Bill No.: HB0286                  Drafter:  LGC

LSO No.:  09LSO-0629              Effective Date:  N/A

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0098

Chapter No.:       N/A

Prime Sponsor:     Representative Quarberg

Catch Title:       Federal natural resources policy account.

Subject:  Use of funds in the federal natural resources policy account.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Current law allows use of funds in the federal natural resources policy account for state, state agency or county participation in preparation of environmental impact statements.  The act extends this authority to conservation district participation.

· The act authorizes use of funds in the federal natural resource policy account for implementation of environmental impact statements.

· The act places priority for funding from the account on requests that add to the internal expertise of the state, a state agency, a county or a conservation district.

Comments:  This bill was vetoed by the Governor on March 12, 2009.  In his veto message the Governor noted concern that the bill could open the door for conservation districts to unilaterally affect federal land allocations, even if at odds with a position taken by a county.  The Governor's action was taken after the original bill summary was prepared.  This summary supplants the original.