Amended in Assembly March 28, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2465

Introduced by Assembly Member Chesbro

February 21, 2014

An act begin delete relating end delete to begin delete taxation end delete begin insert add Section 4495 to the Public Resources Code, relating to forestry end insert .

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2465, as amended, Chesbro. begin delete Tax benefits. end delete begin insert Burning of lands: private burns end insert begin insert . end insert

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Existing law authorizes any person, firm, or corporation, or any combination thereof, that owns or controls brush-covered land within a state responsibility area to apply to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for permission to burn the brush from the land. Existing law requires the department to provide advisory service to applicants for burn permits as to the precautions to be taken by the applicant to prevent damage to the property of others by reason of the prescribed burning, and to provide standby fire protection, as available.

end insert begin insert

This bill would require the department, by July 1, 2015, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board and local air districts, to, among other things, develop a page on the department’s Internet Web site that provides certain information relating to prescribed burns, including information on the regulations that govern prescribed burns for forest fuel treatment.

end insert begin delete

Existing law imposes various taxes and allows specified credits, deductions, exclusions, and exemptions in computing those taxes.

end delete begin delete

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide tax benefits to taxpayers for the construction or installation of offsite water storage facilities, in watersheds with salmon or anadromous trout species that are listed under the state or federal endangered species acts, that eliminate or significantly reduce the need for summer water diversion from a stream.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4495 is added to the end insert begin insert Public Resources
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 4495. end insert   

To assist landowners in conducting prescribed burns
for the purpose of forest fuel treatment, the department, in
consultation with the State Air Resources Board and local air
districts, shall, no later than July 1, 2015, do all of the following:

(a) Develop a page on the department’s Internet Web site that
provides all of the following:

(1) Information on the regulations governing prescribed burns
for forest fuel treatment.

(2) Specific information about permissive burn days and no-burn
days.

(3) The uniform prescribed burn template described in
subdivision (b).

(4) Contact information for the offices at the department, State
Air Resources Board, and local air districts that can assist a person
who is interested in a prescribed burn for forest fuel treatment.

(5) Any other information that the department determines is
appropriate regarding prescribed burns for forest fuel treatment.

(b) Develop a uniform prescribed burn template. The template
shall provide assistance to a person, who is interested in
conducting forest fuel treatment through a prescribed burn, to do
all of the following:

(1) Use best management practices to minimize impacts to the
environment and public health while maximizing the fire resiliency
of the treated forest.

(2) Obtain the appropriate regulatory approval from the
department and local air districts.

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begin delete

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would provide tax benefits to taxpayers for the
construction or installation of offsite water storage facilities, in
watersheds with salmon or anadromous trout species that are listed
under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec.
1531 et seq.) or the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter
1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3), that eliminate
or significantly reduce the need for summer water diversion from
a stream.

end delete