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SJM104.........................................by RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
FOREST SERVICE LAND - Stating findings of the Legislature and urging the
President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to
pass legislation establishing an equitable reimbursement formula based upon
the number of users or acreage or another equitable basis for the Forest
Service to reimburse counties for local law enforcement services.
02/14 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/15 Rpt prt - to Res/Env
02/22 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
02/23 10th Ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Goedde
Title apvd - to House
02/24 House intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Con
03/02 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/03 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/09 3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Sayler
Title apvd - to Senate
03/10 To enrol
03/11 Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/14 Sp signed
03/15 To Secretary of State
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2005
IN THE SENATE
SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 104
BY RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
1 A JOINT MEMORIAL
2 TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS
3 ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF
4 IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
5 We, your Memorialists, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
6 State of Idaho assembled in the First Regular Session of the Fifty-eighth
7 Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
8 WHEREAS, more than 38% of the state of Idaho is land controlled by the
9 U.S. Forest Service; and
10 WHEREAS, Forest Service lands do not pay property taxes to help pay for
11 services on those lands; and
12 WHEREAS, county sheriffs in the thirty-six of Idaho's forty-four counties
13 must provide law enforcement services on Forest Service lands ranging from
14 traffic accidents to homicide investigations on a regular and increasing
15 basis; and
16 WHEREAS, the Forest Service reimburses counties for services at a fraction
17 of the actual cost; and
18 WHEREAS, there is no formula for compiling the reimbursement from the For-
19 est Service to counties for law enforcement functions; and
20 WHEREAS, counties in Idaho receive reimbursement at a rate ranging from
21 0.4 cents per acre up to 54 cents per acre with the average being only 1.7
22 cents per acre; and
23 WHEREAS, the Idaho Sheriffs' Association and the Western State Sheriffs'
24 Association have attempted to rectify the issue of additional funding and did
25 establish an agreement with the Forest Service, to implement a standardized
26 formula for any new money. However, no new money has been allocated, nor has
27 the standardized formula been achieved.
28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
29 of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Representa-
30 tives concurring therein, that we urge the President of the United States and
31 the Congress of the United States to pass legislation establishing an equita-
32 ble reimbursement formula based upon the number of users or acreage or another
33 equitable basis for the Forest Service to reimburse counties for local law
34 enforcement services.
35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is
36 hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this Memorial to the Pres-
37 ident of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Con-
38 gress, and the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the
39 Congress of the United States.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 14981
The Forest Service has control of more than 38% of the total
acreage in the State of Idaho. These lands do not pay property
taxes and are promoted as great areas of recreation for Idaho
residents and visitors.
The Forest Service has a minimal staff to deal with law
enforcement issues, so criminal investigations, ranging from
traffic accidents to homicide investigations, must be
investigated by county sheriffs, placing the burden for these
services on local property tax payers.
Currently, in Idaho, thirty-six of Idaho's forty-four counties
have some Forest Service land within their jurisdictions. These
counties receive reimbursement from the Forest Service for Law
Enforcement Service at a rate that is a small fraction of the
actual cost. There is no standardized formula on how that money
is allocated, nor have the rates increased to keep up with costs.
This Memorial urges the President of the United States and the
U.S. Congress to pass legislation that will establish an
equitable reimbursement formula based on some measurable,
standardized method.
FISCAL IMPACT
None unless federal funds are appropriated as requested and then
the impact would be positive.
Contact
Name: Sen. John Goedde
Phone: 332-1331
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SJM 104