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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 48-23-300 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE COMMISSION ON FORESTRY TO MANAGE FORESTED LAND OWNED BY A STATE AGENCY; TO REQUIRE THE LAND BE REGISTERED WITH THE COMMISSION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMMISSION, STATE AGENCIES, AND THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER; TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF MONEY GENERATED BY THE SALE OF CERTAIN FOREST PRODUCTS BY THE STATE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS BY THE COMMISSION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 23, Title 48 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 48-23-300. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, the commission shall manage forested land owned by an agency of this State for the agency's operation, a conservation purpose, a wildlife habitat, or use by the general public.
(B) The State Forester is responsible for developing a timber management plan for land referenced in subsection (A).
(C) An agency holding title to a tract containing one thousand or more acres of forested land referenced in subsection (A) must enroll the land with the commission. The agency is responsible for a management cost associated with the land and not specifically designated as a responsibility of the commission under subsection (D).
(D) With respect to land enrolled under subsection (C), the commission is responsible for the following functions and associated costs:
(1) inventory work;
(2) growth modeling;
(3) forest product sale preparation;
(4) forest product sale implementation; and
(5) planning the reforestation of the land or another silvicultural practice on the land.
(E) The commission and an agency holding title to an enrolled tract may agree to exclude forest management activity from a specified area within the tract including an area where an archaeological site, a highly sensitive plant or animal community, or an intensive recreational use area exist.
(F) The Office of the State Treasurer must annually:
(1) determine for a county the gross revenue generated from the sale of a forest product derived from land referenced in subsection (A) and located in that county;
(2) pay an amount equal to twenty-five percent of this revenue to the county; and
(3) allocate an amount equal to seventy-five percent of this revenue equally between the agency holding title to the land and the commission, subject to subsection (G).
(G) Money allocated under subsection (F)(2) must be used:
(1) by a county for a general school purpose, subject to approval by a majority of the county legislative delegation; and
(2) by the commission to fund its start-up costs for five years following the effective date of this section. The commission shall evaluate the cost and service level associated with a land-owning agency periodically in five-year increments from the effective date of this section and adjust the distribution of funds between the commission and the land-owning agency as needed.
(H) A county must use money received under subsection (F)(2) for a general school purpose, subject to approval by a majority of the county legislative delegation.
(I) The commission shall promulgate regulations necessary to carry out this section."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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