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 9  AN ACT changing the name of the office of state and extension forestry
10    to the Kansas forest service; relating to the powers and duties thereof;
11    amending K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425a, 76-425c, 76-425d, 76-425f and
12    82a-326 and repealing the existing sections.
13
14  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
15    Section 1.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425a is hereby amended to read as
16  follows: 76-425a. As used in this act:
17    (a)  ``Board'' means the state board of regents;
18    (b)  ``Kansas state university'' means the college of agriculture of Kan-
19  sas state university; and
20    (c)  ``office'' means the office of state and extension forestry created
21  by K.S.A. 76-425c, and amendments thereto.
22    (c)  ``service'' means the Kansas forest service created by K.S.A. 76-
23  425c, and amendments thereto.
24    Sec. 2.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425c is hereby amended to read as
25  follows: 76-425c. (a) There is hereby created in the existing cooperative
26  extension service of Kansas state university an office of state and extension
27  forestry the Kansas forest service. The chief executive officer of the office
28  service shall be known as the state forester and shall be appointed by the
29  president of Kansas state university in the unclassified service subject to
30  the approval of the board. The state forester shall be the state leader of
31  extension forestry of the cooperative extension service of Kansas state
32  university. The state forester shall receive such compensation for services
33  as shall be fixed by the board. A person in order to be eligible to be
34  appointed to, or hold the office of state forester must have completed the
35  requirements for and be the holder of a degree from a school of forestry
36  approved by the board and shall have a record of experience in forestry
37  satisfactory to the board. Subject to the approval of the president of Kan-
38  sas state university and the board and within available appropriations, the
39  state forester may employ such assistants and office personnel and pur-
40  chase such office furniture and other equipment and supplies as may be
41  necessary for administration of this act and the performance of the powers
42  and duties of the office. The office of state and extension forestry service.
43  The Kansas forest service shall be located at Kansas state university.
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 1    (b)  The name of the office of state and extension forestry is hereby
 2  changed to the Kansas forest service. All properties, moneys, appropria-
 3  tions, rights and authorities now vested in the office of state and extension
 4  forestry shall be vested in the Kansas forest service. Whenever the office
 5  of state and extension forestry, or words of like effect, is referred to or
 6  designated by any statute, contract or other document, such reference or
 7  designation shall be deemed to apply to the Kansas forest service.
 8    Sec. 3.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425d is hereby amended to read as
 9  follows: 76-425d. Under the general supervision of the board and direct
10  administration of Kansas state university, the office service shall:
11    (a)  Supervise, generally, all forestry demonstrations forest manage-
12  ment and all forestation and reforestation work conducted by the state;
13    (b)  promote practical forestry;
14    (c)  encourage the development and use of forest resources;
15    (d)  compile and publish information and instructions relating to for-
16  estry and reforestation;
17    (e)  provide assistance in forestry and reforestation to owners and op-
18  erators of forest lands;
19    (f)  provide assistance for the protection of the forest resources of the
20  state, both public and private, from insects and diseases;
21    (g)  provide assistance for the prevention and suppression of forest,
22  brush or grassland fires in nonfederal areas of the state except on lands
23  within the exterior boundaries of incorporated cities;
24    (h)  foster and promote the control of soil erosion on forest lands;
25    (i)  carry on an assistance program with forest landowners and oper-
26  ators in the practice of forestry, including the growing, harvesting and
27  marketing of forest products and in the management of forests for other
28  multiple benefits such as water quality, streambank stabilization, erosion
29  control, wildlife and recreation;
30    (j)  carry on an assistance program with forest products processors in
31  the processing and marketing of such products;
32    (k)  cooperate with other agencies and organizations in conducting
33  forestry related programs, including educational, riparian and wetland
34  protection and nonpoint source pollution control;
35    (l)  produce, procure and distribute forest-tree seeds and plants for
36  the purpose of establishing or reestablishing forests, windbreaks, shelter
37  belts, living snowfences, farm woodlots, Christmas tree plantings, erosion
38  control water quality, wildlife habitat and other conservation type tree
39  plantings;
40    (m)  provide an assistance program to nonforest landowners and op-
41  erators in establishing trees and shrubs for conservation plantings;
42    (n)  provide assistance to city governing bodies in planting, maintain-
43  ing, treating and removing trees on public property; and
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 1    (o)  provide information and education to city governing bodies, tree
 2  care professionals and the general public in urban and community tree
 3  planting and care.; and
 4    (p)  cooperate with and assist the cooperative extension service and
 5  other appropriate agencies in conducting educational programs and dem-
 6  onstrations in forest management, forestation, reforestation and other for-
 7  estry related programs.
 8    Sec. 4.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425f is hereby amended to read as fol-
 9  lows: 76-425f. Under the general supervision of the board and direct
10  administration of Kansas state university, the office service is authorized
11  and empowered:
12    (a)  To prescribe, issue and enforce rules and regulations pursuant to
13  law for administration of this act and of acts amendatory thereof or sup-
14  plemental thereto; and
15    (b)  to promote and carry out the intent and purposes of this act and
16  of the provisions of all federal acts providing for state cooperation in the
17  production and distribution of seeds and plants for conservation plantings,
18  promotion of the practice of forestry, multiple uses of forest lands, for-
19  estation or reforestation, forest management, harvesting, processing or
20  marketing forest products, control of forest pests, insects and diseases,
21  prevention or suppression of forest, brush or grassland fires, watershed
22  management, windbreak establishment and management and urban and
23  community forestry tree planting, management and care; and to enter
24  into cooperative agreements with federal and state agencies and such
25  agency's subdivisions for any or all of such purposes.
26    Sec. 5.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 82a-326 is hereby amended to read as
27  follows: 82a-326. When used in this act:
28    (a)  ``Water development project'' means any project or plan which
29  may be allowed or permitted pursuant to K.S.A. 24-126, 24-1213, 82a-
30  301 et seq., and amendments thereto, or the multipurpose small lakes
31  program act, and amendments thereto;
32    (b)  ``environmental review agencies'' means the:
33    (1)  Kansas department of wildlife and parks;
34    (2)  office of extension forestry Kansas forest service;
35    (3)  state biological survey;
36    (4)  Kansas department of health and environment;
37    (5)  state historical society;
38    (6)  state conservation commission; and
39    (7)  state corporation commission.
40    Sec. 6.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425a, 76-425c, 76-425d, 76-425f and
41  82a-326 are hereby repealed.
42    Sec. 7.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
43  publication in the statute book.
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