Updated: 3/20/03

LANDOWNER FEES FOR FIRE PREVENTION

As part of the discussion over the State Budget, the Legislative Analyst's Office has urged legislation to fund half the fire protection budget for state responsibility areas by imposing fees of $6 per acre on property owners in those areas.

Several concerns were brought up in the 3/20/03 FSC General Meeting: that the fees could prove onerous to many owners of substantial acreage; and that having to pay such a fee whether or not the land-owner has been pro-active with regard to land clearing may create a disincentive to taking personal responsibility for prevention.

If you have input regarding the proposal, it has not yet been acted upon, and is before Senate Budget Subcommittee #2. Input should be directed to Senators Sher, Kuehl and McPherson.

EXEMPTION FOR PREVENTIVE TREE CUTTING

The 3/20 FSC General Meeting was alerted to Assembly Bill 344 (LaMalfa), which would allow some tree-cutting to reduce wildfire threats to be exempted from the Forest Practice Act of 1973. Proponents say it is a prevention measure needed in wildland interface communities; conservation groups are uneasy about the standards for approving such exemptions.

Indications are that the devil is in the details, and a call was issued by FSC Board Member Frank Stewart for conservationists to join in shaping a workable policy.

An added question: why is the legislation only targeting communities "in the vicinities of federal lands?"

Bill is in Assembly Natural Resources Committee, set for hearing on April 7th. Committee members: Jackson, La Malfa, Hancock, Koretz, Laird, Lieber, Lowenthal, Montanez, Wolk, Harman, Haynes, Keene.

OTHER LEGISLATION BEING WATCHED

AB 28 (Pavley) Equipmewnt for hazardous materials firefighting

AB 47 (Simitian) Timber harvest regulations

AB 191 (Cogdill) Madera conservation camp, women inmates

AB 1216 (Vargas) Fire safety standards

SB 8 (Brulte) Emergency response to bark beetles and drought in So. Cal.

SB 351 (Ducheny) Federal firefighting funds to rural fire depts near Mexico border.

Other legislation will be added as it is brought to FSC attention.