15.055 and 2003 c 334 s 309 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of this chapter, "appraisal" means an estimate of the market value of ((land or)) valuable materials. The estimate must reflect the value based on market conditions at the time of the sale or transfer offering. The appraisal must reflect the department's best effort to establish a reasonable market value for the purpose of setting a minimum bid at auction or transfer. A purchaser of ((state lands or)) valuable materials may not rely upon the appraisal prepared by the department for purposes of deciding whether to make a purchase from the department. All purchasers are required to make their own independent appraisals.

Sec. 215   RCW 79.19.030 and 2003 c 334 s 527 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department, with the approval of the board, may:
     (1) Exchange property held in the land bank for any other ((public)) lands of equal value administered by the department, including any lands held in trust.
     (2) Exchange property held in the land bank for property of equal or greater value which is owned publicly or privately, and which has greater potential for natural resource or income production or which could be more efficiently managed by the department, however, no power of eminent domain is hereby granted to the department; and
     (3) Sell property held in the land bank in the manner provided by law for the sale of state lands without any requirement of platting and to use the proceeds to acquire property for the land bank which has greater potential for natural resource or income production or which would be more efficiently managed by the department.

Sec. 216   RCW 79.22.300 and 2003 c 334 s 213 are each amended to read as follows:
     Whenever the board of county commissioners of any county shall determine that state forest lands, that were acquired from such county by the state pursuant to RCW 79.22.040 and that are under the administration of the department, are needed by the county for public park use in accordance with the county and the state outdoor recreation plans, the board of county commissioners may file an application with the board for the transfer of such state forest lands.
     Upon the filing of an application by the board of county commissioners, the department shall cause notice of the impending transfer to be given in the manner provided by RCW 42.30.060. If the department determines that the proposed use is in accordance with the state outdoor recreation plan, it shall reconvey said state forest lands to the requesting county to have and to hold for so long as the state forest lands are developed, maintained, and used for the proposed public park purpose. This reconveyance may contain conditions to allow the department to coordinate the management of any adjacent ((state owned)) public lands with the proposed park activity to encourage maximum multiple use management and may reserve rights of way needed to manage other ((state owned)) public lands in the area. The application shall be denied if the department finds that the proposed use is not in accord with the state outdoor recreation plan. If the land is not, or ceases to be, used for public park purposes the land shall be conveyed back to the department upon request of the department.

Sec. 217   RCW 79.36.330 and 2003 c 334 s 228 are each amended to read as follows:
     In the event the department should determine that the property interests acquired under the authority of this chapter are no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were acquired, the department shall dispose of the same in the following manner, when in the discretion of the department it is to the best interests of the state of Washington to do so, except that property purchased with educational funds or held in trust for educational purposes shall be sold only in the same manner as are ((public)) state lands ((of the state)):
     (1) Where the state property necessitating the acquisition of private property interests for access purposes under authority of this chapter is sold or exchanged, the acquired property interests may be sold or exchanged as an appurtenance of the state property when it is determined by the department that sale or exchange of the state property and acquired property interests as one parcel is in the best interests of the state.
     (2) If the acquired property interests are not sold or exchanged as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the department shall notify the person or persons from whom the property interest was acquired, stating that the property interests are to be sold, and that the person or persons shall have the right to purchase the same at the appraised price. The notice shall be given by registered letter or certified mail, return receipt requested, mailed to the last known address of the person or persons. If the address of the person or persons is unknown, the notice shall be published twice in an official newspaper of general circulation in the county where the lands or a portion thereof is located. The second notice shall be published not less than ten nor more than thirty days after the notice is first published. The person or persons shall have thirty days after receipt of the registered letter or five days after the last date of publication, as the case may be, to notify the department, in writing, of their intent to purchase the offered property interest. The purchaser shall include with his or her notice of intention to purchase, cash payment, certified check, or money order in an amount not less than one-third of the appraised price. No instrument conveying property interests shall issue from the department until the full price of the property is received by the department. All costs of publication required under this section shall be added to the appraised price and collected by the department upon sale of the property interests.
     (3) If the property interests are not sold or exchanged as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department shall notify the owners of land abutting the property interests in the same manner as provided in subsection (2) of this section and their notice of intent to purchase shall be given in the manner and in accordance with the same time limits as are set forth in subsection (2) of this section. However, if more than one abutting owner gives notice of intent to purchase the property interests, the department shall apportion them in relation to the lineal footage bordering each side of the property interests to be sold, and apportion the costs to the interested purchasers in relation thereto. Further, no sale is authorized by this section unless the department is satisfied that the amounts to be received from the several purchasers will equal or exceed the appraised price of the entire parcel plus any costs of publishing notices.
     (4) If no sale or exchange is consummated as provided in subsections (1) through (3) of this section, the department shall sell the properties in the same manner as state lands are sold.
     (5) Any disposal of property interests authorized by this chapter shall be subject to any existing rights previously granted by the department.

