HB 2753-S.E - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 2/16/04)

Finds that trust beneficiaries, rural communities, and sustainable forest harvest management may benefit if wood produced on state-owned forests can be certified as sustainable and marketed as such.

Declares an intent to provide the legislature, the board of natural resources, and other interested parties with the information that will allow for an informed decision on this policy question prior to the final adoption of a sustainable harvest calculation by the board of natural resources.

Requires the department of natural resources to prepare a report for the legislature and the board of natural resources that identifies: (1) What changes to the current state forest management practices, including the provisions of any applicable habitat conservation plans, need to be implemented for state-managed forests to achieve third-party sustainable forestry certification under the standards of major sustainable forestry certification organizations;

(2) What added changes in operational costs would be associated with the changes in management practices necessary to achieve certifications;

(3) Whether and how the preferred sustainable harvest level alternative identified by the board of natural resources would satisfy the state's responsibilities under any applicable habitat conservation plans; and

(4) How the preferred sustainable harvest level calculation identified by the board of natural resources increases or decreases the cost of compliance with the standards of major sustainable forestry certification organizations.

Requires the department of natural resources to complete its report and submit it to the board of natural resources and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature no later than September 14, 2004.

Provides that, for the final sustainable harvest level intended to be adopted by the board during calendar year 2004, the board may identify a single preferred harvest level alternative, and may only adopt a sustainable harvest level after: (1) The report required in this act has been produced and delivered to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature;

(2) A legislative review of the report has been conducted by the appropriate standing committees of the legislature; and

(3) At least one hearing has been held by the board of natural resources on the findings in the report and the results of the legislative review.