BILL NUMBER: SB 144INTRODUCED BILL TEXT 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 introduced, 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. This bill would authorize the department, in order to further the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, 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 a scientific standardized baseline upon which to project future scenarios of carbon emissions and sequestration and developing regulations that establish mitigation requirements for forestland conversions. The bill would authorize the department to impose a fee on an applicant for conversion or the submission of a timber harvesting plan in order to fully offset the department's costs for implementing that authorization 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. (b) The department may impose a fee on an applicant for conversion or the submission of a timber harvesting plan in order to fully offset the department's costs for implementing this section as it relates to timber harvesting and conversion.