HB858: State forest activity fee; Department of Forestry to promulgate emergency regulations to establish.

HOUSE BILL NO. 858

Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled January 8, 2014
A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-1152 of the Code of Virginia, relating to establishing fee structure for forest-based activities.
Patron-- Fariss

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 10.1-1152 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 10.1-1152. State Forester may require permits and fees.

A. The State Forester is authorized to require any person who hunts, fishes, traps, rides bikes, or rides horses engages in certain activities authorized by regulations promulgated by the Department on any of the lands described in § 10.1-1151 to obtain a special use permit. A special use permit to engage in these activities on any such lands shall be issued for a fee established by regulations promulgated by the Department.

B. The State Forester is also authorized to enter into an agreement with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries under which the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will include permits required under subsection A in its program for the sale of permits and licenses by the means and to the extent authorized by § 29.1-327.

2. That the Department of Forestry shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act to be effective within 280 days of its enactment. Until the effective date of such regulations, a fee not to exceed $15 shall be charged for the issuance of a special use permit for hunting, fishing, trapping, riding bikes, and riding horses.