2005 Legislation
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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 104 – Law enforcement/forest service land

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 104

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Bill Status



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

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              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 / Fiscal Impact



                       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