Sec. 218   RCW 79.36.355 and 2003 c 334 s 396 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department may grant to any person such easements and rights in ((state lands or state forest)) public lands, not otherwise provided in law, as the applicant applying therefor may acquire in privately owned lands ((through proceedings in eminent domain)). No grant shall be made under this section until such time as the full market value of the estate or interest granted together with damages to all remaining property of the state of Washington has been ascertained and safely secured to the state.

Sec. 219   RCW 79.36.380 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 s 168 are each amended to read as follows:
     Every grant, deed, conveyance, contract to purchase or lease made since ((the fifteenth day of)) June 15, 1911, or hereafter made to any person, firm, or corporation, for a right of way for a private railroad, skid road, canal, flume, watercourse, or other easement, over or across any ((state)) public lands for the purpose of, and to be used in, transporting and moving timber, minerals, stone, sand, gravel, or other valuable materials of the land, shall be subject to the right of the state, or any grantee or lessee thereof, or other person who has acquired since ((the fifteenth day of)) June 15, 1911, or shall hereafter acquire, any lands containing valuable materials contiguous to, or in proximity to, such right of way, or who has so acquired or shall hereafter acquire such valuable materials situated upon ((state)) public lands or contiguous to, or in proximity to, such right of way, of having such valuable materials transported or moved over such private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or other easement, after the same is or has been put in operation, upon paying therefor just and reasonable rates for transportation, or for the use of such private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or other easement, and upon complying with just, reasonable and proper rules and regulations relating to such transportation or use, which rates, rules, and regulations, shall be under the supervision and control of the utilities and transportation commission.

Sec. 220   RCW 79.36.390 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 s 169 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any person, firm, or corporation, having acquired such right of way or easement since ((the fifteenth day of)) June 15, 1911, or hereafter acquiring such right of way or easement over any ((state)) public lands for the purpose of transporting or moving timber, mineral, stone, sand, gravel, or other valuable materials, and engaged in such business thereon, shall accord to the state, or any grantee or lessee thereof, having since ((the fifteenth day of)) June 15, 1911, acquired, or hereafter acquiring, from the state, any ((state)) public lands containing timber, mineral, stone, sand, gravel, or other valuable materials, contiguous to or in proximity to such right of way or easement, or any person, firm, or corporation, having since ((the fifteenth day of)) June 15, 1911, acquired, or hereafter acquiring, the timber, mineral, stone, sand, gravel, or other valuable materials upon any ((state)) public lands contiguous to or in proximity to the lands over which such right of way or easement is operated, proper and reasonable facilities and service for transporting and moving such valuable materials, under reasonable rules and regulations and upon payment of just and reasonable charges therefor, or, if such right of way or other easement is not then in use, shall accord the use of such right of way or easement for transporting and moving such valuable materials, under reasonable rules and regulations and upon the payment of just and reasonable charges therefor.

Sec. 221   RCW 79.38.010 and 2003 c 334 s 499 are each amended to read as follows:
     In addition to any authority otherwise granted by law, the department shall have the authority to acquire lands, interests in lands, and other property for the purpose of affording access by road to public lands ((or state forest lands)) from any public highway.

