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Sponsor Statement for SB 317
National Forest Income and Regulations Of DCED

An Act relating to the national forest income program in the Department of Community and Economic Development and to the authority of the department to adopt regulations; and providing for an effective date.

The purpose of SB 317 is to make the statutory changes required for the Department of Community and Economic Development to disburse the funds commonly referred to as "Timber Receipts".

The "Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000" (PL 106-393) made substantive changes to the federal program commonly known as National Forest Receipts. The Federal Act is subject to reauthorization in 2006.

In order to address the federal changes, the Department of Community and Economic Development amended its program regulations so that payments to communities located within the Chugach and Tongass National Forests would conform to the new federal requirements.

Subsequent to the adoption of the program regulation changes, the Department of Law advised the Department of Community and Economic Development that it lacked the statutory authority to implement the federal changes through its regulations. SB 317 provides the Department with the authority to adopt regulations necessary to implement the revised federal program in a manner consistent with federal law.

The bill also provides general regulation adoption authority for the Department to carry out its statutory functions. The change corrects a statutory problem created by the merger of the former Department of Commerce and Economic Development and the former Department of Community and Regional Affairs.

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