ENGROSSED
H. B. 2071
(By Delegates J. Martin, Mezzatesta, Michael and Willison)
(Introduced January 18, 1995; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then Finance.)
A BILL to amend and reenact sections three and four, article
twenty-four, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to
increasing by two the number of members on the West Virginia
forest management review commission; authorizing commission
to review certain land use proposals and make
recommendations.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections three and four, article twenty-four, chapter
five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred
thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 24. WEST VIRGINIA FOREST MANAGEMENT REVIEW COMMISSION.
§5-24-3. Commission continued; composition; appointment of members.
The West Virginia forest management review commission is
hereby created heretofore created is hereby continued for the
purposes set forth in this article. This commission shall be
comprised of four five members from the West Virginia Senate, a
co-chairman and three four members to be appointed by the Senate
president, and four five members of the House of Delegates, a
co-chairman and three four members to be appointed by the
speaker; four members to be representatives from the commercial
forest industry in the state, and three members of the public-at-
large. The seven nonlegislative members shall be appointed by
the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Two
members shall be appointed to serve a term of two years; three
members shall be appointed to serve a term of four years; two
members shall be appointed to serve a term of six years. The
successor of each such appointed member shall be appointed for an
overlapping term of six years, except that any person appointed
to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term
for which the predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only
to the remainder of such term. Each board member shall serve
until the appointment of his or her successor.
§5-24-4. Powers, duties and responsibilities.
The commission shall have the power, duty and responsibility to:
(a) Generally assist in the retention, expansion and
attraction of forestry and forestry related industries by
creating a climate for the development and support of the
industry.
(b) Coordinate the current efforts to enhance and promote
the expansion of the forestry industry among the several state
and federal agencies, commissions, boards, committees,
associations and other entities.
(c) Urge the development of multiple-use sustained-yield
management plans for nonindustrial timber tracts.
(d) Develop products and markets for the grade of materials
that currently comprise a majority of the state's resources.
(e) Recommend a stable and predictable tax program for both
new and existing firms in the state.
(f) Develop a centralized and enhanced protection program
that will reduce risks from fire and pestilence.
(g) Develop financial assistance for the attraction and
expansion of new and existing secondary manufacturing facilities,
with special emphasis on assistance for smaller firms employing
less than twenty persons.
(h) Accept for review any proposal made by an agency of the
state which would impact silviculture, woodland management, forest management or the potential forest industry development of
state or federal lands and which would significantly alter the
use of such lands. The commission may review and provide advice
or comment to the agency upon the impact of the proposal. Any
proposal submitted by an agency of the state shall be reported by
news release to a newspaper of general circulation in the area
affected by the proposal and reported to the commission as soon
as possible, but in no case less than twenty days before
commencing the implementation of such proposal.