SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.135 PRINTER'S NO. 2113
No. 13 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, HALUSKA, HUTCHINSON, FARGO, BAKER, MAJOR,
SEYFERT, ARGALL, HERSHEY, FEESE, M. COHEN, CLARK, JAMES,
GIGLIOTTI, HERMAN, S. MILLER, FORCIER, MARSICO, CAPPABIANCA,
CORNELL, LEDERER, STABACK, WILT, ZUG, HARHAI, MAHER, ORIE,
PRESTON, RAMOS, SHANER, TRELLO, STERN, READSHAW, McILHINNEY,
ROSS, ADOLPH, DALEY AND CIVERA, JANUARY 27, 1999
AS AMENDED, IN SENATE, JUNE 16, 1999
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control <--
2 and Conservation Committee to study the ESTABLISHING A TASK <--
3 FORCE TO STUDY issues concerning the renewal and management
4 of this Commonwealth's forests; and creating a task force <--
5 PROVIDING FOR AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; AND DIRECTING THE JOINT <--
6 LEGISLATIVE AIR AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND CONSERVATION
7 COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE TASK
8 FORCE.
9 WHEREAS, Seventeen million acres in Pennsylvania are
10 forestland; and
11 WHEREAS, Forests provide numerous economic, recreational and
12 environmental resources; and
13 WHEREAS, The forest products industry is the fourth largest
14 manufacturing industry in Pennsylvania; and
15 WHEREAS, Sustainable forestry is providing new management
16 strategies for our forest resources and improving the health,
17 quality and diversity of Pennsylvania's forests; and
18 WHEREAS, The new policies and legislation developed today <--
1 will determine the future of forests in this Commonwealth; and
2 WHEREAS, The forestry task force previously established by
3 House Resolution No. 263, Printer's No. 4110 (1994) and Senate
4 Resolution No. 29, Printer's No. 720 (1997) has been helpful to
5 the General Assembly and instrumental in addressing issues
6 facing the forestry community; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
8 establish a forestry task force to be comprised of two members
9 of the Senate, one appointed by the leader of the majority party <--
10 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE and one appointed by the <--
11 leader of the minority party, two members of the House of
12 Representatives, one appointed by the leader of the majority <--
13 party SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and one appointed <--
14 by the leader of the minority party, and the members of the
15 forestry task force shall choose a chairman from their number;
16 and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the forestry task force conduct a
18 comprehensive study of and investigate the following:
19 (1) third-party certification of Pennsylvania's forests
20 and forest products;
21 (2) the long-term forestry research needs of this
22 Commonwealth;
23 (3) educational programs in sustainable forestry for
24 private forest landowners and municipalities; and
25 (4) regular and comprehensive assessments of
26 Pennsylvania's forests to assist in the management,
27 development and marketing of this Commonwealth's timber
28 resources;
29 and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the forestry task force may hold hearings,
19990H0013R2113 - 2 -
1 take testimony and make its investigations at such places WITHIN <--
2 THIS COMMONWEALTH as it deems necessary; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That an advisory committee be created by the
4 forestry task force to assist in developing facts and
5 recommendations concerning the renewal and management of forests
6 in this Commonwealth and that the advisory committee be composed
7 of representatives of the following government agencies <--
8 ENTITIES: <--
9 (1) Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
10 Bureau of Forestry;
11 (2) Department of Agriculture, Hardwoods Development
12 Council;
13 (3) Pennsylvania Game Commission;
14 (4) The Pennsylvania State University, School of Forest
15 Resources and Cooperative Extension Service; and
16 (5) United States Forest Service;
17 and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the advisory committee have one representative
19 from each of five business organizations representing the forest
20 products industry, one representative from each of five
21 nonprofit conservation and environmental organizations and one
22 representative from up to three other organizations that the
23 forestry task force deems appropriate to be represented; and be
24 it further
25 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly direct the Joint
26 Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation
27 Committee to provide sufficient staff and other administrative
28 support to the forestry task force; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That the forestry task force prepare a report
30 containing its findings and recommendations, together with any
19990H0013R2113 - 3 -
1 necessary legislation, and deliver it to the General Assembly as
2 soon as possible.
A5L82DMS/19990H0013R2113 - 4 -