Sec. 222   RCW 79.38.020 and 1981 c 204 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     To facilitate the carrying out of the purpose of this chapter, the department ((of natural resources)) may:
     (1) Grant easements, rights of way, and permits to cross public lands ((and state forest lands)) to any person in exchange for similar rights over lands not under its jurisdiction;
     (2) Enter into agreements with any person or agency relating to purchase, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, regulation, and use of access roads or public roads used to provide access to public lands ((or state forest lands));
     (3) Dispose, by sale, exchange, or otherwise, of any interest in an access road in the event it determines such interest is no longer necessary for the purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 223   RCW 79.38.030 and 2003 c 334 s 500 are each amended to read as follows:
     Purchasers of valuable materials from public lands ((or state forest lands)) may use access roads or public roads for the removal of such materials where the rights acquired by the state will permit, but use shall be subject to the right of the department:
     (1) To impose reasonable terms for the use, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of such access roads; and
     (2) To impose reasonable charges for the use of such access roads or public roads which have been constructed or reconstructed through funding by the department.

Sec. 224   RCW 79.38.050 and 2003 c 334 s 502 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department shall create, maintain, and administer a revolving fund, to be known as the access road revolving fund in which shall be deposited all moneys received by it from users of access roads as payment for costs incurred or to be incurred in maintaining, repairing, and reconstructing access roads, or public roads used to provide access to public lands ((or state forest lands)). The department may use moneys in the fund for the purposes for which they were obtained without appropriation by the legislature.

Sec. 225   RCW 79.38.060 and 2003 c 334 s 503 are each amended to read as follows:
     All moneys received by the department from users of access roads that are not deposited in the access road revolving fund shall be paid as follows:
     (1) To reimburse the state fund or account from which expenditures have been made for the acquisition, construction, or improvement of the access road or public road, and upon full reimbursement, then
     (2) To the funds or accounts for which the public lands ((and state forest lands)), to which access is provided, are pledged by law or constitutional provision, in which case the department shall make an equitable apportionment between funds and accounts so that no fund or account shall benefit at the expense of another.

Sec. 226   RCW 79.64.020 and 2003 c 334 s 520 are each amended to read as follows:
     A resource management cost account in the state treasury is created to be used solely for the purpose of defraying the costs and expenses necessarily incurred by the department in managing and administering ((public)) state lands and aquatic lands and the making and administering of leases, sales, contracts, licenses, permits, easements, and rights of way as authorized under the provisions of this title. Appropriations from the resource management cost account to the department shall be expended for no other purposes. Funds in the resource management cost account may be appropriated or transferred by the legislature for the benefit of all of the trusts from which the funds were derived.

Sec. 227   RCW 79.64.040 and 2003 c 334 s 522 and 2003 c 313 s 8 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The board shall determine the amount deemed necessary in order to achieve the purposes of this chapter and shall provide by rule for the deduction of this amount from the moneys received from all leases, sales, contracts, licenses, permits, easements, and rights of way issued by the department and affecting ((public)) state lands and aquatic lands, provided that no deduction shall be made from the proceeds from agricultural college lands. Moneys received as deposits from successful bidders, advance payments, and security under RCW 79.15.100, 79.15.080, and 79.11.150 prior to December 1, 1981, which have not been subjected to deduction under this section are not subject to deduction under this section. The deductions authorized under this section shall in no event exceed twenty-five percent of the moneys received by the department in connection with any one transaction pertaining to ((public)) state lands and aquatic lands other than second class tide and shore lands and the beds of navigable waters, and fifty percent of the moneys received by the department pertaining to second class tide and shore lands and the beds of navigable waters.
     In the event that the department sells logs using the contract harvesting process described in RCW 79.15.500 through 79.15.530, the moneys received subject to this section are the net proceeds from the contract harvesting sale.

Sec. 228   RCW 79.70.040 and 1972 ex.s. c 119 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department is further authorized to purchase, lease, set aside, or exchange any public ((land or state-owned trust)) lands which are deemed to be natural areas: PROVIDED, That the appropriate state land trust receives the fair market value for any interests that are disposed of: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That such transactions are approved by the board of natural resources.
     An area consisting of public land ((or state-owned trust lands)) designated as a natural area preserve shall be held in trust and shall not be alienated except to another public use upon a finding by the department of natural resources of imperative and unavoidable public necessity.

PART 3
MISCELLANEOUS

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 301   Part headings used in this act are not any part of the law.

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