OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5853 (as amended by House “A” and “B”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF STATE FOREST TIMBER SALES, THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION FOR CONNECTICUT STATE FORESTS AND A SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN.

SUMMARY:

The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), within available resources and in consultation with the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station, UConn, and any other entities deemed appropriate, to study sustainable harvesting of forests in the state.

Under the bill, if the commissioner conducts such a study, she must report the study's conclusions to the Environment Committee by July 1, 2009. She must also use it as the basis for a sustainable forest-harvesting plan, developed in consultation with the same entities. The plan must take into account carbon credit opportunities, the potential for maintaining a sustainable supply of biomass fuels, and the region's agricultural and silvicultural capability. “Silvicultural” refers to the control of the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values of many landowners.

In addition, the bill revises the law governing forestry and the protection of forests. Current law requires the annual deposit of proceeds from state sales of timber, wood, and other products from publicly owned woodlands in excess of $ 875,000 into the Conservation Fund, which pays for various DEP programs. The bill instead requires that proceeds in excess of $ 600,000 from such sales be deposited into the Conservation Fund, removes the requirement that the deposit be annual, and restricts their use to the support of forestry programs.

The bill requires the DEP commissioner to have Connecticut's forests, woodlands, and products from these certified or licensed by January 10, 2010. It broadens the list of organizations acceptable for the certification and licensing to include all organizations deemed necessary by the commissioner.

*House Amendment “A” changes the amount of revenue from the sale of wood, timber, and other forest products deposited into the Conservation Fund, from $ 1 million to $ 400,000. It also makes the sustainable forest study elective instead of obligatory.

*House Amendment “B” changes the amount of revenue from the sale of wood, timber, and other forest products deposited into the Conservation Fund, from up to $ 400,000 to those in excess of $ 600,000, and makes conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

BACKGROUND

Legislative History

The House referred the bill (File 407) to the Appropriations Committee, which reported a substitute that eliminated the original $ 200,000 appropriation for the sustainable forest harvest study and plan.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Environment Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

Joint Favorable