H*4359(Rat #0572, Act #0468 of 1992)  General Bill, By J.G. McAbee, Alexander, 
D.E. McTeer and Rhoad
 A Bill to amend Section 48-23-295, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to forestry services available to landowners, state agencies,
 counties, and municipalities, so as to include processing forest tree seed,
 provide for receipts from related activities and rentals to be retained by the
 Forestry Commission instead of deposited in the General Fund, provide for use
 of the receipts for administration and operation of the Forestry Services
 Program, and authorize the Commission to carry forward unexpended
 funds.-amended title

   02/05/92  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-18
   02/05/92  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-18
   02/27/92  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-7
   03/05/92  House  Read second time HJ-40
   03/05/92  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-41
   03/06/92  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   03/10/92  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   03/10/92  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-7
   03/12/92  Senate Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-6
   03/12/92  Senate Committed to Committee on Finance SJ-6
   05/12/92  Senate Recalled from Committee on Finance SJ-8
   05/14/92  Senate Read second time SJ-196
   05/14/92  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-196
   05/28/92  Senate Amended SJ-23
   05/28/92  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-24
   06/02/92  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-3
   06/04/92         Ratified R 572
   06/17/92         Signed By Governor
   06/17/92         Effective date 06/17/92
   06/17/92         Act No. 468
   07/07/92         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 48-23-295, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FORESTRY SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LANDOWNERS, STATE AGENCIES, COUNTIES, AND MUNICIPALITIES, SO AS TO INCLUDE PROCESSING FOREST TREE SEED, PROVIDE FOR RECEIPTS FROM RELATED ACTIVITIES AND RENTALS TO BE RETAINED BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION INSTEAD OF DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND, PROVIDE FOR USE OF THE RECEIPTS FOR ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE FORESTRY SERVICES PROGRAM, AND AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO CARRY FORWARD UNEXPENDED FUNDS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Forestry services to include processing forest tree seed; use of receipts from related activities and rentals; carry forward of unexpended funds

SECTION 1. Section 48-23-295 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 48-23-295. (A) The State Commission of Forestry may make available forestry services consisting of scientific, technical, and practical services to landowners of the State to assist them in the afforestation, reforestation, and maximum production of their woodland. These services consist of specialized equipment and operators or rental of the equipment to perform labor and services necessary to carry out approved forestry practices including mechanical and chemical site preparation, processing forest tree seed, forest tree planting, insect and disease control, prescribed burning, firebreak plowing, and other appropriate practices to assist landowners in maximum production of their woodland.

(B) For the services or rentals a reasonable fee representing the commission's estimate of not less than the cost of the services or rentals must be charged. When the State Forester considers it in the public interest the services may be provided without charge to encourage the use of approved scientific forestry practices on private or other forestlands within the State or for the purposes of providing practical demonstrations of the practices.

(C) One hundred percent of the receipts from these activities and rentals must be retained by the commission for administration and operation of the forestry services program in the units which the estimated costs determine the fees charged generating these receipts, provided, the receipts from processing forest tree seed may be used agencywide. The administration of this section is under the State Forester. The landowner shall compensate the commission according to rates established by it. The commission may carry forward unexpended funds under this subsection to be used for these purposes.

(D) The commission may cooperate and offer the same services to counties, municipalities, and state agencies and make the forestry services and rental equipment available to them. Counties, municipalities, and state agencies shall reimburse the commission according to its fee schedule."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 17th day of June, 1992.