Section 1 [SFIA Purpose] add to purposes of the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) to emphasize economic and ecological benefits.

Section 2 [Technical] extends the applicability of the definitions to include all of the sections in the SFIA chapter.

Section 3 [Technical] is technical relating to the transfer of the SFIA to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from the Department of Revenue (DOR).

Section 4 [Claimant definition] modifies the definition of “claimant” to specify that the new owner of transferred SFIA enrolled land has the responsibility to notify the DNR of the transfer.

Section 5 [Definition of Commissioner] modifies the term “Commissioner” to mean the DNR Commissioner.

Section 6 [Technical] is a technical change related to the transfer of the SFIA to DNR.

Section 7 [SFIA eligibility] requires forest management plan registration with DNR to be eligible for the SFIA.

Section 8 [Annual certification] provides that the claimant under the SFIA is the current property owner and that the current owner must report each year on management practices carried out.

Section 9 [Annual incentive payment; appropriation] provides that the DNR will certify the annual payment for each claimant to the DOR.  Money for the payments is appropriated to the DOR.

Section 10 [Removal for property tax delinquency] is a technical change related to the transfer of the program to DNR.

Section 11 [Withdrawal procedures] clarifies that the withdrawal procedures apply to the current owner of enrolled lands.

Section 12 [Transfer of ownership] provides for the transfer of ownership for lands enrolled in the SFIA. This section requires notice to the new owner of lands enrolled in the SFIA; and notification to the DNR of the transfer of title to enrolled lands.  If the new owner does not submit a new forest management plan within two years of the transfer, the DNR will terminate enrollment in the SFIA.

Section 13 [Penalties for removal] clarifies that the penalties apply to the current owner of enrolled land and bases the penalty amounts on the value of the land.  If the land is removed due to construction of a building, the penalty is 25 percent of the market value of the property with the structure.  If the land is removed due to changes in the use of the land, the penalty is 30 percent of the market value of the property based on the new use.  The current law penalty is equal to the previous four years of SFIA payments, plus interest.

Section 14 [Repealer] repeals definitions and provisions related to calculating the current use value and estimated market value that are not used anymore in calculating the SFIA payments.  Under current law, the annual incentive payment for all enrolled acres is $7/acre.