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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 - 2005IN 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