BILL NUMBER: SB 144	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	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  authorize  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,  including establishing   to
establish, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, 
a scientific standardized baseline upon which to project future
scenarios of carbon emissions and sequestration  ,  and
 developing   to develop, in consultation with
the State Air Resources Board and the Department of Fi   sh
and Game,  regulations that establish mitigation requirements
for  forestland   forest land  conversions.
The bill would  authorize   require  the
department to impose a fee on an applicant for conversion  or
the submission of a timber harvesting plan in order to fully offset
  that fully offsets  the department's costs for
implementing  that authorization   the above
requirement  as it relates to  timber harvesting and
 conversion.
   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.  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),  the department may
develop options and incentives for the management of private forests
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), including both of the
following:  
   (1) Establishing a scientific standardized baseline upon which to
project future scenarios of carbon emissions and sequestration.

    (2)     Developing
regulations that establish mitigation requirements for forestland
conversions, including, but not limited to, timberland production
zones.   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 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  may   shall  impose
a fee on an applicant for conversion  or the submission of a
timber harvesting plan in order to fully offset   that
fully offsets  the department's costs for implementing this
section as it relates to  timber harvesting and 
conversion.