HB532: HB532 Conservation and natural resources; grants and special revenue disbursements; revise provisions

25 LC 47 3467S/AP House Bill 532 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representative DeLoach of the 167th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 12-6A-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 annual grant when state owns property and calculations, so as to revise provisions related to2 certain counties claiming such grant while also claiming simila r grants in Chapter 14 of3 Title 48, relating to grants and special revenue disbursements; to amend Code4 Section 48-14-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, rela ting to annual grant to5 counties with 20,000 or more acres of unimproved real estate ow ned by Department of6 Natural Resources, so as to revise provisions related to counties claiming such grant while7 also claiming similar grants; to provide for related matters; t o repeal conflicting laws; and8 for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 Code Section 12-6A-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to annual grant12 when state owns property and calculations, is amended by revisi ng said Code section as13 follows:14 H. B. 532 - 1 - 25 LC 47 3467S/AP "12-6A-12.15 (a) Each county in which is located 20,000 acres or more of un improved real property16 belonging to the state and under the custody or control of the department, in which such17 state-owned property exceeds 10 percent of the taxable real property in the county, and in18 which such property represents 10 percent or more of the assessed tax digest of the county19 may receive from the department an annual grant as provided in this Code section.20 (b) For each county eligible to receive a grant pursuant to su bsection (a) of this Code21 section, the department shall calculate the approximate value of public services which the22 county provides the department each year; provided, however, th at such sum shall not23 exceed the amount the county would charge any other landowner for such services. The24 department shall request funds in its annual operating budget e ach year to reimburse all25 eligible counties for the provision of such services. In the event the amount appropriated26 in any year is less than the amount requested, each eligible county shall receive a pro rata27 share based on the estimated value of services provided.28 (c) The department is directed to make an annual calculation of the amount of unimproved29 state-owned real property under its custody or control and dete rmine which counties are30 eligible for a grant pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code se ction. The first such31 determination shall be completed not later than December 31, 2020, and each subsequent32 determination shall be made not later than December 31 of each year. The department is33 further directed to calculate the approximate value of public s ervices provided by each34 eligible county as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section.35 (d) Only land acquired with Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund moneys shall be used in the36 calculation of this grant.37 (e) No more than 10 percent of Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund moneys shall be allocated38 to grants to offset local taxes during any fiscal year.39 (f) No county shall be authorized to receive a grant of funds pursuant to both this Code40 section and Code Section 48-14-1."41 H. B. 532 - 2 - 25 LC 47 3467S/AP SECTION 2.42 Code Section 48-14-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to annual grant to43 counties with 20,000 or more acres of unimproved real estate ow ned by Department of44 Natural Resources, is amended by revising said Code section as follows:45 "48-14-4.46 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'department' means the Department of Natural47 Resources.48 (b) Each county in which is located 20,000 acres or more of un improved real property49 belonging to the state and under the custody or control of the department, in which such50 state owned property exceeds 10 percent of the taxable real property in the county, and in51 which such property represents 10 percent or more of the assessed tax digest of the county52 may receive from the department an annual grant as provided in this Code section.53 (c) For each county eligible to receive a grant pursuant to su bsection (b) of this Code54 section, the department shall calculate the approximate value of public services which the55 county provides the department each year; provided, however, th at such sum shall not56 exceed the amount the county would charge any other landowner for such services. The57 department shall request funds in its annual operating budget e ach year to reimburse all58 eligible counties for the provision of such services. In the event the amount appropriated59 in any year is less than the amount requested, each eligible county shall receive a pro rata60 share based on the estimated value of services provided.61 (d) The department is directed to make an annual calculation of the amount of unimproved62 state owned real property under its custody or control and dete rmine which counties are63 eligible for a grant pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code se ction. The first such64 determination shall be completed not later than December 31, 1993, and each subsequent65 determination shall be made not later than December 31 of each year. The department is66 further directed to calculate the approximate value of public s ervices provided by each67 eligible county as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section.68 H. B. 532 - 3 - 25 LC 47 3467S/AP (e) No county shall be authorized to receive a grant of funds pursuant to both this Code69 section and Code Section 48-14-1."70 SECTION 3.71 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.72 H. B. 532 - 4 -