SF 181 (LSB 2228XS (2) 88)

SENATE FILE 181

BY  BROWN

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a tree and forest advisory council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  455A.14A  Tree and forest advisory council.
   1.  For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “council” means the Iowa tree and forest advisory council.
   2.  a.  The council shall be organized with assistance from the department and shall be composed of thirteen voting members and one ex officio, nonvoting member as follows:
   (1)  The director or the director’s designee, who shall serve as the ex officio, nonvoting member.
   (2)  Thirteen persons appointed by the natural resource commission, with one member representing each of the following organizations or industries:
   (a)  The northeast Iowa forestry advisory committee.
   (b)  Trees forever.
   (c)  The lumber industry whose member is actively engaged in the purchase of standing timber.
   (d)  The Iowa woodland owners association.
   (e)  The Iowa state university extension forester.
   (f)  The Iowa nut growers association.
   (g)  The Iowa natural heritage foundation.
   (h)  The Iowa urban tree council.
   (i)  The society of American foresters.
   (j)  The Iowa nursery and landscape association.
   (k)  Conservation districts of Iowa.
   (l)  The Iowa assessors association.
   (m)  The forestry industry whose member is actively employed in Iowa in private forest management or as a forestry consultant.
   b.  The director shall provide the natural resource commission with recommendations for nominations of prospective council members. The commission shall approve nominees at a regularly scheduled commission meeting.
   c.  The voting members of the council shall elect a chairperson at the first council meeting of each year. If the chairperson position becomes vacant, the voting members of the council shall elect a new chairperson at the next council meeting who shall serve as the chairperson for the remainder of the year.
   3.  a.  The term of a voting member of the council shall be three years.
   b.  A vacancy on the council shall be filled by a representative of the same organization or industry whose position has become vacant for the remainder of the original term.
   c.  A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority present is necessary for any action taken by the council, except that a lesser number may adjourn a meeting. A vacancy in the membership of the council does not impair the rights of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the council.
   d.  The council shall meet as required, but at least twice each year. The council shall meet upon the call of the chairperson or upon written request of three members of the council. Written notice of the time and place of the meeting shall be given to each member.
   4.  The council shall advise and make recommendations to the department, the natural resource commission, the governor, the chairperson of the senate standing committee on natural resources and environment, and the chairperson of the house of representatives standing committee on natural resources on matters relating to tree and forest health, the organization of forestry services within the department, and legislation under consideration relating to forestry. Any recommendations shall be made at the regularly scheduled natural resource commission meeting in July of each year. The council shall research forestry issues that include but are not limited to the following:
   a.  Property tax exemptions related to forest reservations.
   b.  Organizational efficiencies to address threats to forestry preservation in Iowa.
   c.  Developing a set of metrics for forest and tree stewardship that grows Iowa’s tree canopy and addresses threats to forest preservation.
   d.  Potential sources of funding for the forestry bureau within the department and potential sources of forestry cost-share assistance for private landowners to encourage and support the health of Iowa’s forests.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates a tree and forest advisory council. The council shall consist of the director of the department of natural resources or the director’s designee and 13 organization and industry representatives. The council shall meet at least twice each year and shall advise and make recommendations to the department, the commission, the governor, and the chairpersons of the senate standing committee on natural resource and environment and the house of representatives standing committee on natural resources on matters relating to tree and forest health and forestry services.