BIL:3418

TYP:General Bill GB

INB:House

IND:19990202

PSP:Sharpe

SPO:Sharpe and R.Smith

DDN:l:\council\bills\kgh\15246dc99.doc

CBN:967

RBY:House

COM:Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Com 20 HANR

SUB:Forest fire protection plans, county offices; County boards, State Forestry Commission to prepare

HST:

BodyDateAction DescriptionComLeg Involved

______

House19990407Recommitted to Committee20 HANR

House19990324Debate adjourned until

Wednesday, 19990407

House19990303Debate adjourned until

Tuesday, 19990316

House19990302Debate adjourned until

Wednesday, 19990303

House19990224Committee report: Favorable20 HANR

House19990202Introduced, read first time,20 HANR

referred to Committee

Printed Versions of This Bill

Ordered Printed on 19990224

TXT:

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 24, 1999

H.3418

Introduced by Reps. Sharpe and R.Smith

S. Printed 2/24/99--H.

Read the first time February 2, 1999.

THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL

RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (H.3418), to amend Section 483320, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the definition of forest land, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

CHARLES R. SHARPE, for Committee.

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A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 483320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF FOREST LAND, SO AS TO FURTHER DEFINE “FOREST LAND”; TO AMEND SECTION 483330, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF FOREST FIRE, SO AS TO FURTHER DEFINE “FOREST FIRE”; TO AMEND SECTION 483360, RELATING TO COUNTY FORESTRY BOARDS, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE ANNUAL FOREST FIRE PROTECTION PLAN AND PROVIDE THAT COUNTY FOREST FIRE PROTECTION OFFICES SHALL BE EMPLOYED ONLY WITH THE CONSENT OF THE COUNTY FORESTRY BOARD; AND TO AMEND SECTION 483370, RELATING TO PLANS FOR FOREST FIRE PROTECTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE COMMISSION OF FORESTRY SHALL PREPARE A PLAN FOR FOREST FIRE PROTECTION.

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

SECTION1.Section 483320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

“Section 483320.For the purpose of this chapter, all lands shall be construed as ‘forest land’ which have enough forest growth, standing or down, or have sufficient inflammableflammable debris or grass, outside of corporate limits, to constitute, in the judgment of the State Commission of Forestry, a fire menace to itself or adjoining lands.”

SECTION2.Section 483330 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

“Section 483330.The term ‘forest fire,’ as used in this chapter, means any fire burning uncontrolled on any land covered wholly or in part by timber, brush, grass, or other inflammableflammable vegetation.”

SECTION3.Section 483360 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

“Section 483360.The county boards shall assist in the efficient performance of the requirements of this chapter and the general conduct of the forestry program in the county. They shall review, revise and adopt the annual forest fire protection plan and theThe county ranger, fire wardens, towermen and all other county forest fire protection officers shall be employed, retained or dismissed only with the consent of the county forestry board. The county ranger, fire wardens and towermen, and all other county officers of the county board shallmust be residents of the county in which they are so employed.”

SECTION4.Section 483370 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

“Section 483370.The State Commission of Forestry shall prepare for each county forestry board a plan for forest fire protection for the fiscal year and present such plan at the July meeting of the board. It shall have power to make and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for the administration of forest fire protection.”

SECTION5.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

XX

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