Changes to Existing Law

The state forester, with the sanction of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, may, upon request, assist and cooperate with any agency of the United States government; all state, county, and municipal agencies; and with any corporation, association, partnership, or individual owning or controlling any forestland, woodland, shelterbelt, or rangeland in the management and protection of such forestland, woodland, shelterbelt, or rangeland, including: (1) Preparation of plans for management and protection of forest health including during a declared forest insect or disease emergency; and (2) Management, surveying, harvesting, marketing, and processing of forest products.; and (3) Collection of receipts from the sale of federal timber and depositing them in the forestry fund as provided in § 41-20-22. In providing timber sale assistance pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section, on private lands, the state forester shall determine that such assistance is not reasonably available through a consulting forester. If the assistance is determined to be unavailable from a consulting forester, the state forester may provide the assistance after courtesy notification to private industrial foresters. However, the assistance provided is limited to thirty man-days over a period of six years per individual owner. 23