98#1h (DOF) Remove Forestry New Initiatives. HB1700 - Committee Approved

State Budget

2019 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1700 (Committee Approved)

Bill Order » Item 98 #1h

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Remove Forestry New Initiatives

Item 98 #1h

Item 98 #1h	First Year - FY2019	Second Year - FY2020
Agriculture and Forestry
Department of Forestry	FY2019 $0	FY2020 ($718,529)	GF

Language
Page 96, line 17, strike "$34,664,547" and insert "$33,946,018".

Explanation

(This amendment removes funding proposed in House Bill 1700 as introduced to support new initiatives at Forestry, including funding for new positions and to support an agency apprenticeship program. The Committee budget funding levels were limited to the additional dollars available pursuant to the economic reforecast presented in December, identified programmatic savings, and revenues generated by legislation expanding the collection of sales tax attributable to internet sales. All revenues attributable to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are captured in the Taxpayer Relief Fund and the Revenue Reserve Fund in Item 475.10. This required removing approximately $1.2 billion in spending compared to House Bill 1700 as introduced.)

Item 98

Item 98	First Year - FY2019	Second Year - FY2020
Forest Management (50100)	$34,182,018	~~$33,946,018~~ $34,664,547
Reforestation Incentives to Private Forest Land Owners (50102)	FY2019 $4,345,039	FY2020 $4,345,039
Forest Conservation, Wildfire & Watershed Services (50103)	FY2019 $23,956,163	FY2020 ~~$23,956,163~~ $24,674,692
Tree Restoration and Improvement, Nurseries & State-Owned Forest Lands (50104)	FY2019 $4,980,816	FY2020 $4,744,816
Financial Assistance for Forest Land Management (50105)	FY2019 $900,000	FY2020 $900,000
Fund Sources:
General	FY2019 $19,267,285	FY2020 ~~$19,031,285~~ $19,749,814
Special	FY2019 $10,428,507	FY2020 $10,428,507
Trust and Agency	FY2019 $106,538	FY2020 $106,538
Dedicated Special Revenue	FY2019 $89,535	FY2020 $89,535
Federal Trust	FY2019 $4,290,153	FY2020 $4,290,153

Authority: Title 10.1, Chapter 11, and Title 58.1, Chapter 32, Article 4, Code of Virginia.

A. The State Forester is hereby authorized to utilize any unobligated balances in the fire suppression fund authorized by § 10.1-1124, Code of Virginia, for the purpose of acquiring replacement equipment for forestry management and protection operations.

B. In the event that budgeted amounts for forest fire suppression are insufficient to meet forest fire suppression demands, such amounts as may be necessary for this purpose may be transferred from Item 475 of this act to the Department of Forestry, with the approval of the Director, Department of Planning and Budget.

C. The department shall provide technical assistance and project supervision in the aerial spraying of herbicides on timberland on landowner property. In addition to recovering the direct cost associated with the spraying contract, the department may charge an administrative fee for this service.

D. The Department of Forestry, in cooperation with the Department of Corrections, shall increase the use of inmate labor for routine and special work projects in state forests.

E. The appropriation in Reforestation Incentives to Private Forest Land Owners includes $1,945,226 the first year and $1,945,226 the second year from the general fund for the Reforestation of Timberlands Program. This appropriation shall be deemed sufficient to meet the provisions of Titles 10.1 and 58.1, Code of Virginia.

F. Out of this appropriation, $2,126,126 the first year and $2,126,126 the second year from the general fund is included for the purchase of forest fire protection equipment through the state's master equipment lease purchase program.

G. The department is authorized to enter into agreements with private entities for the active operational life of the tower located at 900 Natural Resources Drive in Albemarle County, Virginia. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any revenues received from such agreements shall be retained by the department and used for forest land management.

H.1. The State Comptroller shall continue the Virginia State Forest Mitigation and Acquisition Fund and the Long Term Mitigation Fund as established in Item 102, Chapter 806, 2013 Acts of Assembly. All moneys in these funds shall be used as provided for in this Item and in Item 102, Chapter 806, 2013 Acts of Assembly, and Item 98, Chapter 665, 2015 Acts of Assembly.

2.a. With the exception of the amounts prescribed in paragraph I.2.b. of this item, the Virginia State Forest Mitigation and Acquisition Fund shall be used solely for forest land or conservation easement acquisition.

b. The Long Term Mitigation Fund shall be used solely for long term management of the Cumberland State Forest Stream Buffer Preservation Stewardship Plan.

3. For any such future mitigation projects, no state forest land shall be used to provide compensatory mitigation for wetland or stream impacts of any public or private project until such time as due consideration has been given to the availability of mitigation credits available from private sources. State forest land means all sites, roadways, game food patches, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, beaches, and lakes to which the Department of Forestry holds title for use, development, and administration.

I. The department is authorized to sell properties and timber located at the following: 16520 Five Forks Road, Amelia, Virginia, 23002; 26401 Blue Star Highway, Emporia, Virginia, 23847; 11260 Jessie Dupont Memorial Highway, Kilmarnock, Virginia, 22482; 152 Maury River Road, Lexington, Virginia, 24450; and 2080 Sowers Road NE, Floyd, Virginia, 24091. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the net proceeds of these transactions shall be deposited into the general fund.

J. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute.